Hypothermia is reduced body temperature that happens when a body dissipates more heat than it absorbs. Hypothermia has two main types of causes. It also occur from any condition that decreases heat production or increases heat loss, but classically occurs from exposure to extreme cold, such as spending every winter night outside with nothing but a poorly built fire. The treatment of mild hypothermia involves warm drinks, warm clothing, and physical activity, which we have... none of. We have sweaters, at best.
Every night, despite his many protests, all the clothes I could spare without being nude went to Tyler. He sat up grumpily with his arms crossed as I told my tales of strange people with stranger powers while forcing another jacket onto him.
"You're going to freeze, Kylie." He mumbled as I zipped up the jacket.
"I haven't turned to ice yet, have I? Now hush and let me tell my story." As I went on, Tyler's objections died out, and his mood lifted, the excitement in his eyes practically gleaming by the end.
"There's no way..." He trailed off.
"You don't have to believe me." I shrugged, starting to stroke the top of Boe's head. "Trust me, I can hardly wrap my brain around it."
"So you have powers?" He asked eagerly, and I paused, shaking my head after a moment's thought.
"Of course not." His face showed disappointment, but his enthusiasm had yet to be dampened.
"How can you be sure?" He pressed on.
"Nothing's changed, Tyler. I feel no different today than I did yesterday. I'm not a different person just because some weirdos told me I'm supposed to be."
"Well," he paused, yawning and lying on Boe again. "Maybe you just need time to figure it out." And with that, he was out like a light. I heaved a sigh and continued petting Boe. I knew we couldn't continue to just live in the snow. It was already below freezing, and I couldn't risk the temperature getting lower. For Tyler's sake, not my own. He was too sick to deal with such frigid conditions for much longer.
I made up my mind. For him.
The next day was a rather rude awakening. The sound of a nearby someone heaving alerted my senses, and I sat up groggily. My muscles were tight from the exposure to the cruel winter elements. I stretched and stood up, my vision blurring for a few moments. I stumbled over to where Tyler was busy emptying his already vacant stomach. The smell of bile hit my nose, and I winced. Boe was standing near him, wagging his tail and probably hoping to eat whatever came up. I never did understand why dogs enjoy that.
"Boe, get back." I ordered, and the canine complied, backing away and looking at me with curious eyes. I knelt down next to Tyler, putting a hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "We need to get you water and something to eat."
"If I eat, it'll just come right back up," Tyler replied shakily. He was a trembling mess.
"Then we'll start off small," I got up and offered him a hand. "C'mon, I'm sure they have rice or toast or something."
"They?" He questioned after standing.
"We're going to the base I told you about. I'm sure they wouldn't mind you staying, and they probably want their dog back." I said with a sigh. Tyler's eyes lit up.
"You say this like it's a bad thing."
"We're getting you shelter and food. That's about the only good thing about it," I said, starting to walk in the direction I came from last night. We didn't need to worry about carrying any belongings with us. The few blankets we had were tattered, torn, soaked, and frozen over. No use in bringing them.
"You're getting that stuff too, you know." I didn't reply, just kept focus on where we were going. The all-too-brightness of the landscape made it hard to even tell which way was left and which was right. It all looked like the same, white coat. "There has to be someone there that was tolerable." Tyler insisted. I thought back to Piper, remembering how she stood up for me and showed actual compassion. The others were fine until they started agreeing to selling me to some douche.
I remembered Piper's kind eyes, her fiery hair, and her charming smile. A small smile of my own crept its way onto my face, along with a tinge of pink.
"I know that look," Tyler gasped. "Who is she? Who is she?!" He asked eagerly.
"It's no big deal, really. She just..." I trailed off.
"What's her name?"
"Piper."
"What's she like?"
"She's... amazing," I said, breathlessly. "The first time I saw her, she... she took my breath away. She's like no one I've ever met. I was scared and confused and she went out of her way to help me and comfort me, and I-" I stopped walking, staring silently ahead of me. Tyler slowed to a stop next to me.
"You what?"
"I let her down." Sadness and shame dripped from my voice as the words tumbled out. "She only wanted to help, and I blamed her."
"I'm sure she's not mad. Perhaps a bit upset, is all. Who knows, maybe she likes you too?" I shook my head, but remained silent. The thought was ridiculous.
Tyler and I took several breaks along the way to the base; Tyler had far too little strength to make it there in one continuous walk. Boe was grateful for the stops as well. The poor guy hadn't had anything to eat or drink since last night. None of us had, I suppose.
The weather was much more forgiving today than it had been. The temperature was still frigid, but snow had yet to fall. We marched through snow-covered streets and frostbitten fields, leaving mushy footprints in our wake. I looked around and recognized a few street signs from my previous voyage.
"We're almost there," I stated. "It should be just up this hill a bit." Tyler opened his mouth to respond, but was promptly shut up by a hand covering his mouth, resulting in him jumping and letting out a small, muffled yelp of surprise. I spun around to get a look at who had accompanied us, but they were already dragging Tyler into the nearby woods. "Hey!" I shouted, running after them.
"Shh!" The person let go of Tyler and looked up at me. "I'm sorry for the roughhousing. I didn't think I could get you to come with me another way." I was speechless. It wasn't a person at all. The girl standing before me was slightly transparent and took on a pale blue color. She had an aura around her that seemed to glow. Looking closer, a tinge of strawberry colored hair blended in with the blue. She must have noticed my shocked expression. "Yes, I know. I look like a ghost. I've been through this."
"Who-"
"What are you?" Tyler interrupted me. I slapped his arm.
"No, no. That's alright. I'm used to it," the girl said with a small smile. "I'm Elise. What I am is... a bit more complicated." She said in a hurry. Neither Tyler nor I responded. "I'm sorry. I don't have time to explain right now. I dragged you over here to warn you."
"Warn us?" We said in sync.
"You're going back to the base right?" Elise questioned.
"You know about the base?" I asked.
"Just answer the question!" She sounded desperate.
"How am I supposed to trust you? I've been informed to just literally no one!"
"Look, I'm trying to help you," she pleaded. "Please, just trust me. I don't have a lot of time." I stared at her for a long while, then took a deep breath.
"Yes. We're going to the base."
"Whatever it takes, get everyone out of there." I was confused. Wasn't it supposed to be a safe place? "The crazy ramblings of a transparent stranger might be hard to comprehend, but-" Elise stopped mid-sentence and breathed in sharply. It looked as if she were in pain.
"What's wrong?" Tyler asked. Bless this caring child.
"Please just..." Elise looked at us with the most concerned expression I'd ever seen. Before I could say anything in return, she had cried out in pain and dissipated into thin air, much to our surprise. Her last order before she was gone sent a shiver down my spine.
"Run."
