To put things lightly, this day was turning out not great for me. Even though I had been putting pressure on my shoulder for what had to have been hours, a hot trickle of blood still made its way out of my shoulder every time I moved it the slightest bit. Having felt around as best I could, I figured the bullet had made a large gape in my shoulder and wing, but hadn't gotten stuck. That was pretty much the only positive to this whole situation.
It had been since I fell into the ravine that I had seen the bully boys with the bullets, but every now and then I'd heard them in the distance and had to hunker down and hide just in case. Then the sounds would die off and I would start on my cold, miserable way once more. I had hiked through the forest in a large, curved trail in an attempt to make my path extremely confusing in case one of the gun-toting jerks stumbled across it, splashing through at least four streams because I had thought I had heard dogs barking at one part. If the bully boys had brought dogs, then I needed to cover my scent, and walking through a little river was the best way to cover my scent. It was also the best way to make me absolutely wet, freezing, and ticked off at the world and at myself.
The sky was dark, the sun halfway through setting and the clouds covering any light that was left. Hours had passed, way more time than I had planned on. Jay and Nya had to be freaking out. I felt bad for them, but I felt far worse for Zane, whose rescue had been put on hold because I had just had to go stand up for the little guy. Oh, Zane, I'm so sorry.
Everything about this was awful, and I had no one to blame but myself. Well, and the jerks with the gun, but mostly myself, which only made it more awful.
As if things couldn't get any worse, the clouds covering the sky began pouring down rain. What an absolute joy. Now I was injured, wet, cold, and only getting more and more wet and cold. At least I couldn't get any more injured. Immediately after thinking that, my shoulder throbbed in pain and trickled out a little more blood. Actually, I wouldn't bet on not being able to get any more injured.
I hadn't heard so much as a shout from the bully boys in a while. Clueless as they were, they had apparently had enough sense to get out of the rain and go home. If only I could do the same.
Musing on the futility of my situation, my eyes caught on a light up ahead. Maybe a closed store, or some half-abandoned shed where I could take shelter for the night? I could only hope. Squinting, I made my way closer and closer.
It wasn't a store or a shed. It was a house, and all the lights were on inside and out, so it was obviously occupied. Just my luck.
Dejected, I was about to turn away when a person passed by on the inside of one of the windows. I recognized him: the kid I had helped, Wu.
So this was where he had run off to when I told him to skedaddle. At least he had gotten home safe when if I couldn't. Even with everything that had happened, I was still glad I had helped him and kept him from getting beaten up.
I was shivering, thinking hard of what plan I could come up with and coming up with nothing, when the house's back door opened and out stepped Wu, wearing a raincoat and a big floppy hat. Something scurried past him, a big, wolfish-looking dog. It hurried from the steps to the yard, stopped, then began leisurely walking around, sniffing here, sniffing there, sniffing all around.
"Hurry it up, now, Jasmine," Wu chided the dog. "We don't want the house to smell like wet dog all night, do we?"
He was facing slightly away from me, watching the dog. From his profile, I could see rain dripping from his hat to the ground. He stayed dry. I, on the other hand, was wetter than I possibly had ever been. Hmmm...
I hesitated. Was I really thinking what I thought I was thinking? Evidently yes, if I could think it like that. Sighing, I shook my head at myself. What was wrong with me? How could I even think of doing this? But there was nothing else to do. I had no choice.
Stepping forward, I moved toward Wu.