The Search and Rescue Project

The Seacrh and Rescue Project part 3

This time, I was in a dense wood. My head swung back and forth without me moving it. My vision was blurry as if I had a fever, and an intense fear that was not mine kept me tense. I rubbed my hand over my hair, and some fell out. I looked in horror at the white strands I was holding.

                I was Francis, I realized. He had escaped and was somewhere outside. I was dragged into his mind as his thoughts became more urgent. Must tell the others what is happening. It will be too late... A wall rose between my mind and his. What is happening? What will be too late? I wanted to shout.

                Francis sensed someone behind him. The telltale crunch of leaves was quiet, but coming closer. With startling agility, Philip jumped out from the crouch he had been holding and scrambled up the nearest tree. He did this silently. Like a ninja, I thought. Or  maybe a squirrel.

                A loud bang startled me and if not for the body being Philip's, I would've fallen out of the tree. My breathing constricted and I had to remind myself that it wasn't me. I wasn't prepared for what happened next. I felt my skin prickle right before a small pop sounded, nothing compared to before. An animal-like whimper escaped my mouth as I fell to the ground. Red wetness blossomed from my chest and my legs and arms felt as if they had been snapped to pieces.  I was shivering violently. Just before Philip passed out, I glimpsed the man who had shot me. It was the communicator from before.

                I woke up, gasping in pain. My arms and legs were on fire, and my chest was consumed by a violent, painful throbbing. It shouldn't hurt, I thought, I'm not in Francis anymore.

                My breathing shook and rattled. Every breath I took was painful and took more effort than it should have. I was shivering, my entire body convulsing.  I could sense Caleb and someone else yelling around me.

                I felt a sharper pain in my arm, then nothing. Through the rapidly dulling agony, I thought, morphine. All faded, but it was pleasant, almost blissful this time.

I came to in stages. First I gained my sense of touch. There was no pain now, just calm. I then started to hear voices. Caleb's I recognized immediately, followed by Jason and Cam. They spoke in hushed tones, as if they were afraid to wake me. I opened my eyes slowly and then winced as they adjusted to the light. It was Caleb who realized I was awake and rushed to my side. Tilting my head, I could see a machine with tubes entering my arm. An IV. Oh, yay. I was I a white room, and I panicked as I thought of the first dream- or foresight, as Caleb had called it. I heard a loud beeping as a different machine registered the change. How many things was I plugged into?

                I looked over at Caleb. He was biting his lip, something he always did when he was anxious. "Caleb?" I gestured for him to come closer. I then yelled in his ear. "What is your problem!"

He jumped back, rubbing his ear. I wasn't done. "You went through that and didn't tell me?" I said, my voice a low growl. "Caleb, in case you didn't realize, I'm not six anymore. I'm a big girl, and I don't appreciate being kept out of it. Okay? I can handle it." I swung my legs from the bed and straightened up, only to have Caleb grab my arm as I fell forward. He brought me back to the bed, then sat on the edge. He stared at his hands.

                Again with the silence? I was getting sick of this. I opened my mouth, but a fierce look from Jason made me close it again. I glared coldly at him. He had to have known, and he didn't find it important enough to mention? It was silent for a moment until Caleb spoke. He sounded as if he was trying very hard not to yell, as his voice seemed clenched. "You think I wanted to tell you?" I flinched at his tone. "Do you think I wanted to tell you how much I would dread going to sleep because it might happen? That I would spend hours unable to say a word because everything hurt too much to? That I would cry from what I saw? Do you?" he said, his voice rising. "Caleb-"

"Be quiet. I told you now, and it's all my fault that you're going to go through what I have to every day. I'm sorry." He stood and left the room. I looked around, at Jason and Cam. They hadn't heard what I had, what Caleb had said under his words. Couldn't you tell? All of that and you never guessed? I felt like the worst person on the planet.  I had left him alone for that, all this time.

                I stood and went outside. I found Caleb sitting in a chair in the hall, head in his hands. I sat down next to him and hugged him. I know, a hug to repair all of that. After a minute, his body un-tensed and his shoulders began to shake. I felt so low, sitting there knowing I couldn't do anything to help him now. All I could do was sit with him, and hope that would be enough. The message he had sent unknown to the others ran through my mind over and over. I never noticed, I was so stupid, stupid, stupid.

We sat there until I lost track of how long it had been. Eventually, I think we both dozed off. I woke up dazed, hours later, with a blanket and a pillow behind my head. I was leaning on Caleb, who  sat next to me, his breathing deep and even. I settled myself on the floor and lowered Caleb onto my chair. I lay staring at the ceiling, thinking over everything that had happened and listened to Caleb's steady breathing. I fell asleep wondering if he was dreaming, or if I was going to.