-Linzy-

A day and a half later…

(and still not much closer to civilization)

"Kass, would you just be quiet already? We aren't getting any closer with you dragging your feet like that."

She staggered to the right, nearly slamming into another cactus, but I grabbed her right before she did.
The corners of my parched lips turned downwards as I frowned. This was not good... she was clearly very dehydrated.

"Stop. Drink this." pulling her aside into the shade of a bolder by the road, I reached into my bag and drew out the last of my water.

I pressed the bottle to her lips, watching as the final drop ebbed away. Kass swallowed, and then she lay still.

'Oh great.' I thought, leaning against the rock. 'She's out cold. I thought we could at least make it one more day, but no. '

Hours passed, or maybe they were just long minuets.

When you read about the desert and the heat, they never mention the exhaustion... the pure fatigue, the un-relenting wish to give up.

I blinked back the dry tears. I am a lot of things, but... I AM NOT A QUITTER. (I was desperate, ok?)

Pushing myself to my feet I grabbed Kass and slung her over my shoulder.

Turning, I began the slow trudge back down the road. 'Come on, Linzy. Just...just one foot in front of the other... come on.'

I went as far as I could, 'running on fumes', as far as water is concerned.

Kass just kept getting heavier and heavier, weighing down my every step.

The city-town-whatever-it-is came closer and closer, yet it was still too far.

Too far to call for help; too far for me to throw kass so I wouldn't have to carry her...

Finally I went as far as I could possibly go. As I fell to my knees kass slid off my back onto the sand.

My head hit the ground and my eyes closed. "I'm sorry kass." I whispered as darkness invaded, and I knew no more.

later...

My eyes opened slowly.

I was in a small, hospital-like room, an IV machine attached to my arm.

A clear liquid flowed through the tubes and into my body.

'What happened?' I wondered, finding myself unable to speak.

Suddenly a wave of exhaustion over whelmed me, and I slept once again.

3rd person

Duncan sat next to the beds while his mother observed the medical instruments strewn around the room.

"Are they going to be ok?" he asked, looking at the sleeping forms of the two girls they'd gone back to find.

"They should be just fine Duncan, don't you worry." Ms. Rosenblatt replied.

"I just can't believe Blitz would do something like this! Kicking out two helpless girls miles away from anything... it's horrible!"

"Hey!" Blitz intercepted angrily. "How was I supposed to know we were miles away from the school? The stupid G.P.S said we were nearly there!"

his face turned a shade of deep red when he looked at how weak the two had become.

"Besides, that one got them both almost right to our doorstep!" he cried, pointing at Linzy.

Ms. Rosenblatt stood, un-deterred. "Yes, and she almost killed herself doing It."

Kass groaned in her sleep, muttering and reaching out.

"I hope your happy, scar-face." Alice chimed in, leaning against the door frame.

"They would have been just fine if you hadn't kicked them out."

he fumed. "They survived didn't they!" everyone was silent, glaring at him.

Suddenly Linzy spoke, breaking the silence. "Fire-breather." she whispered, eyes wide and fevered.

"Kiju. Duncan, Alice... Kass..." she sighed, and her eyes closed. Duncan looked at Alice, baffled. "What did she just say?!"