The Planet Among the Stars (Completed)

Chapter 6

A voice made my eyes open, "You awake?"

I sat up. I hadn't brought a coat with me, but there was one around me when I woke up.

A familiar face looked me in the eye.

I tilted my head, "Shaun?"

"What are you doing here?" he asked in response.

"I- uh." I looked around. What was I doing here?

I reached into my pockets and pulled out a piece of paper.

It was a note.

"Hey, isn't that mine?" Shaun asked me.

I nodded, handing it to him, "So it was yours."

He stumbled back, "Your hands are freezing!"

"Yeah." I answered, "What happened?"

"Someone tried to drug you and kidnap you. At least that's what I assume. I think she was on drugs."

"All I remember was she had nice clothes."

Shaun nodded, "Probably stolen."

"Well... uh thanks for saving my life."

"Yeah. No problem."

This was by far the longest conversation I've had with Shaun. And even thought we had only talked for a few seconds, he was reminding me of Abby.

As my memory came back I remembered what had happened. Suddenly my guilt came back, realizing Shaun had saved me and I didn't even try to save his sister. I shook my head, feeling an urge to leave.

But for Alven's sake, I decided to ask Shaun one more question before I started trying to find my way home.

"Are you... coming to Abby's funeral?" I suddenly felt choked up.

Shaun said nothing, avoiding eye contact.

I repeated my question a little louder.

He didn't answer for a few seconds, then shook his head no.

"Why not?" I asked.

"Just cause... I can't go back."

"Why not?"

"Just because. I can't attend Abby's funeral."

Struggling to stay calm because of my growing burden of guilt, I yelled, "But, she's your sister!"

"I can't go back," he yelled back.

I stood up, "Your sister just died, and you can't go attend her funeral."

"Yep."

Yelling at him seemed useless. But my mind was crashing. The anger, the guilt...

I needed to get away, "Which way do I go?"

Shaun pointed west.

I nodded and began walking towards the opposite of where the sun was rising. My eyes started seeing double and suddenly I felt trapped. My legs refused to move in time as I crashed into a tree.

Shaun came behind me, "I don't think you're well enough to walk 4 hours home."

I laid my hand over my forehead. Red splotches of liquid covered it.

"I need to get home," I mumbled.

He brushed off the bark on my shoulder, "You won't be able too at this rate."

"But I need-"

"You literally crashed into a tree while walking."

I moaned, pain surging, and almost fell onto the ground but Shaun grabbed my arm and pulled me up.

"I can get home. I'll be fine."

"I'm not letting someone who clearly needs help, is lost, and literally bleeding go ahead and walk home for 4 hours without any treatment or rest."

"Fine, I won't go yet."

Shaun grabbed his water bottle and dumped some water onto a napkin he held. He gave it to me and I dabbed the cut on my forehead. My hands were stringing from the cold, despite the sunshine around me. However Shaun had let me borrow his coat for a while now so I wasn't as cold as I was yesterday.

"Are you cold?" I asked Shaun.

He shook his head, "No."

"You're shivering."

"It's fine." he sighed.

I touched his coat, "Do you want your coat back?"

"I said I'm fine. Yeesh."

Who knew Abby's brother could be so rigid?

We didn't talk much more for the rest of the day. Actually, I hardly saw Shaun for the rest of the day. Despite being was extremely bored, hungry and still cold, I managed to get in a few hours long nap.

It was 9:08 P.M. when I woke up. I decided to stand up and look for Shaun. I walked around slowly for a little bit, stopping to sit down and rest every so-often. Finally I heard a small noise and followed it to find Shaun. I snuck up behind him, noticing he was holding something.

In his hand was a pencil and the most beautiful picture I had ever laid eyes on.

The picture had small splotches of water with puddles around it.

As he sniffled I realized he hadn't drawn those.