Chapter 27
Garth took a deep breath and leaped, his foot landed on the roof of the house, he tumbled forward and landed in a heap. Lalia stopped short of the jump.
“You can make it! Get a running start!” He yelled.
She measured with her gaze the jump, easily ten feet. She clutched her side, the running proved to be too much for her; her side ached unbearably. She yelled in pain as she forced her legs to jump, her chest hit the edge and she began to fall. Garth’s hand shot out to catch her.
“I got you.” He assured her. He lifted her onto the roof.
The two panted, Garth looked up, and no one was following them anymore. The streets were empty, further away however, Callos and Aurrus were arguing loudly. Shots were fired in the distance, screaming pierced the air, but silence followed. The crimson sky faded to shades of blue, the sun was nearly set, the purple moon shined in the far off distance.
“We should be safe now.” Garth coughed, “The streets are empty, and the Convoy must be leaving.”
“You don’t think that they caught Miles and Braes?” Lalia gasped, coughing for air, holding her side.
“No. I don’t see why everyone would be forced back to the shuttle.” Garth said.
“Ungh…” Lalia moaned, clutching her side. Her side felt warm and wet, she lifted her hand to find she was bleeding badly. She glanced up to see if Garth had noticed, but he was already watching her.
“You were shot.” He said, his voice squeaked slightly, he bent down to help her.
“I’m a doctor. I can handle this.” She chuckled.
“You have a doctorate in science, I know that. Don’t try to fool anyone, you need this fixed up.” Garth comforted her.
“You really do know a lot about me, don’t you?” She asked.
“I was your number one fan. You were my hero.” He admitted.
“Was your hero?” She asked.
“Still are.” He corrected her, “You’ll be fine.”
“You’ve grown. Admittedly I forced you into this situation, I am sorry.” She apologized.
“Don’t be. This has been the greatest adventure of my life.” He assured her.
“No.” She straightened her body, choking on the word.
Garth turned around to see from CLERGY 1 a bolt of blue; the Aurrus moon shuddered from impact. The stream of blue from CLERGY 1 continued, slowly the moon transformed from its luminescent purple to an icy blue; it was being frozen.
“They are freezing the moon?” Garth gasped.
“Why?” Lalia asked.
The scene continued for a few minutes, the rim of blue expanded to a quarter of the moon’s surface. The two watched from the roof top for a few minutes, Garth helped lower Lalia into the house they were on top of. The two story home, much like the other Aurrus homes, was built of mud, straw, and ovalt wood. The ovalt wood was ornately carved into the doorways and windows. The walls were painted over a slate grey. The furniture in the room was built from the knarled roots of the ovalt trees, the wood twisted and bent wildly, a nightstand, a chair, and a bed made of the roots sat plainly in the large empty bedroom. The room was dusty, evident that it had been left vacant for some time.
He laid on her on the bed.
“Is it still happening?” She asked. Garth peeked out of a window to confirm.
“Yes. The moon is nearly completely frozen.” He told her.
“I have the bandages. How do I wrap you?” He asked, clumsily holding the bandages to her side. “Oh, dear. You are leaking clear blood.” He cried.
“No. No. The clear is my skin trying to repair the wound, it is a burn, that would be the cytoplasm secreted from burst cells, it is completely normal.” She explained.
Garth wrapped the bandages around Lalia’s torso, she cringed each time the fabric touched her open wound.
“I’m sorry. I’m trying my best so it doesn’t hurt.” Garth explained.
“No. It will have to hurt, tie it tightly or it won’t do me any good.” She directed.
Garth bit his lip and wrapped tighter, Lalia cried out in pain. He too, began to shout as he did it. He snipped off the bandage and set it on the nightstand close to the bed, he ran downstairs and returned.
“It isn’t tape, but I think these clips will work.” He explained as he attached metal clamps to her bandages.
“I think you did just fine.” She smiled weakly.
“What does that mean? Are you resigning to death or satisfied in my doctoring?” He asked nervously.
“Relax. You did well.” She assured him, “Agh!” She clutched her side, “I’ll be good in a day or two.”
Garth peered out of the window; most of the Callos had already left for the Convoy. Aurrus were closing their windows and locking their doors, something ominous was in the air.
“I don’t think we have that much time. The Convoy just declared war on the Aurrus.” Garth sighed.
Lalia straightened in her bed:
“Then we should keep going. We need to meet up with Miles and Braes at the house.” She tried to get out of bed.
“We should stay here. I think we just need to wait it out. In a few days you’ll be better, and the Convoy will be long gone. Aurrus isn’t that bad.” Garth decided.
“If I am holding you back, you need to carry on without me.” She told him, her eyes free of tears, she was not sad.
“I will not leave you.” Garth assured her.
“Go. Take the shielding system.” She pointed at her at the piece they had just narrowly escaped with. “Head back to the house, assemble it. You, Miles, and Braes can wear them. After all, there are only three.” She cried, squeezing her side.
“I will be back for you.” Garth promised, grabbing the final component, and heading towards the door.
“I’m not dying. I am just sorry I can’t come along.” She shooed him off.
“Goodbye, Doctor Tarrus.” Garth said, wiping at his tears.
“Get out of here!” She yelled, laughing, and squeezing her side. Garth ran off down the alley, looking back only once.
“Phlasia protect them.” Lalia prayed, she lay back in her bed. She lifted her shirt slightly; her bandages were being bled through.
“I should have had him get me some spare bandages and glass of water first.” She thought to herself.
She rested her head against the pillow and closed her eyes, she needed to rest the wound off, and a few moments of quiet could help her get her mind together. She sensed movement in the room, a damp rag was placed over her face, it smelled like chemicals.