Free *Editing*

Chapter 3

The two of them slept until noon.

Birdy is the first to awaken. She immediately becomes acutely aware of the aching sensation in her ribs and on her head. She raises her left arm and pets the wound wrapped tightly under her makeshift tourniquet. Some blood has seeped through the light fabric, but not enough to cause concern. She notices that it must be the bruising she has noticed, or perhaps a mild concussion. She moves down to her ribs. A different story, she hadn't noticed the night before due to the adrenaline and dire means of the predicament, but her lower side is purple and green. The skin is tender to the touch, and it hurts to breath. She forces herself to take deep breaths and shuffles out the pain, waking Barn. His attention promptly cues to the surrounding noises. The city is alive, unlike last night when they ran in half dead. A few blocks away, people can be heard talking in drones. They seem like a white noise to Barn. His eyes scan for any immediate dangers, as he had not intended to fall asleep. A few apartments away, a woman in white booty shorts and a huge black sweater throws a bag of garbage into one of the bins. She looks over at Barn for a moment, before walking back into the building. Above them, a man argues with a female in his kitchen, and the sound moves from the house onto the patio and onto them.

Barn wipes his eyes and finally looks over at Birdy, he expects her to be asleep. So when her green eyes meet his he frowns and gets a better look at her head.

"That hurt?" He asks and bends the fabric so her can get a closer look. He sighs before she can answer. "Could have been a lot worse, considering we got in a car crash." Birdy leans away and massages her ribs. "And fought an Agni...." She knows Barn is about to ask about her recent injury, she explains just as he is opening his mouth.

"Broken rib, or, maybe a fractured one. It doesn't hurt so bad." The discoloration of her skin says different. Barn tries to stand up, but his face goes white and he falls onto his back. Birdy gasps and jumps up to look at his gash in the broad daylight.

She was such an idiot! She should have known it was worse than what it seemed. The wound is deep, and she sees his muscles twitch under the folded pieces of skin. Although small in length, the depth of the wound makes her sick to her stomach. Dark red blood soaks into his black shorts and trail down his bare skin to his shoes. He swallows noticing the severity of the injury.

"You need stitches." Birdy orders and bites her lower lip. Barn offers a plan. "If we find a shelter, they may have a doctor on sight. I know that's a thing." Birdy tries not to sound pessimistic when she replies. "Maybe.." She sheepishly stares off into the distance. "We could find a hospital." Barn shakes his head. "And get arrested for illegal trespassing and crashing a car through Celedora's front gate? Fuck no."

It's hard for her to agree, ever instinct is telling her to get help as fast as she can. Barn's leg could easily get infected. May already be, and with these injuries they cant run the risk of getting into any more fights without proper treatment.

Barn stares at his sisters sad gaze with admiration. "It's ok Bird, lets just find Eastbank. They have shelters their. That was our plan right?"

"Right..." Barn leans over and taps her on the forehead twice.

"Cheer up Bird, we're alive. Unlike the others. We are lucky. We are gonna keep being lucky."

He gestures with his head. "Now help me up." Birdy smiles and some life springs into her eyes. She wraps her hand around Barns hip and he puts his arm around her shoulders. She gets him on his feet and he takes a second to feel out the wound. It aches a little, but he is to numb to feel the pain. He can walk on his leg still, as the wound is around the thick of his thighs. He lets go of his sister and takes a few small steps.