"What kind of sickness do they have?" Nico asked Benji.
"I don't know."
"Then what symptoms do they have?" I asked.
"Fatigue, fever, sore throat, shortness of breath and some have these weird abrasions on their arms or legs."
"Benji how old are you?" Angie asked.
"I'm nine."
This kid seems pretty timid but he also seems kind of smart for his age.
"How long have they been sick, and what have you been giving them until now?" Nico asked.
"I think the first person got sick about a week ago. I found some bay geranium over by the canal, so I took that and made it into tea."
"I guess it works for the symptoms." Nico says rubbing his chin. "Let's try and find something for those abrasions you mentioned."
"There's some aloe growing over that way." Benji says pointing back towards the way we found him earlier.
"Good job lil bro, then let's get moving." Nico said enthusiastically.
"I'm happy to see him happy." Angie said watching Nico.
"It's amazing he still is." Lici added. "You noticed how he calls all the guys 'brother' right."
"Maybe he still hasn't fully accepted it yet." Angie stated.
"Accepted what?" I asked.
"You know that Nico had three siblings, all of which have passed on." Lici stated.
"Yeah he told me this morning actually."
"Out of his siblings he was closest to his older brother Nijay. Unfortunately he died during that recent tornado outbreak."
"Oh." I replied looking at Nico.
"Everyone was worried about Nico then, because he wouldn't talk to anybody. During that time was the lowest I've ever seen him."
"At least now he's looking back to normal for the most part." Angie stated.
Everyone really has there own story. My mind flashed back to what Nico told me in the forest yesterday.
"People that I know are waiting for me on the other side. And if dying means that I can be reconnected with the ones I love, and be freed from the never-ending torment of this world. Then I will welcome death with both of my arms wide open. Tell me brother, is there anyone waiting for you on the other side?"
"He's a dependable guy, but I think he needs us more than we need him." I exclaimed.
"If you guys are gonna walk that slow then you might as well go back to the town." Nico said to us.
We spent the next two hours searching the area for various herbs. Nico and Benji essentially educated the rest of us about the different herbs and what they were used for. We also collected a good amount of fruit for ourselves and the others. Thankfully we didn't encounter any infected either so now we're on our way back to the town.
"Benji is your mom and dad also sick?" Angie asked.
"I don't know. They're not in the town."
"Where are they?" Lici asked.
"I don't know. They left four years ago because they wanted to go to the city. They said I would slow them down so they left me here. Clayton looks after me."
We all took went silent for a second and looked at each other.
"Well then you're like me." Lici said with a smile. "My parents left me when I was young too. I think they found it difficult to raise a kid in this ever-changing world. So I really grew up alone."
I guess that's why she said she didn't leave anybody behind in the city, because she never had anybody.
"Well look at us, a group of loners." Nico said cheerfully.
"Shush boy." Angie replied with a grin. "We're almost back to the town."
"I find it strange we didn't see that 'demon' infected that's supposedly four stories tall." Lici stated.
"Yeah and I didn't even hear its whistling." Nico added.
"I heard it." Benji said.
"What? When?" I asked.
"When we were leaving the town and a few more times not too long after that." He replied. "Out of the other kids in town I can hear the highest pitch of its whistling. I was also the first to hear it and people didn't believe me until other kids started to hear it."
"Are you guys sure it's an infected making that noise." I asked.
"Yeah, we've seen it. We haven't seen it a lot but it does show itself every now and then."
That's the one thing I'm worried about if we do have to leave tonight. What do we do if we encounter that thing. They talk about it like it's some mythical creature. I should find out more about it from Clayton later on. Speaking of Clayton, he was sat against a tree waiting for or us at the entrance to the town.
"Rodney told me what you kids were doing." He said standing up as we approached. "Thanks for looking after Benji."
"No problem sir." I replied.
"Is it okay if we see the sick?" Angie asked. "We have medics with us, though we may not have enough supplies to treat everyone."
"Thanks for the suggestion but I wouldn't want you all using your supplies on us when it seems your on a long journey. Also it would be tragic if any of you end up catching the illness."
"Alright then, if there's anything we can do, we'd be happy to as a thanks for letting us stay here." Angie replied.
"I appreciate it. Benjamin let's go."
We handed the bush medicine to Clayton and he thanked us once again before walking off with Benji.
"It's weird that they've been the only two people we've seen so far in this town." Lici stated.
"I thought it was only me getting suspicious." Nico said.
"Let's check back with Rodney before he starts writing his lecture for us." I said.
We went back to the school and found that most of the others formed hunting groups and left the town to search for food. We went to the room where the captains were, knocked and entered inside. I entered first and examined the room to find Rodney, Violet and Captain Kane.
"Nothing yet Francis." Rodney said to me.
...
"We just came to say we've returned." I said after some hesitation.
He still hasn't arrived yet. It's beginning to look more and more that leaving the group is inevitable.
"Zhaire's posted in the courtyard with most of the others if you guys want to assist them." Violet stated.
"Alright thanks." I said walking out the room.
I went back to our classroom and placed my stuff in a corner, and I sat on the ground in that same corner. The windows in here are easy to open, it should be easy to sneak away during the night. I just have to coordinate a time with Lici. Why am I even letting her get involved with this. I thought I would be more excited the first time a girl told me she likes me. Maybe I should leave her out of this...
"You came back."
I raised my head to find Khiara standing by the class entrance.
"Of course I came back."
"I was unsure that you would."
"Why?" I asked as I noticed her gloomy appearance.
...
"Evan still isn't here yet." She said.
"Yeah, any minute now though. I predict he'll be rolling up on the edge of nightfall.
"That optimism doesn't seem genuine. I told you I can read you better than anyone else."
"Then, what are you reading right now." I asked.
"Hmm. A lot of uncertainty." She said. "Remember, one person will never have all the answers. So if there's something you can't figure out, then there's surely somebody else who can."
After saying that she left me alone in the room. She's right. I can't help but to think of all of the challenges between where I am now and where my dad is. What if one of the Captains find out. What if the demon infected prevent us from going anywhere. Then if we do get there, what if something happened to dad and his team and that's why they didn't make it. What is Lici and myself supposed to do then. Am I ready to take the chance that we may find just dead bodies... I punch the ground in frustration and rest my head on my knees.
"This is tedious..."
Later that night.
"Alright, lights out everyone." Zhaire announced walking through the hall.
It happened. Night came but he didn't. A large part of me wish he would show up because to tell the truth I'm a little scared. I haven't talked to Lici anymore for the evening and I secluded myself away from basically everyone else. As I lay in this corner drowning in the dark of the night, a question came across my mind. What would my dad want me to do. Surely he would want his kid to prioritize his own health. He would want me to do my best in this current situation and not do anything to endanger myself. Right? He'd want me to... rest. Rest. Rest...
...
"You know you're a lot like him... I could tell you both always have a lot on your minds but hardly ever talk about it... I hate how you could be indecisive and question your own abilities... Tell your father that I love him as well and both of you betters get the job done."
"Ejay, your slowly growing into a better man than me. Take care of your mother when I'm not around and also take care of yourself. I believe you can because your really good at making decisions. They may not always be the right decisions but always believe one hundred percent in your choices. Do what you want to do. I trust that you'll make the right decisions and you should trust in yourself too."
...
Do what I want to do. What I want?
"Ejay wake up." Lici whispers into my ear.
My eyes open to find Lici leaning over me with her hand on my cheek.
"I fell asleep?"
"Yes you did." She replied. "It should be pass midnight now. Are you ready?"
I rubbed my eyes and grabbed Lici's arm.
"Let's go." I said with a smile.
Quietly we gathered our things and exited through one of the class windows. It's too dark to tell but I think we made it out without waking any of the others in the class.
"Let's not use our flashlights until we're out of the town." I told Lici.
"I'm glad it's a full moon out tonight." She said.
"The moon was full last night as well." I stated.
"You're a professional at sneaking away with girls under the full moon."
"What do you... wait so you saw what happened last night?"
"The end of your conversation. Don't worry though I won't tell anyone. I'm relieved Angie found help after falling into a state like that."
"I'm glad I was able to be there for her."
"I admire you for doing so. However I'm not just gonna let her have you." She said softly.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing, quiet down."
I guess I was worried for nothing about Lici. I feel better actually knowing she saw and her confirming she won't tell anyone. We jogged over to the town's entrance in silence and was about to exit when a flash of light exploded into our faces.
"Don't move." A voice said.
"Who's there?" I asked covering my eyes from the light.
"Since it isn't a hypothetically anymore, let me ask again." The person said moving the light down. "What are you going to do now since your dad didn't show up?"
"Zhaire?"
"I didn't expect you to be here too Lici but I'm not surprised." He said. "Well Ejay, what are you going to do?"
I stare him down intensely and told him...
"I'm not going back. This is the only reason I'm here to begin with. My dad told me to become a searcher, and even though he never gave me a reason why, he trusted me to find the reason myself. He told me to trust in my decisions and what I've decided is that I'm going to save my father. I don't care what the rest of you do, but this was the sole reason I became a searcher in the first place. I didn't come this far to let anybody else decide what I'm going to do. Zhaire, let us pass."
Me and Lici stared him down in silence waiting for his move. He hung his head to the ground and began laughing.
"I told you he wasn't going to back down." Zhaire said to loudly.
"I wasn't expecting him to do so." Violet said walking out of the bushes. "I was intrigued before but now you have my full interest Ejay."
"What's going on here?" I asked.
"I told you I can easily read you." Khiara said as she and Lj also walk into the light. "I overheard your conversation with Lici in the classroom."
"Mom told me to watch over you so of course I had to come when Khiara told me." Lj stated.
"I don't, understand."
"I told you Ejay, if there was anything I can help with I'll do it. This qualifies as something I can help with." Zhaire stated. "I didn't come out here to drag you back, but I did wanted to hear you out. I respect your decision and I'm offering to join you along with the rest of us as well."
"But, why?"
"With me and Zhaire absent, they're forced into a position where they have to wait for us until our return." Violet exclaimed. "Also who knows what could be wrong with your dad's team so it would be best to have a medic accompanying you."
"We were on your side from the beginning, so what do you say Ejay? Ready to move out?" Zhaire asked.
I looked over to Lj and Khiara who were smiling at me.
"You know he's just as much a dad to me as he is to you." Lj stated.
"And I can't let my brothers risk it all while I sit around waiting for them to return." Khiara said.
My shocked expression was seconds away from being drenched in tears. I managed to hold them back but I still covered my face because of what was happening.
"Thank you all. Let's not waste any more time then." I said with a smile.
"Pause comrade!"
I didn't even have to turn around to know who was walking up behind me.
"Nico, what are you doing out here?" I questioned turning around.
"If you're gonna sneak out then at least try to be sneaky." He replied.
"I thought I didn't wake anybody."
"You didn't, but Lici kicked me in my little Nicos."
"Ohhh, that was you." Lici said.
"That doesn't sound like an apology yanno."
"Well you have your bag with you, so I assume your joining us." I said.
"Of course comrade. This is exactly what I live for."
"Alright before we wake up any of the town's people, let's go." Zhaire said.
With that, the seven of us made our way out of the town and on our way to the coast. Wait for me dad.
.....
"AAAAAAAAAARRRGHHHHHH"
"Clayton hold her down, she's fighting me."
"C'mon hunny, breathe for me." Clayton says trying to calm the screaming lady.
"AAAAAGGHHHHUUUUUUUUGHHH. GET IT OOOOUUUUUT!"
"Clayton tie her to the bed."
"How much longer is this going to last?" Clayton asked the other woman.
"This baby is coming out any minute now." She replied.
"UUUUGGHHHH. GET IT OUT! GET IT OUTTT!"