Did that Witch kill me?
It was like he was floating. There was nothing to grab and even if there had been, he had no arms to grab with.
No, I can't be dead, Ellis thought, Dead people don't hurt. For while he was unaware of a body, he was aware of pain. It was all concentrated in one area it seemed, but it wasn't too bad.
My back. That's where the claw had gotten him, right? It was hard to remember much of anything. There was a heavy fog covering his mind, slowing down thoughts.
Then he heard voices.
Ro! Nick! Ellis struggled to make out words but the noise was just too muffled. Damn it. What's the point of being awake if ya can't move or nothing? Ellis tried focusing on the voices again. This time he could just barely made out Nick, complaining about something.
Ugh! He was so frustrated. I can't move, I can't talk, this sucks! He yelled inside his head. Then he thought about the pain again. Now that's just annoying.
It was just there and it kept drawing his attention no matter how hard he tried to ignore it. It was like the time his buddy Keith told him not to think about pizza. Well o' course then he couldn't stop thinking about the stuff! Man, he ate three pizzas that day. Ellis' fingers curled thinking about holding the slice.
Wait, his fingers?
He tried moving them again. Yes! The feeling in his body was coming back to him. It was going at an agonizingly slow rate, starting with his fingers and toes. Gradually, he could sense his calves and thighs. Then his arms and shoulders.
Finally, after hours it seemed of waiting, he could feel everything; and oh did it hurt. His back was on fire. Not only did it burn, it also stung like it was being jabbed with a bunch of needles over and over again. Any move he made, no matter how small, made it flare up to where he would nearly black out.
"Ellis? I think he's waking up!"
Must have made a noise. He forced open his eyes and squinted at Rochelle crouched in front of him. It took him a couple tries but then, "Hey Ro." His voice came out raspy and strained.
Nick looked over at Ellis from his spot watching out the safe room door. Had the kid just moved? He stared intently for a few moments before deciding it was a trick of the light.
Night had fallen a few hours ago and the group set up a watch schedule; Tanks don't always conform to normal sleeping hours.
Nick watched outside carefully. He could hear the hacking cough of a Smoker somewhere off in the distance, along with the demented laughing of a Jockey.
Damn Jockeys. He turned away from the door to survey the main room. Ellis still lay on his piece of plywood. They had tried to tuck a blanket under him but Alex had warned them not to jostle him too much. They settled for draping it over his legs.
Coach slept propped against a wall. Rochelle was nearer to Ellis with Hailey. Both were on their sides, sleeping peacefully.
Nick sighed and scratched at his arm. It still itched every now and then after a few drops of Spitter acid had landed on it. He was about to turn back to the door when he heard a yawn and Rochelle sat up. Careful not to disturb the girl, she walked over to him.
"Need a break?" she asked.
"You know, you should have what's-his-face look at that." Nick gestured to her ankle, which she was still favoring.
"It's Alex and I'm fine. I wanted him to focus on Ellis." Rochelle replied.
Nick looked at her sternly, "You can suffer for him Rochelle."
She fidgeted, "I know, it's just…I feel like if he isn't the only one hurting then it won't be so bad. You know? Maybe I could-," she broke off; tears glistened at the corners of her eyes.
Nick put a hand on her shoulder. He knew how she felt. He would never admit it, but seeing the kid like that reminded him of how vulnerable the four of them were. They had been luck so far. Lucky they hadn't been killed getting that psycho is cola. Lucky that Virgil had gotten there before the Tank destroyed the entire Burger Tank restaurant. Lucky that Coach hadn't been killed when he was pulled off the second floor of the sugar mill by a Smoker.
Plus, Ellis had sort of grown on Nick since they met. Another thing he would never admit.
Rochelle and Nick stood side by side and watched out the window. The noise of the infected had faded away leaving only the faint sound of crickets. There was no light, save for the moon and the dimness of the safe room.
Suddenly, Rochelle stiffened and looked over her shoulder, "Ellis? Nick, did you hear that?" she hurried over to Ellis and crouched in front of him, concern written all over her face.
Nick followed, "I didn't hear anything." He studied the kid and saw his eyelids twitching erratically.
"I think he's waking up!" exclaimed Rochelle.
Nick breathed a silent sigh of relief as Ellis' eyes opened and he greeted Rochelle with a gravelly voice.
"Hey sweetie, how ya feeling?" she replied in a relieved voice.
Ellis groaned, "Like a truck ran over me."
"Well you did get taken out by a chick in her underwear." Nick said with a smirk, "That's probably about as close as you'll ever get. I'm not surprised you took it so hard."
"Nick!" Rochelle half-yelled.
"What?" Nick replied.
Ellis looked back and forth between them, completely confused, "I don't get it."
"Of course you don't kid." Nick rolled his eyes. "I'll go get what's-his-," Rochelle gave him a look, "Fine. I'll go get Alex." He scowled and walked into the room Alex used to sleep. Nick nudged the sleeping man roughly with his foot, "Hey!" Alex simply rolled time, Nick more or less kicked him in the back. "Hey! Wake up! Ellis is awake and-," Nick's breath left him in a whoosh as his back hit the floor. He felt the cold edge of a knife against his neck.