Chapter 22
Hello Molly
Sharine’s arm got better. She used the palm to press the elbow, stretching the muscle, and didn’t feel the pain at all. She was glad, jumping around, did some boxing move. But she was stopped by an abrupt pain from her stomach. Sharine walked to the forest and got some rabbits and berries. The wound on her stomach wasn’t too bad; at least it escaped the vital organ. She came near and cooked for Kevin, whom contrary to Sharine, became much worse state. Sharine cleaned the garment with drizzling water from the waterfall and changed his bandages for the wound.
Occasionally the creatures attacked them during the night, attracted by the smell, but Sharine managed to shoot them all. However, the ammo was getting low; they only had two rounds left for Kevin’s machine gun. Sharine changed to semi-automatic when shooting with Kevin’s machine gun.
“Fifteen,” muttered Sharine, firing at the creatures loitering around the water. She grunted and went up to the head blown creature. She dragged it as far as possible due to the stench it fumed.
Kevin’s health was degenerating fast as the wound got infected and fever spiked up. Sharine went out to look for the same herb which Glock gave her. But she was out of luck. Kevin seemed to be enjoying this situation however, he was laughing a lot.
“You seem delightful,” said Sharine, irritably.
“You are very strong woman,” said Kevin, looking at her stomach wound curing good, and started laughing again.
“Look, I’m going to look for the herbs for your wound, I still can’t find them,” said she, and put his machine gun next to him. She took her sniper rifle which only had six bullets left and her gurka. She strapped it to her back and looked at Kevin who was extremely pale. Sharine touched his sweaty head; it was hot, almost burning. Sharine thought about tying him up in a tree so the creatures can’t get to him, but the rough treatment might kill him. He said he can protect himself but he was too weak to even finish the sentence. She gave him the pistol.
“Don’t die Kevin,” said Sharine, feeling her mouth drying up. “Too many died at my sight.”
Kevin breathed deeply; he leaned his head against the rock and fell asleep. Sharine looked at him, closed her eyes and whispered a prayer. She kissed his forehead and stood up.
“You better be here when I come back,” muttered Sharine and went into the woods, hoping to find someone who can cure him.
Near that location, Gilbert was worried about continued attack on hunters. Some of the rogues hid among the bushes, disguised as a pile of corpses and surrounded them. They robbed them and held some of them in captives. Poe and Gilbert were frustrated at this continued attack. The ladies at the camps were mourning for their husbands’ return.
“Bunch of militants is ravishing the island now,” said Gilbert to Poe, hearing the sound of wailing and lamenting from the ladies. “They are at war against each other, amongst themselves. They are going to use our men as human shields”
“Damn them,” said Poe, his huge cheek vibrated with anger.
“Five of them got captured today,” said Gilbert. “And we haven’t heard back from the scout yet.”
“It’s been four days, we should wait for two days, and you may go with two others and go. We cannot afford more,” said Poe.
“We’ll be quick, Poe,” said Gilbert.
“Please do,” sighed Poe.
“Two days… two days,” muttered Gilbert, shutting his eyes tightly.
Sharine glimpsed at the brownish fur among the bush. Slowly she went, silenced her steps, she aimed it through the scope. It was a deer! It was biting the branches for the leaves. She held her breath and pulled the trigger. The gun roared; it echoed in the forest.
She smiled. She approached the dead deer. She jogged across the thick woods and saw the huge body lying before her. There was no way she could drag this to Kevin. She nevertheless tried, struggling, but within a few feet, she gave up. Instead Sharine took out the knife and cut the chunk of the meat.
“Bear with me baby,” said Sharine. She plucked in the knife into its belly and started cutting it. The warm blood poured on the ground, soaking the dirt. As soon as she cut the arteries, the blood scorched to her face.
“Psst Psst…” said Sharine, spitting the blood, wiping it from her face. She cut the strong muscle of the deer, wrestling against the stodginess of the flesh. At last, a good chunk was cut. She grabbed it and held it up, teetering due to its weight. It was heavy but manageable. The blood dripped from it and covered her.
At the time, Gilbert was on the move to search for the lost guards in the forest. He led the group of guards with them and marched through the woods. After a while, they heard the smashing sound of a waterfall from the downside hill. As they were thirsty, they went there for the water. They moved cautiously, as there might be rogues nearby.
When they went near the pond, they stopped as they saw a pile of the creatures. Gilbert looked around and spotted the one-legged man. He frowned and gestured his men to spread over an area. They all raised their gun at the one-legged man. One of the men went near quietly and roughly took his gun. The one-legged man suddenly opened his eyes, but he didn’t have strength to resist. The gun slipped from his weak grip. The man’s eyes filled with horror.
Grunting, Sharine was walking toward Kevin. She could hear the waterfall now; but as she approached, she felt a weird chill from her back. Her eyes narrowed; by instinct she stopped on the spot before going further. Flies flew around her body, buzzing near her ear. She slowly lay down the meat she was holding. Her hand slowly touched her sniper rifle.
“Five shots,” murmured Sharine.
Something was wrong, she looked through the scope. There were several men standing and some of them inside the woods too. About twenty men were surrounding Kevin’s spot, looking around. She wasn’t sure Kevin was alive or not, she couldn’t see.
Sharine closed her eyes; she had no strength to fight and nearly about to faint. Her body was battered with days and days of struggles with wounds, hunger and lack of sleep. She had no chance of winning this fight.
Suddenly, a twig snapped from behind. She closed her eyes, laughing to herself that she acted carelessly. She dropped her gun on the ground and raised her hands in the air.
Few men came toward her, carefully examining her blood soaked body. Someone took her knife and the rifle from the ground. He nodded that she was clean; others lowered their guns. One of them took her by her arm and walked toward the waterfall. Others went back to their spot, continuing to guard the area.
When Sharine approached the group of men surrounding Kevin, they were startled by her appearance as she was soaked in blood. The man who brought Sharine roughly pushed her to the ground and aimed at her.
Sharine glimpsed at Kevin, who was looking at her also. She sighed in relief. Gilbert frowned and waved at the guard to withdraw his gun.
“Who are you?” said Gilbert, examining her. Others looked at her as if they were looking at some dangerous lunatic.
“Castaway,” said Sharine. She looked at Gilbert with wearisome eyes, frightened about what men might do to her. The bunch of men, fully armed, looked fierce and valiant.
“Let us go please, my friend is severely injured,” said Sharine, glancing at Kevin, who now looked like a squid spattered on the shore.
“… I have my orders, there have been many disturbing activities going on around here. I have to take you,” said Gilbert, coldly.
“Treat my friend, and I’ll be your slave,” said Sharine, kneeling. The men mumbled amongst themselves. Gilbert snorted.
“You don’t have to do that,” frowned Gilbert. “But still, I have to take you.”
“How… how far is your village?” asked Sharine.
“We are not from here. We are the refugees from Cassandra,” said Gilbert. Sharine felt as if something cold dropped inside her stomach.
‘What are the refugees doing in this island?’ she thought, as she didn’t hear about what happ
ened in Cassandra yet. Gilbert gestured others to carry Kevin. They lifted him up. Kevin groaned in pain, drooling.
“Please,” Sharine pleaded. “Don’t treat him roughly. He is in a very bad state.”
They headed toward the camp swiftly. Sharine looked at Kevin with a concerned face.
“What is your name?” asked Gilbert.
“Molly,” said Sharine, saying the first name that popped into her mind. “Molly Pepper.”
When the group arrived, they called the caregivers inside the camp. The men entered the tent and put him on a pile of blankets. Two ladies went inside the tent with medical kit. Kevin looked like a green corpse. The ladies wiped his face and chest and poured alcohol on his wound. Sharine sat down next to them, watched and stayed there.
Sharine had an intense headache. Her limbs were failing. She couldn’t breathe; she went outside for an air. And then she collapsed and started puking. She felt extremely weak; she sensed the refugees gathered around the tent and were looking at her. Sharine coughed; there was no strength on her legs. One of the caregivers went outside and brought Sharine inside the tent. She forced Sharine to lie down.
“Your boyfriend is going to be alright, lady,” said one lady.
“He is not my…” whispered Sharine, but the voice didn’t come out. The caregivers tried to wash her face with hot towel. Sharine felt a soothing steamy towel; her vision blurred but she felt good.
“Are you sure you don’t want to take her to the bathe?” said the woman, looking at Sharine’s body covered with blood.
“I don’t know, she has a horrible stench, but I think she is going to pass out if we try to bathe her,” said the other.
“Let’s do it later then,” said the woman. “Oh my, what is this?”
Alerted, they saw her half ripped clothes wrapping her waist and the wound inside.
“My my, what did you do, lady?” said one caregiver.
“My dear… my dear.” said the other, carefully unwrapping the shabby clothes from her waist. She grabbed the new bandages from the kit and applied the medicine on her wound. The wound stung, Sharine flinched.
Sharine couldn’t think; she was overwhelmed by the fatigue. All her bones were aching badly and the senses were almost numbing. She stared at a blank space with her half dead eyes. Two ladies were working busily to treat the wounds. Sharine closed her eyes and passed out.