Another chance, Another heart

CH.12 Past, Present, Future, Brew?

"Xena run! Get out of here! No I won't leave you! Xena do it now!"

I opened my eyes as I heard the faint screams of the two people I loved most in my mind as if that terrible day happened yesterday, I slowly got up letting the blood run back through my frozen veins, I turned around to find ale shivering by the fire with five blankets wrapped around him and he was coughing uncontrollably.

Ale how are you feeling?

Not… very… well. He sputtered in between the coughing.

I reached into the very bottom of the survival pack and grabbed the last bit of herbs to make some medicine for ale.

Ale it's time to do this again.

No I'm…

Don't dare tell me your fine! Every day for the past six days we've been here your forehead burns my hand when I touch it, we have to get rid of the infection on your side, and you are going to take this medicine!

After a few minutes over the fire mixing the ingredients up my medicine was finished, it didn't look appetizing at all, it looked like mud with a bunch of rubbery rat tails in it and it smelled terrible.

Here you go. I said as I handed the little bowl to ale.

Well… here's to our six days here. He said as he raised his arm in the air as if he was purposing a toast.

Ale drank down the foul stuff, his complexion said that it wasn't bad, but his eyes told a very different story.

Hmm… best batch yet. He said.

************************************************************************************************************************

"Dad! Mom! Don't die… please don't die!"

I woke up with my heart pounding so hard I thought it was going to come out of my chest, I slowly got up trying to brush my messy hair out of my face.

How are you this morning? I asked ale.

I asked the question, but it only echoed through the cave with no reply, I turned myself over to find ale lying sideways on the ground.

Ale… ale are you alright? I asked as I slid over to him.

I grabbed his shoulder and shook him, but he didn't move a single muscle as I did, I leaned over to put my ear next to his lips to hear his breathing, his breathing was just a wisp of air that barely touched my ear.

Come on sleepy head, you've got to stay awake. I said as I put my arm underneath ale and helped him sit up.

I moved him closer to the fire to help warm him up, his eyelids opened very slowly.

You're still burning up. I said as I put my hand on his forehead.

Really? I feel like I'm living in an icebox. He replied.

I laughed, "Blockhead you are living in an icebox." I told him.

We sat there not saying another word in the bitter cold cave for what seemed like hours but I didn't care, ale was sitting beside me and I had a very good feeling that we would be alright.

My parents were shot to death; a man that wanted to kidnap me shot them as my parents ordered them to run… I did run, as fast as I could… when I looked back I saw that he wasn't following me, but when I got back to them… they were… gone.

I'm sorry for your loss xena… it must be very painful for you, but why are you telling me this?

His voice was so soft and caring; we both spoke as if we were two little kids whispering in our secret hide out planning on how to torture the neighborhood bully.

Because I don't trust anyone else with this… for some reason I only trust you.

Ok then, continue.

I ran away from there when I figured out they were dead… but the next thing I know I'm being swallowed up by the darkness, and when I woke up I was in a street in Twilight Town.

I truly am sorry for you… xena, about that night when I kissed you… I really didn't mean all the harsh words I said, I've just been very confused with myself lately… I just wish… I…

You wish what ale?

I looked at ale, his eyes went cold and the warmth from his body left him, his muscles all became as limp as a rag doll.

Ale... ale no! I screamed.

It was at that moment that arnexia blew up the wall behind us, making a big enough hole for her to get through, everyone else followed in behind her, my body was too strained and tired to take the shock, I only heard muffled voices as I felt myself falling toward the ground and my eyes were consumed by the darkness.