STAY (Completed)

Chapter 13

KEITH

My vision blurred before me as my knees trembled. I felt hands grasp my shoulders as I began to descend to the floor.

Oh God. No, please no.

Tell me it's a sick joke!

Someone opened a door and I stumbled into the room unaware of my surroundings.

I could barely make out sounds, and voices. I was trapped in my hazy dream.

No.

"Keith!" A muffled shout.

It's not a dream.

"Hey Mullet." Lance's soft voice broke through the madness around me.

This is a nightmare.

Lance was suddenly in view clear as crystal. The edges of my sight blurred and it wasn't until Lance reached up and wiped liquid from my cheeks that I realised I was crying.

My hand reached, searching. I felt assuring warmth close around my fingers.

"Griffin stopped the virus from spreading too high." Lance winced and gasped for breath. He was sweating profusely and shaking. I glanced down to see blood soaked jeans.

Oh my God.

A belt was tied above his knee. A chunk of his calf, and ankle had been bitten.

"You're okay. It's gonna be okay." I brushed his hair back sniffling back tears.

"It's okay. Keith, I-" Lance began but I crushed my lips against his.

"Me too." I whimpered. I bit down on my lip to keep it from trembling.

"Stay with me." Lance spoke softly. His eyes glazing over as fever began to take him.

No! No he can't-

I spun around to confront the faces lingering in the doorway.

"I have to save him." I spoke with conviction.

I tugged my dagger out of it's sheath. Shouts of protest began, but one stood out.

Griffin was the first to understand.

"Wait outside." He spoke to the others and stepped into the room with me.

"No, I have to do this alone. Please." I brushed him off and faced Lance.

"You don't, but I get it. We will be outside." Griffin sighed before I heard the soft click of the door. I closed my eyes.

I need to focus. I need to remember my training if I'm going to save Lance.

Patience yields focus. I need to just stay calm.

Lance had woken as I prepped for the blood shed about to happen.

"K-Keith? What are you-" His voice trailed off as he noticed I had cut open his jeans, and tightened the tourniquet above his knee.

I had used some of the morphine the freckled girl found on the floor above to help. Kinkade had found an axe and sterilized it.

"Keith, wait. Keith don't do this." Lance shrieked eyeing the axe.

"It's gonna be okay Lance." I spoke quietly.

"Keith dammit listen to me!" Lance cried. Tears streamed down his face breaking through my composure.

"We can save it. Don't do this please!" Lance begged.