Through the Lense

Chapter 4: Wake

At first it seemed like she was dreaming. This soldier who was so close to death, is waking up before her eyes. The boy moaned in pain as he tried to sit up. He patted his sides searching for a weapon, a knife kept hidden in a pocket.

"It's okay! Don't move, you're hurt. Just stay still."

Arthur's eyes were wide in terror. Who is this girl? Where am I? Why am I not dead yet? All these questions ran through his mind until the pain registered and his focus moved to his body. He wasn't one to cry but the intensity of the pain made his eyes water. He was on fire. His body was throbbing around the bullet wounds that were scattered through his arms and leg. His chest was freed from the heavy weight of his bulletproof vest, but burns adorned his tanned skin.

"Who?" His voice was hoarse from screaming during the attack. "How long?" Arthur croaked out a few questions, none of which he was given an answer to. The blonde girl beside him was frozen in shock.

"I... my name is Silvia. You're safe." The girl finally spoke but her voice was soft; barely loud enough for his damaged ears to hear. "Do you still remember your name?"

"Why... wouldn't I?" Arthur wheezed and coughed lightly. His lungs were burning as he coughed up what he could only assume was the mass amounts of smoke he inhaled. "Arthur... is my name."

"Are you okay?"

"Do I look okay?" Arthur snapped. Breathing hurt. Talking hurt. Moving hurt. "Everything hurts," he cried.

"Please don't cry," she said in a soothing tone. Her fingertips continued to brush through his hair. "Stay calm. Breathe." Her hushed tone put him at peace.

"You've been here for a few hours. I don't know what happened or how you got to the fields but... I'm sorry."

"Why?" Arthur strained to keep his eyes open and continue speaking to the kind girl.

"We did this to you," she sighed. "Do you mind if I ask you about it?" No words came from the mouth of the soldier. He was still, eyes closed, and lips parted.

"Arthur? Hey, are you awake?" Her voice softened with concern. "Arthur?"

She reached for his neck and pressed two fingers just below his jaw. A slow, weak pulse told her he wasn't dead yet. "Arthur, you need to wake up." She placed a hand to his head and realized he was incredibly hot. She almost didn't want to hold her hand there. "Please wake up now."

Once again, response left his chapped lips. "I'm sorry Arthur. I saw this on TV once. I hope it works." The blonde pulled him on the blanket into the bathroom. She hoisted his body into the shower and turned the faucet to the coldest it could get. She stepped in and sprayed the soldier's body until his clothes and skin were drenched and his hair was dripping. "Please don't die on me!"

He coughed not long after; his body shivered violently. "What the hell!" He tried to get away but slipped and crashed his back into the wall, opening stitches on his shoulder and knocking the wind from his screaming lungs. Arthur growled in pain and glared harshly at her. if looks could kill, she'd be worse off than him.

"I'm sorry!" Silvia turned off the water, finding herself freezing as well. She wrapped him in a towel and dried his face. "I had to wake you up somehow."

"Was that necessary?" Arthur snatched the towel from her and pressed it to his now open wound. "I need you to get me something really hot; glowing red," the soldier instructed.

Silvia shivered. "What are you going to do with it?"

"Close the wound obviously. It's how my buddy did it when we were ambushed. Burned the hell out of me though."

"After you're better, would you tell me what happened to you? What our soldiers did to you?"

"I could tell you now! They attacked us in our sleep and wiped out almost all my friends!" The boy's voice cracked in anger. His eyes watered and small tears dropped from the corners, beading up on his long eyelashes.

"We did that?"

He turned his head sharply and huffed. "Just get me something to stop me from bleeding please. I'd rather not talk about how my friends were slaughtered in their sleep."

Silvia shuddered in fear. War is disgusting. Every time she looked at Arthur, was a grim reminder. "I'm sorry," she sobbed. She balled into her hands. "I wish people wouldn't have to die."

"Shut up!" Arthur inhales sharply as he yells at her. His body cries with every move and every breath. "Just shut up. Please... I don't want to think about it."

"Sorry," the girl replied timidly.

"Just help me stop the bleeding. And stop apologizing. It's annoying." She nodded and ran out the door in a fit.

The soldier shoved his hand in the front pocket of his pants and pulled out a few wet photos. He huffed in annoyance and placed them on the lavatory. The blond girl rushed back with a first aid kit in hand, opening it only to have most of it fall to the ground.

"There should be some gauze in here. Maybe we can wrap up some of the other areas where you're bleeding."

He dabbed the towel around his bleeding shoulder again before tossing it into the bathtub. "Just do something before I lose anymore blood. I'm probably anemic already. I can't afford to lose what little I still have."

"Right!" She shook herself from a somewhat dazed state and tenderly cleaned and dressed the wound. After multiple layers of cotton and gauze, she was satisfied with the job. "I'll get you something to eat. Can you make it back to my room across the hall?"

"I'll try my best," he sarcastically mutters. Arthur leaned on the wall, using it as a crutch to get him to the floor of her room.

Silvia darted around the kitchen reaching for a plate on the counter. The leftover food from her parents should suffice. With the dish warmed and in hand she rushed back to him. He sat lazily on the floor with his head tilted up, leaning against the bed.

She placed the plate on the floor with a clank and frowned. "How long has it been since you've eaten something like this?" She stared at the plate of meat and vegetables.

"2 years maybe... most stuff they serve isn't as pretty looking. But it gets the job done. Now can I eat?"

"Right sorry." She stared at her hands as she cut the food into smaller bites.

"I'm not a child," he complains as she lifts the fork to his lips. Arthur swats her hand away defiantly.

"Oh... sorry. It must be maternal instincts or something," she laughs dryly.

"You apologize too much," he stated coldly. "If you are going to apologize for it just don't do it."

Silence fell across the room. Nothing but heavy breaths filled the air.

"Sorry. I probably sound harsh. I just don't like people looking down on me," he coughed out.

Silvia shook he head, whipping her wet hair over her shoulders. "I don't look down on you! You're strong to stay alive through this. I think that makes you admirable."

The soldier held his aching chest. "I have too many people I have to live for. If I die now, my life means nothing. I have to get back home, alive."

Silvia began tearing up again. Her heart throbbed violently. "I misjudged you. I'm sorry."

"I'm also guilty of that. When I'm better, let's start over alright."

"Yes," she cried softly. "We'll meet each other properly and start anew."

"Gosh, stop gushing you're not the one bleeding out," Arthur jokes.

"Sorry. Oops..." she laughed and passed him the plate. "You should eat. I'll see if my dad had a shirt you can borrow."

"Please do. I don't like looking at these burns. It makes me sick to my stomach." Arthur's pain was not only external, his heart hurt seeing his body in such terrible condition. The healing process would be quite long and even after he's healed, the scars will never leave. His family will be stuck seeing him like this forever. What if I scare Cicely? Arthur frowned and ate quietly. It doesn't seem to scare Silvia. Maybe it's not that bad.