Author's Note: Sorry about the delay. Please read and review! Hope you enjoy it!
Chapter Five: Unspoken Fears
Juniper and Sim found it easy to get along with the campers as the days passed. Juniper enjoyed joking around with Sammy, thought Kenji a goof like everyone else, loved talking about dinosaurs with Darius, carefully assisted Brooklyn who had taken upon herself the task of tending to April, and even managed to get on friendly terms with Yasmina.
April was in and out of consciousness during this time. Brooklyn stayed faithfully by her side day after day, tending to the wounded girl. Sammy and Yasmina took place during the night hours. Sammy, used to early hours on her farm took over for Yasmina at three in morning. It was during a transition between them that April's condition changed. It started as a whine before it became a groan. Sammy and Yasmina shared a look before kneeling down at April's side to assess the groaning girl.
"She's burning up!" Sammy whispered.
Yasmina stood up. "I'll wake Brooklyn and Sim."
Sammy watched the track star disappear into the darkness before turning her attention back to April. Sammy carefully eased the bandages aside and shone the flashlight she held at the wound.
"That does not look right." A sleepy voice murmured behind her.
"Gah!" She yelped.
"Sorry about that." Brooklyn yawned as she slid into view alongside the Texan to better see April's wound. Sammy leaned forward too. The skin surrounding the wound was looking green and slightly swollen.
Sim appeared on April's other side and peered down at the wound. He placed two fingers against her forehead.
"It's been infected and she's feverish." Sim informed the girls, "She needs water, food and the right medicine. Give her most of the water that we have here and make sure she's well fed. Since she's feverish, she'll likely be cold."
Brooklyn nodded "Keep her warm. I can handle that."
"Good, now I intend to get more water for everyone and some for soaking a cloth to put on April's forehead."
"I can help you with that." Yasmina said, standing and starting to stretch. As she did so something popped in her back.
"Excellent, while we're off doing that, Sammy can take the others to get food. Look for medical supplies. Yasmina and I will too." He looked Brooklyn in eyes, "Your job is probably the most important. Stay by her side as often as you can."
"When do we leave?" Yasmina asked
Both groups will leave as soon as possible." Sim said before turning away.
"Should I try treating the infection?" Brooklyn asked.
Sim shook his head before speaking, "No not without help from someone else." He started walking, then paused, "Keep a vigilante eye on the infected area. If it begins spreading then find something to treat and contain the infection."
As Sim walked off, Yasmina turned to the others, nodded, and hurried after Sim.
Sammy and Brooklyn looked at each other a moment before the pinkette spoke.
"You should go, we're going to need the food and medicine as soon as possible."
Sammy nodded, then pulled Brooklyn into a hug before turning and running off.
Sim, following Yasmina's directions was driving through the jungle as she led them to the camper's treehouse. Sim had left an ample amount of food and water from the supply he had salvaged from the ruins of the bungalow. Their thoughts always returning to April.
"We're nearly there." Yasmina said as Sim pulled around a tree.
Sim pushed the pedal down and the van surged forward before one of the tires hit a hole in the ground and burst with a loud bang.
The van lurched to a halt and Sim climbed out to take stock of the situation.
"Flat tire." He informed Yasmina as she rounded the vehicle, "I'll have it fixed in a few minutes."
Yasmina nodded and turned in the direction she knew the tree house to be. She could go on ahead, but her gut was telling her otherwise.
It was with great reluctance that Juniper left with Kenji, Darius and Sammy to get supplies. Kenji stumbled on behind them, grumbling about having to get up early while they hurried through the jungle. Juniper was feeling frantic again and led the group. Sammy walked beside her occasionally glancing at the younger girl.
"Juniper, she's going to be fine." Sammy said once she couldn't take any more of Juniper's franticness, "Come on let's take a break."
Juniper consented and Sammy called for a break. Kenji sank down against a tree and promptly fell asleep. Darius sat down too but remained alert. Sammy drew Juniper off to one side away from the others.
"What's wrong?" Sammy asked
"Do you really need to ask that?" Juniper snapped "My sister is sick. That's what's wrong."
Sammy placed a hand on her shoulder "I've got a feeling this goes deeper than April being sick."
Juniper pulled away, "No it doesn't." She ended the break and continued their journey.
Sammy followed just behind, wondering what was actually driving Juniper. She slowed to talk to Darius who was bringing up the rear.
"Something's up with Juniper and she won't tell me." She whispered to him.
Darius took in the ten-year-old Grady before them before replying,
"Yeah, she's seems scared." He whispered
"What would she be scared of?"
Darius shook his head "I don't know."
Had been four hours already? Brooklyn sat crossed legged at April's feet, feeling absolutely worrried. April had awakened for about fifteen minutes, shivering, pained moans escaping from her lips before she had slipped back into unconsciousness. Every now and then she twitched or groan softly. Brooklyn wished she could help but currently was restricted to making sure April stayed as healthy as possible. She knew Sim meant well, but the simple truth of it was the longer the infection remained the more it would spread.
Glass tinkled somewhere in the bowels of the building and Brooklyn tensed, reaching for her trusty bat. If something was in here, Brooklyn was the last line of defense. She listened to the silence that permeated the building like meerkat standing watch, waiting and watching. After a few minutes she lowered the bat but kept a tight grip on it ready to strike at a moments notice.
The van trundled through the forest, the spare tire somehow holding up despite the uneven terrain. Yasmina led the way to the stream they had been getting water from and helped Sim fill a number jugs they would be taking with them back to main street. A small ripple on the surface of the water made Sim glance up at the sky. It was a ominous gray. Thunder rolled overhead as he turned to Yasmina.
"Looks like we're in for a storm." He sighed, "I'm thinking that it would be unwise to try driving through a storm with a spare on."
Yasmina nodded silently "I'll go find some medical supplies." She turned and dashed off to the tree house.
Sim remained by the stream a moment before rising to his feet and following her. He stopped at the van and extracted the flat tire he had tucked into the van. He closed the van and climbed up into the tree house one handed and sat down at the table. A light sprinkle had started and was rapidly rising in a crescendo to became the storm Sim had predicted. Was coming Sim move into some shelter to work on patching the tire.
The same rain slowed the progress of Sammy, Darius, Juniper, and Kenji as they trekked through the jungle. Lighting flashed, momentarily illuminating everything with a white light shortly followed by a roll of thunder.
"We should get out of the rain!" Sammy had to shout to be heard over the pouring rain.
The other three nodded their agreement and they kept their eyes open for any form of shelter. After what felt like an eternity but in reality, was just under hour, they found refuge in an overturned ACU officer transport vehicle. They sat huddled and shivering, listening to the raindrops as they thundered against the vehicle's exterior coupled the occasional rumbling of thunder.
"We should get out of the rain!" Sammy had to shout to be heard over the pouring rain.
The other three nodded their agreement and they kept their eyes open for any form of shelter. After what felt like an eternity but in reality, was just under hour, they found refuge in an overturned ACU officer transport vehicle. They sat huddled and shivering, listening to the raindrops as they thundered against the vehicle's exterior coupled the occasional rumbling of thunder.
Sammy glanced at Juniper was looking around the vehicle with a far-off expression on her face.
"What's on your mind?" Sammy asked.
Juniper looked around at her, "I recognize this vehicle." She replied a small smile tugging at the cornea of her mouth, "This is the vehicle Sim, April, and I were in when were attacked yet again by the insomnia Rex."
Sammy felt Darius and Kenji shifting as they looked at Juniper, but ignored them.
"How did you escape?" Sammy asked.
Juniper shrugged "Honestly, I don't know. I was knocked unconscious when the vehicle rolled."
"That must have been scary." Sammy murmured her eyes widening slightly.
Juniper inclined her head "It was."
"But that was then." Sammy said her usual cheerful demeanor back in place, "Is there anything scaring you now."
Juniper didn't respond immediately, but picked at her shoe. Sammy looked at the younger girl. Despite the lock of hair obscuring Juniper's face, Sammy could tell she was feeling uncomfortable. Finally, Juniper spoke without looking at the Texan,
"You want to know what is scaring— no terrifying me?" Juniper took a deep breath and she spoke her voice shook faintly "I am terrified of losing April. For as long I can remember, she's always been there for me and now I might lose her."
"Do you have any hope she'll make it through all of this?" Darius asked
"I don't know." Juniper said, sounding close to tears, "Maybe."
"Well, I do." Sammy said, bracingly.
Juniper smiled weakly before she again immersed herself in her thoughts for sleep overcame her tired mind.
Sammy nudged Darius and gestured to Juniper,
"Not a bad idea." she acknowledged
Kenji quietly closed the doors of the vehicle the settled back to sleep. Sammy and Darius soon followed suit.
The rain also rattled quite loudly on the Innovation Center, causing Brooklyn to cast worried glances at April every time thunder rumbled overhead. April had awakened again. Although April was slightly delirious, the pinkette was able to give April some food and water. She had also had to help April so the ill girl could attend to some personal business. April had fallen asleep almost as soon as she had laid down again.
Looking up Brooklyn could see the gray clouds and that they were darkening. April seemed to be all right so far, but the Internet Star knew that if not treated soon April would take a turn for the worse. She looked down at the sleeping girl next her, reached out, and brush some stray hair from April's face.
She looked back up at the sky. Unless everyone returned soon, she was facing a night without proper medical supplies for April in the event the infection got worse. If she had to be honest, she was scared of having to do that.
"Please return soon." She whispered
It could be worse. Yasmina thought as she pulled out the last of the medical supplies the had stored in the treehouse.
"This is the last of the supplies." She announced.
Sim looked up from the tire and stood up to take a look. He was quite dirty from working on the tire and even smelled faintly of rubber. He quickly looked through the supplies, setting some aside. He pointed to the pile he had set aside.
"We'll take these." He said, raising his voice as a particularly loud rumble of thunder traveled across the sky.
She nodded and stuffed the indicated pile into a backpack in three handfuls.
While Yasmina normally was not one to be scared, she was terrified of leaving Brooklyn alone and helpless when she needed help the most. She looked at Sim then up at the ever-darkening sky.
"Doesn't look good, does it?" Sim commented
Yasmina glanced at him. He too, was looking up.
"No." She agreed.
"It is slowly becoming more likely we will be here until nightfall." Sim said turning back to the tire, "Patching the tire is going to be harder than I thought."
She moved to his side and leaned forward to look at the tire. A large hole in the worn rubber confirmed his statement.
"How long?" She asked.
"An hour and a half perhaps, to make a suitable patch and another two hours at least for it to be properly applied." He responded wearily, "Then we need to find a way to inflate it."
"I'm going to get the food packed." She said, turning away.
"Be sure to leave some for us to eat."
Yasmina nodded and walked way troubled by the predicament.