Astra Chronicles

Chapter 21: Stitch in the Forest

"T-Travis?" I didn't have enough strength to say anything else.

His eyes were barely opened as more blood dripped from his mouth. I could tell he was slowly losing his consciousness.

"Oh god. . ." I covered my lips with my hand. It was my first time seeing so much blood and it didn't help that I knew whose blood it was. "What happened?"

I picked up my phone and forced myself to scan it over the him and the place to inspect for any danger.

Travis coughed a little. "I-it. . . at. .tacked. . me."

What?

"What do you mean?" I asked as I noticed a huge cut on the right side of his abdomen and thick blood gushing from the indention of his neck.

He started coughing even more. As he tried to speak.

"What attacked you?" I panicked a little and stepped closer to him, intending to put pressure on his wounds.

Travis continued to groan and cough instead of answering me. The rhythmic flashes of light from his yoctochip was decelerating.

"Oh no, Travis. . . no. . ." I felt my tears and desperation.

He couldn't just. . . not like this.

As I tried to lean close, a firm hand pulled my arm backwards.

"Don't."

With much shock, I turned swiftly only to meet Tram's stern face.

"Tram?" My voice cracked.

"Don't get too close or touch anyone and anything with blood," he said.

Tram was still wearing the same clothes he had on from the Last Dance.

But the way he looked so calm and unfeeling while a schoolmate was in front of him and was on the verge of dying. . .

No.

Tram wouldn't be cold-hearted.

"We-we need to-to. . .help him," I trembled as I peeled Tram's hand off my arm.

"H. . .ehlp. . ." Travis coughed more blood as the lights from his chip faded even more signaling how his heart beats were growing weaker.

"P. .leas. . se. . ."

Tram's hands tightened even more as I shakily attempted to approach Travis again. I snapped and faced Tram's stoic face.

"He's nearly gone, Skyler," he declared almost too coldly. "There's nothing we can do. Let's leave."

My eyes widened at him in disbelief. I was unable to make sense of it. Did I hear him right?

How could he just say that?
This dying boy was his schoolmate!

Tram. . . Why was he acting different?

He wouldn't be like this.
The Tram Rosenhelt I knew was gentle, warm and kind.

"Y-You!" I pointed an accusing finger at him. "You're not--We can't just leave Travis!"

I burst into tears as the desperation coupled with guilt and frustration inside me spiraled out of control.

"Skyler. . ." He uttered with a softer voice. "He's gone. . ."

I didn't look back.

I knew that already.
The coughs stopped.

I didn't have to check. Because the truth was I knew that Travis was not gonna make it and Tram was right. There was nothing we could do.

Just by the decelerated and faded lights from his chip, anyone could tell he wouldn't last long. Even if we had called adults to save him.