Fault Lines

Chapter 9 ~ Present

Chapter 9

April 23rd - After

Shivers wracked my body, and I tried to tuck the covers closer to me. November leaned close to me, pressing his hand to my forehead with a worried expression shadowed on his face. I had broke a fever a few days ago, and it has gotten worse.

"I-I'm so c-cold." My teeth chatter, and I can't get enough heat for my body.

November pulls off his sheets and bring them over to me, placing them atop mine. "To much heat will make you temperature rise." He says calmly, studying the floor.

I take a ragged breath and close my eyes, I've been lacking sleep because of my congestion. November has tried to consult the man in black about it whenever he brings food, but he fails every time- ending up with a busted lip or another punch to the face. I've told him to stop- he still needs to rest, and I don't want him to get hurt for me. The man in black won't budge, saying that I need to get better on my own without drugs to help me.

I personally think he needs to go on some drugs himself for the crazies.

"I hope he doesn't take me while I'm sick," I say, staring up at the dark ceiling. "It would be even harder to heal."

November sighs and rests his back against the wall of his bed, his blue eyes blank with emotion.

I wondered what he did if he became sick. Does he just fight it off, or is he just kind of immune to getting sick easily?

"I don't think he will." November finally says after a pause.

I remembered a time when I was around nine years old, and I had caught the flu. My mother never bothered to get a flu shot for me, but she immediately regretted it when I had to be charged in the emergency room because I had gotten so sick. I had never felt so bad in my life, and it took almost a month for me to start running around again at school. I hoped I didn't have that here, or who knew what could happen. At some point, November and I needed to escape- or at least try to. Otherwise, sooner or later I would imagine we would die down here.

"November?"

"Yeah?"

I inhale a sharp breath, afraid of what his reaction to my question would be.

"Have you thought about escaping?" I had never bothered to ask him that question- or myself to be honest. I was just to scared to even think about it at first, but the new Hazel has mustered up her strength, finally.

His face drains of color, and he turns away. I feel the muscles in my forehead crease against my eyebrows.

"Yes, but it's worthless. I've tried before."

His voice is filled with certainty, which makes my stomach fall.

"Just because you have tried before doesn't mean you just give up." I rasp, having a coughing fit after words.

November pushes himself off the bed and helps me up, where I can clear my throat. Black stars appear behind my eyes, and I sway.

"You need to sleep." November soothes, putting the covers back over me once I've settled back down.

I didn't know if he dodged the question or if he was just trying to help me.

When November started to lay next to me to help my shivers, I gently push him away. I needed to think for awhile, and my gut told me I needed to do it alone.

"I'm better," I try to say without my teeth chattering- so I bite the inside of my cheek. I start to feel blood in a matter of minutes, and lay off the skin.