Chapter 25:

The Final Trek

AN: So, here's chapter 25! And, yeah, the title is like, wierd, but I couldn't really think of anything else. You know, I found something funny. Anytime that I wanted to make Luke suffer, my friends would always say, "Oh, no! Don't make Luke suffer! He's our favorite!" So, I didn't. But after I posted chapter 24, I was beginning to think that I really did need to kind of torture Luke. So, I turned to the poison oak. And here's the funny part. I did some research on side effects of poison oak that night, and was planning to write it into the story, when BOOM! The next morning, I got a bunch of reviews saying, "Luke should have an allergic reaction," and "Luke should break something," and stuff like that. So, I thought, "Well, the people have spoken!" So, this is for all who wanted to see bad things happen to Luke. (Of course, they won't be too bad, just because then I'll feel guilty, but you know.) And thanks to Vicki for the allergic reaction suggestion. And thank you, reviewers, for supporting me! Anyway, enough babbling. WARNING: VOMITING IN STORY AT BEGINNING! P.S. Be sure to check out my Wind at my Back story! Have a great day! God Bless You, fellow writers! :)

When Luke woke up the next morning, he couldn't even blink without feeling dizzy. He pressed his fingers against his stinging eyes, trying to ignore the nausea that was creeping up his throat. Gosh, what was wrong with him? That's when Luke's eyes fell on his arm. The poison oak had moved all the way up his arm now, and was so red and sore that Luke could barely touch it without wincing in pain. He was covered in sweat, too, and the nausea was just making everything worse.

Then, he couldn't stand it anymore. Luke shifted so that he was facing a bush, and threw up. The vomit that he heaved was dark, and when there was none left he spent a whole ten minutes just dry heaving. He couldn't even catch his breath.

Suddenly, two hands were on his shoulders, and Mary's dirt covered face peered into his own. "You okay?"

Luke shook his head, wiping his mouth on his shirt sleeve. "I threw up," he said.

Mary huffed. "That's evident." Placing her hand on Luke's forehead, she rolled her eyes. Then she glanced at his arm. "I told you it was gonna get infected."

Luke pulled away. "It's not infected."

"Luke, are you crazy?! You're burning up, and your arm looks like you stuck it in a pot of hot oil!"

Luke glanced down at the snakebite. "Yeah, well your foot ain't doin' any better."

Mary's eyes fell on her foot. It was true. The bite was now majorly swollen.

Mary rubbed her eyes, the fatigue showing through her concern for her brother. "I know. Can we just start walking?"

Luke nodded. They each somewhat helped the other stand, and within minutes, they were continuing their slow journey towards New York.

As the sun rose high into the sky, Luke and Mary continued their trek, which was growing slower by the minute. They made frequent rest stops, as the dehydration slowly drained them each of their energy. Mary was getting nauseous, and Luke had to stop twice to dry heave into the bushes. On his way back from the second time, his eyes focused on Mary. She was leaning on a large oak tree, trying to remain standing.

Luke rushed to her, using what little energy he had left. "What's wrong?" he asked, trying to support her with one arm.

Mary's face was contorted in a mixture of horror and panic. "I can't stand. My legs won't work."

Luke knew that if Mary couldn't walk, it would make their journey so much harder than it already was. But he also knew that if they stopped, they wouldn't make it out alive.

He sighed. "If I help you, can you keep going?"

Mary nodded. She knew that in truth, she couldn't, but she didn't have a choice.

Luke helped her stand so that Mary's left arm was around Luke's shoulder, and Luke's left arm was supporting his sister by the waist. It wasn't that helping Mary hurt Luke, but just having to support another person made the constant pounding in his head ten times worse.

Mary looked at him worriedly. "Are you gonna be okay?"

Luke nodded.

Over the course of a few hours, the venom started to take darastic effect in Mary's system, and eventually, she grew so weak, she could barely lift her head, let alone walk. So, Luke had to nearly carry her, which only added to the sharp, burning pain in his arms. Gradually, Mary stopped walking altogether.

"Mary," Luke said, as she slowly started to sink to the ground and Luke desperately tried to keep her up. "Mary, you can't stop now. I can't go anymore. Mary you've got to walk."

Mary didn't answer. Due to the venom and dehydration, she was slowly seeping into unconsciousness. Neither child even noticed Buddy, who had been so quiet during the whole ordeal. He had always protected Mary, and now Luke, but there was nothing he could do, no matter how much he whined.

As soon as Mary was on the ground, Luke fell beside her. The last thing he remembered was staring at the dusk sky, as the sun settled behind the mountains.

Morgan scanned the ragged terrain below, his face etched in worry.

Srgt Franklin glanced at him. "Don't worry, Morgan. We'll find them."

"I thought you said you knew where they were."

"We did. Obviously, they moved."

"I don't see why the helicopter that spotted them couldn't have just picked them up then."

Franklin huffed. "Morgan, that was a search helicopter. It's not equipped to rescue people."

"Oh, and mine is?" Morgan countered.

"It is now."

It was true. The police had equipped the massive helicopter with rescue equipment and medical supplies, along with two paramedics who were bound to be needed.

Suddenly, Franklin pounced. "Jeff!" he called to the pilot. "I see them. There's a clearing, too. Land the plane. Now!"

AN: So, what'd you think? I would have tortured Luke more, but I don't think there's much else that poison oak can cause. And it was a little late in the whole runaway thing for him to fall and break something like a reviewer suggested. (But I'm still very grateful for the input! Thank you so much!) Anyway, keep watch for the movie! Now that I know how to use Windows Movie Maker, I'm going to add music and all sorts of fun stuff! Have a great day! God Bless You, fellow writers! :)