Page 35 (1/2)

Jake comes out next and reaches down into the hole to help Stella She sht of the outside world

I run towards where I know Mitch is sitting

Star steps out from behind the tree where I stashed my weapons last time, "What is this?"

I nod, "Stella, she’s one ant on our side" I point, "Stella, this is Star,Stella srins, "Mitch"

She gives me a sh and Mitch’s cheeks turn scarlet I point at the trail, "We’ve got a long ride ho as we enter the dusty field "This is your village?"

I nod She beams, "It’s perfect"

I smile back at her, "It is"

Nick et offthe sack of needles fro

"Is he okay?"

He shakes his head, "No We need to hurry Did you find antibiotics?"

I shakeout and the far shut down, ended the antibiotics"

His eyes narrow He grabs the sack and runs inside the house I follow hi on the bed with Leo His skin is flushed and sweaty, like Jake’s was I know Jake is behind me I can feel the heat of his ets the syringe out and sticks it into his own arm He pulls the blood back into the needle until it fills He pulls it out and presses a piece of cloth against it He pulls down the sheet on Will’s body and pushes the needle into the scar tissue on Will’s chest and injects the blood

"Give me your arm"

I put it out, he does the same to me and injects it too Nick doesthe fourth needle of our blood into Will, he sits and stares

"Will it work?" I ask

He shakes his head, "I don’t know I know in theory it should, but I don’t know Michael was a nut He had it work on minor infections, like slivers Our blood type is the kind we can give it to everyone" He looks down and back at ative, then he’s screwed We’re O positive"

Jake shakes his head, "Me and Will and Anna are all A positive Dad told us that before he died Same as our mom"

Nick nods, "Then this is the best chance he has" He doesn’t sound convinced He sounds scared and defeated I back up to the wall and slide down it Jake sits next tofor it to work

Eventually, they all leave and I sit alone Even Leo doesn’t want to watch it happen

I climb up onto the bed and curl around hi I drip water into his hs and opens one eye His lips crack when he tries to smile

I don’t s Michael was a crazy bastard, believing hi so hateful You want that to be the last thing I see?"

I lean into his chest, "Don’t leave me Please I need you" I close my eyes and sob silently I don’t wanthe sees either I don’t want there to be a last anything

His hand weakly strokes my head It isn’t the same hand, or the same man, or the sao into despair and darkness, and his death is one of the things thatthe person I was I like themy mind he whispers, "Stop it I made it back to you once, Em I’ll always be here Not even death can keephi buthim to me and pray to God that he leaves hirips my hand to him, "Look at me"

I lift my tear-stained face and shake ets lost in the pain and the fear I can see in his eyes "Promise me, no matter what, you will stay with them and make an effort to not be crazy"

I snort and wipe my face After a minute, I nod, "I won’t ever leave theles for the raspy words, "Keep Anna safe, and Jake"

"I swear I will"

He nods, "I know you will My family is your family" He closes his eyes but mutters, "I love you, Eoodbye in his voice I close my eyes too and restI lie there, before I realize his chest doesn’t rise and fall anyone