Confusion clouded my mind as I forced my eyes to open. They snapped shut straight away. It was too bright, and too hot. I suddenly became aware of how hot I was, it felt as though my body was on fire. Taking a few deep breaths, I willed my stomach not to lurch, as I held back the urge to puke. I could hear people talking frantically around me, or near me, I couldn't tell where they were. I couldn't understand anything they were saying, although I could tell by the tones of the voices that they were men.
I forced my eyes open, and they stayed open this time. As they focused in the blinding light, I could decipher the outline of a man kneeling beside me, talking to me. My eyes passed over him and focused on the trees that were towering over us, doing a very poor job of blocking out the sun. I decided to ignore what the man was saying and attempt to sit up. Bad idea. As soon as I tried to move, my stomach flipped and I had to roll to my left to avoid puking all over the strange man.
I felt a comforting hand patting my back as I gagged. I sat like that for a few minutes until my stomach was empty. Rolling onto my back, I decided to look at the man. He looked so tired, and worn. His blue green eyes surveyed me carefully, as he bit his lip nervously. Why was he nervous?
''Did you get bit? '', he asked in a low husky voice. I watched the beads of sweat drip down strands of his dark hair, as I slowly shook my head.
''Are you sure? '', he asked as he pressed a hand gently to my forehead. I nodded slowly. He leaned back on his heels and looked over his shoulder.
''No signs of bites. We need to get her out of the sun''' , he informed someone. I wanted to protest, to tell them to leave me. But I couldn't find my voice. I heard another male voice begin to answer, as I gave in to the darkness again.
The feeling of my stomach turning over woke me up. I was swaying…Moving. My face was too hot, I could barely breathe. Opening my eyes I discovered why. My face was burried into someones chest, I could feel my own breath on my face. Tilting my head, I looked up.
''Well, good morning sunshine. Decide to wake up?'' , he asked in a southern drawl. I could feel the panic rising in my chest. Who was he? where were we going? Why the hell was he wearing a woolen poncho in this weather? Glancing behind him, he dropped his voice.
''We're not going to hurt you. We have a small camp, all hauled up in a train station near here. That's where we're going. We have a doctor who'll help you'' , he explained , attempting a smile. I could hear a few voices behind us. Not many, maybe two or three, talking among themselves.
I tried to ask him why he was carrying me, but a searing pain up my left leg answered my question. I could feel the dried in blood under my stained jeans. The knife was missing from my calf, the man must've taken it out. I hadn't bothered.
I tried to thank him, but my voice wouldn't work. I couldn't get any sound to come out. My vocal chords were wrecked from all the screaming and yelling I had done the previous night. Tears burned my eyes as I remembered what i had been doing before I passed out.
''Hey, hey it's ok'', he said in a surprisingly soft voice. I shook my head. I didn't want words of comfort.
''You should've left me. '' , I whispered. I felt him stop walking, as he tilted his head down so he could look at me. I glanced up at him, and saw his cold eyes staring at me. I looked away from his questioning gaze, and fixed my eyes upon a loose thread in his poncho.
''Huh?'' he asked .
''You heard me. I wanted to die'' , I answered, as my mind flooded with horrible images that I could never erase. He seemed to be at a loss for words, and his expression looked almost… pitiful.
''Yeah well…Tough. I've carried your ass for miles. Aint gonna waste all that effort just to leave you here to die'', he shrugged as he continued walking. I didn't care where we were going. I didn't care that I was alive. I didn't care that a man I've never before was carrying me, bridal style through the woods.
I lay my head back into his chest, sighed and closed my eyes.