A/N Let me know what you think about the chapter
Bolting past trees, I refused to look back even though I could hear the soldiers thundering footsteps coming from behind. Breathing in and out of my mouth with puff, panting breaths I knew I had to keep running – even if deep down, I know he'll catch me.
Pushing my legs and my mind, I blocked the burning pain that was starting to build in the back of my legs. Feeling a sharp stitch in the left side of my ribs, I couldn't help but notice how familiar this situation felt. Here I was, trying to run away from him again – just like before; when he refused to help me find my family.
Tripping in my long white shirt and pants, the blood stains from Gregov were still there. No matter how hard or how long I tried to scrub, I knew it would never come out. Feeling the uneven ground beneath my hands and knees, I stumbled with a gasp as the soldiers firm hands yanked me up instead "Let go of me!" I yelled. Pushing and kicking, he continued to press my back against his chest to hold me tight.
Not hissing, or yelling at me like I had expected. He simply said "If you run from me again, I'll break your legs" swallowing the lump in my throat, the words didn't process in my brain the way they would have; instead they made me more angry and afraid. Lifting my leg, I kicked back as hard as I could. Continuing to twist and shake, his grip was starting to slowly slip.
"I don't want you near me. Let go!" screaming at the soldier, I reached back with my hands and felt the odd material of his black mask beneath my fingers.
But just as I was about to pull, he grabbed my wrists in an awfully tight grip. Holding them by my sides, he then shoved me away forcefully. Landing on my hands and knees again, I felt the cold of his metal fingers fist around my hair before tugging upwards. Hissing from the fiery pain that burned through my scalp, I clutched both my hands around his metal wrist. Making me look at him, his other hand gripped my jaw "I'm trying to teach you to survive" he hissed "to control yourself instead of acting on impulse like a petulant child"
"That doesn't excuse what you did!" I yelled. Kicking at him, I tried so hard to pry his metal fingers from my hair; but he just squeezed tighter, making me whine "you're hurting me" I hissed "stop it"
Taunting me with his eyes and words, he replied "Make me…" knowing he was just trying to provoke me again like earlier, I kept somewhat calm as he tugged me through the woods and back to the bunker.
Wincing from the pain, I kept my lips shut as Helen stood waiting for our return. Letting go of me with a shove forward, she immediately came to my side "Are you alright?" Helen whispered as she looked my dishelmed form up and down; leaves and dirt all over me and my clothes.
"She's fine. Take her back inside. She's not to leave from now on" ordered the soldier. Watching Helen look down in submission, she guided me back toward the entrance of the bunk. Opening the door, I climbed down first before she joined me; the soldier still outside doing who knows what.
"Why did you run away?" turning to Helen, I was taken aback as to why she would ask that question. She was right there, she heard what he said to me "it only makes him angry" she continued "he's just trying to help us Amelia. You shouldn't be so hard on him"
Staring at the girl and her rounded stomach, I almost wanted to ask her to repeat what she had said. I wasn't sure if I had heard correctly "You're defending him?" I asked with a slight hiss of betrayal.
"No…I know what he did was wrong. He shouldn't have brought that up, but he was just trying to help us…you" shrugging her shoulders lightly, Helen and I stood a few paces away from each other "he's not a bad person…there's more to him than you think"
"He's not a bad person?" I repeated with a scoff "don't you remember anything. He did this to us…he's a killed people – for them. How is he not a bad person?"
"I know what he's done Amelia…but he's helping us now. Isn't he?...He didn't have to. He could have just left us" she said, trying to justify her reason.
"He did leave us…in the middle of nowhere. With nothing" I hissed back. Raking my fingers through my hair, neither me nor the soldier had mentioned what had almost happened at the gas station. And I wanted to keep it that way. Turning away, I didn't want to argue anymore. Instead, I just walked into the bathroom. Sitting on the cold floor, I rested my head on my folded up knees before sighing. Today did not go at all the way I thought it would.
Isolating myself in the bathroom, I must have been sitting there for hours as a light nock had suddenly echoed before Helen's voice sounded through the door "It's time to eat" she simply stated.
Waiting a few second for her words to sink in, I eventually got up from my foetal position on the ground. Stretching my legs and back, my whole body felt warm as I slowly made an exit. Glancing around, Helen sat at one of the kitchen chairs but I couldn't see the soldier anywhere in sight.
"He's not here" spoke Helen again "he's still outside" looking away from me, I knew Helen was upset by the way she turned her body; as if she wanted nothing to do with me right now.
Choosing to stay in silence instead of speak, I quietly sat at the opposite kitchen chair. Looking at the silver packages that lay on the table, I tore open the air tight seal before chewing the dried, preserved meat inside. Eating in silence, neither one of us bothered to further acknowledge each other. Finishing my meal, I felt my eye lids start to go heavy as my vision blurred in and out. I felt completely and utterly tired.
Throwing my rubbish away, I walked over to the lower bunk bed on the left before collapsing under the sheets. Curled to face the wall, I closed my eyes as my body started to shake and shutter. My fever from last night had not yet gone, and I was starting to feel the effects now more than ever.
Tossing and turning throughout the night, I couldn't get comfortable. It felt as if with every second that past, my body temperature was increasing. I was starting to sweat profusely. Facing the cold wall, I got as close as possible; trying to find anything to cool my boiling skin.
Listening to the faint voices, the soldier had come back a few hours ago during the night. It wasn't long until he and Helen began to start talking. About what, I didn't know. I'm not sure I really cared, but it did make me aware of their sudden growing friendship. No wonder she defended him earlier.
Wrapping myself tighter in the blanket, I wiped the sweat from my forehead with the oversized shirts sleave. Closing my eyes, I willed with all my might that I could fall back asleep. But as the minutes ticked by, I was starting to think it was impossible. Feeling the distinctive churn in my stomach, I tried not to think about it. Rocking slightly, my hand rested on my stomach as I breathed co-ordinated breathes – in, then out.
Bolting up right, it hadn't worked. I think the rocking made it worse. Racing toward the bathroom, I didn't care if Helen or the soldier were now looking at me. I just needed to get to the bathroom. Barging through the door, I fell to me knees just in time to throw up into the steel bowl. This time was much worse, it was almost violent.
Managing to catch my breath after a while of retching over and over again, I quickly flushed the toilet before slumping down on the floor exhausted. Breathing heavily, I pinched my eyes closed as the burning pain in my throat had gotten worse. Sighing as I felt my eyes start to droop, I couldn't help the tiredness as it bared down on my mind and body. Almost every night was like this. I barley have any more energy.
Jolting up at the sudden feeling, cold metal rested against my boiling forehead and I couldn't help but sigh with relief. Leaning forward, I kept my eyes closed as I focused on the cooling sensation. Feeling my stomach begin to lurch again as the sting in my throat got worse, I didn't have the time as I vomited again. Only this time, after I had opened my eyes, it wasn't the familiar look of vomit – it was the horrible colour of red blood, and it was splattered all over the soldier's legs and floor.
Breathing rapidly at the sight, I pan iced as I looked up at the soldier with wide eyes. What's happening to me? "Amelia!" screeched Helen as she peeked through the door way and into the bathroom; her eyes wide with worry at the scene before her "what happened?"
Not having time to answer, the soldier had beat me too it "Get a towel" he ordered, turning to face her "now" he added as Helen had yet to move. Watching the girl scurry away, it didn't take long for her to come back with a dark green tea towel from the storage room.
Watching the soldier get up from his crouched position, he didn't seem at all bothered that he was covered in my blood; not that it showed up much on his black clothing. Instead he got up and took the towel from her hands. Rinsing it under the tap to wet it, I began to cough sporadically as the iron taste began to pool in my mouth. Where was it all coming from? Crouching back down to reach me, he started to wipe the blood away from around my mouth "What's wrong with me?" I asked croakily as I looked up for an answer.
"Nothing we can't handle. You'll be fine, just stop talking" looking down at the splash of red along the floor, I sat still as the soldier continued to clean off the blood from my face and down my neck. Thankfully only a few drop had gotten onto my shirt. Knowing I was going to be sick again, I quickly made it to the toilet. Watching it mix with the water below, the blood had dyed it a bright red; almost pink.
Turning my head once I had collected myself, the soldier had a glass of water "Drink" he said while handing it to me. Hesitating at the command, I drank the contents even though the taste of iron made my stomach churn in disgust. Giving the glass back, he sat it on the sink top before standing up. Discarding the dirtied towel into the sink, he reached down and picked me up. Taking me out of the bathroom, he set me down on the floor next to my bed "try to go back to sleep. I'll get you medicine tomorrow"
Crawling under the sheets, I turned to see Helen already laying in the bunk bed across from me. Feeling emotional, a pang of guilt rippled through me as I turned away to face the wall. I couldn't help but think about what Helen and I had argued about earlier – the soldier was just trying to help me, but I was too stubborn to realise.