Down Under

Chapter 8

(Treys point of view)

I watch her sleep that morning. She's wearing a long sleeved jacket, and yes, i understand that it's cold, but I also know she's trying to hide the bite.

I won't say anything, because I know they will take her up and study her, but eventually she has to tell me.

I gently wake her up, because today the commander is going to take us on a little 'field trip' with the gatherers.

She changes into a short sleeve t-shirt, and I glance at her arm.

The mark is gone.

We walk Hand in hand to the breakfast area, where we each are served a plate of..

Mush.

She keeps her arms in her jacket, I don't think she knows the mark is gone.

She cuddles next to me to keep warm. It feels good. The choosers did a great job.

The commander yells at us to meet the gatherers in the blueberry field about another 3 miles away. So, we run three mileS.

Cindys POV

The choosers are wearing a different kind if camo, and protective shields are in their hands, along with bags over their shoulders.

One squeals when she finds a gun, not much different than the ones we use, and then everything happens quickly.

Someone throws a rock at her, slamming into her back. Everyone scatters, hiding into bushes, trees, behind big boulders, ect and Trey pulls me into a bush I know all too well.

Friggin poison ivy.

It's about 2 minutes until I start to itch, but I know better than to move. A small ship flies over us and is obviously scanning the field. I'm careful not to breathe too hard.

The ship flies away about 5 minutes later, but we wait for about an extra 10 minutes and I'm itching like crazy.

Finally, when I see people coming out from the hiding spots, I jump out and start scratching the red bumps all over my body.

"Fuck you, Trey!" I say when I spot him. He had enough time to zip up his jacket and pull up his hood, and by keeping his head ducked, his face was completely clear.

"Sorry, Cindy." He mutters. he walks up to me and tries to help me, but i shrug away from him.

I grab the jacket from around my waist and grab some ointment from the emergency pack they make us keep in out overly large pockets. I run the blue ick all over my arms and face and neck and shoulders.

I walk up to the girl that squealed. She has curly red hair pulled into two ponytails and soft green eyes that are filled with tears. Her cute button nose is on top of the thin lips that are moving.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! Don't whip me!" She cowers.

"They whip you guys?" I whisper.

"Y-yeah, if we are too loud or do anything t-that brings the lumen to us." She shivers. "A-aren't you gunna.."

"No! Aren't- weren't you in my Science class? You're names Freya, right?" She nods.

I remember her! She was an adorable, quiet, innocent girl who always say in the back of class. She was a ab honor student and was always buried in a book. I asked her for a pencil every once in a while. How was she chosen for a gatherer? She isnt strong enough for this. emotionally or physically. She's better off dead.

"Uh, Cindy..." She whispers, and falls to the ground. 

I kneel down next to her and gasp. There is blood, blood everywhere. shes covered in it, from head to toe, and i dont even know where its coming from. I try to help her, but honestly, I wish i didnt have to see her struggle like this, for her to hurt so much. 

I wish this never happened.

All of a sudden, its like a clock is ticking behind my head, rewinding. it get louder, And louder, until i finally cannot take it anymore and fall to the ground, my hands squeezed against my ears, and Im screaming "Stop!"

Just like that, the sound diminishes, and its silent. A hand lays on my shoulder, Trey.

"Hey, Cindy. Are you Okay?" He helps me up. 

"Uh. Yeah, its Just... The- Freya- Poison Ivy.... Uh, the poison ivy got to me. Yeah." I squeak out.

"The poison ivy is gone!" He gasp when he puls up my sleeve. 

I stare at my arm. The red bumps that were there 10 minutes ago were gone. Was it the blue ick? 

No. It was the bite.