Abide » Alden

12. Family

I watch Alden's limp body rise with shallow breaths. As the wagon rolls over bumps, his head lolls to the side.

"Do you know what his blood type is?" the doctor stares at me.

I shake my head full of regret, "No."

"What about yours?" He asks.

I look at him puzzled, "O negative... I think?"

His eyes practically light up, "That'll work."

"When can I give blood?" I anxiously ask, leaning forward.

The doctor shakes his head, "Not until we get to camp. It would be dangerous to attempt it in the wagon."

I roughly lean back to the wall defeated. "Will he make it?" I timidly ask, afraid of the answer.

"He should, considering he only lost consciousness just as we arrived."

I close my eyes in silent prayer that Alden will be okay.

Time goes by annoyingly slow until the wagon finally comes to a stop. I leap out of the vehicle just to be met with a wall of guards.

The guards separate to let a hairy man with a gnarly scar across his face through. Before I can back away, he grabs me by the shoulders and slams me into the side of the wagon face first.

I watch the doctor lead a now conscious Alden out of the wagon. He stopped the bleeding before we entered the wagon.

Alden's eyes widen as they settle on me before narrowing with little energy to spare.

I feel cold metal press against my wrists and I assume they put handcuffs on me.

"What the hell?" I exclaim, about to prepare a glob of spit to rain on his face.

The doctor pauses in front of us, "I need her blood to save this man. Take those off."

"No way. She stays in handcuffs," he instructs with a deep gravelly voice and a Jersey accent.

The doctor smugly shrugs his shoulders, "I guess Jonathon is going to have to settle it then." He leads Alden away from the group, "Now. I have to save this man's life. Bring her and take the handcuffs off."

I strain my eyes to watch the man roll his eyes before roughly grabbing my arm. He drags me to follow the doctor to his tent.

We enter the tent and I'm shoved into a worn down chair. The hairy man turns to leave but the doctor stops him. "I said take the handcuffs off." he tuts.

Without a word, the man pulls me out of my seat and haphazardly removes the restraints.

I rub my wrists with emphasis and sarcastically remark, "Thanks."

"Shut up," he mutters as he exits the tent.

I plop down in the chair and hold out my arm. "Alright, Doc. Save his life," I sadly watch Alden lay unconscious on the cot.

"Alright. I'll need at least two pints so you won't be going anywhere for a while. I'll go ahead and get the first pint and let you rest," he grabs the equipment and sits across from me. "I'm Dennis, by the way."

I consider whether I should truly trust him or not before answering, "Paesyn."

"Beautiful name," he idly comments as he prepares to stick a giant needle in my arm by wiping stuff on my inner elbow.

I give a small smile that soon twists into a wince as he presses the needle into my skin.

—

Dennis had to wait until I was done filling the pint bag to administer it to Alden.