Gemi bent through the tent opening, closing it behind her. She saw the food set out by her bed, but found she no longer had the stomach to ingest anything at the moment.
She crawled on the bed and curled up in the middle not realizing how tired she was until that very moment. Her body ached from the day’s events. She never was athletic, this being the most exercise she had ever endured not to mention psychological and physical trauma.
Gemi lay there half asleep, still trying to answer the questions that swirled around in her head.
***
The sound of yelling far off in the distance roused her. Daylight streamed in through the tent making her squint. What time was it?
The yelling got louder. Something was wrong.
Gemi bolted up right and jumped off the bed, thankful in that moment she had fallen asleep fully clothed. She burst though the tent opening and ran towards the sound of the commotion. Her heart pounded in her throat. She braced herself for the worst as she broke through the trees that separated her from the others.
Everyone was running everywhere, shouting to each other.
“Get him to the Doc now!”
“What the hell happened out there?”
“They did what?”
Gemi arrived just in time to see one of the men being carried into the doctor’s tent. It wasn’t Sann. A wave of relief flooded though her. She craned her neck searching for him, finally spotting him in the distance walking right towards her for the first time there was no smile on his face.
“You have to get out of here now! Go back to your tent I will get you later.”
“No. What happened?” she asked.
“You just need to hide out for a little –“
“You!” Kai stalked towards them face lit up with anger. “You and your people. You caused this!”
“What?” Gemi stammered.
Kai didn’t responded, instead bringing her fist down hard on Gemi’s face. She saw stars, falling to the ground on her hands and knees the world still spinning around her. Kai came at her again, but this time Sann stepped in the way, pushing her back and away.
“Ok Kai, you’re even. Now shove off.”
“Even? Even?” Kai screeched. “Did you see what they did to him? He might not survive!”
“And she had nothing to do with it!” Sann bellowed back.
“She has everything to do with it! If you protect one, then you are protecting them all! You saw them; saw what they are capable of! This has nothing to do with a chip, they are all mad the lot of them. The chip just hid it for a while!”
Gemi’s head still swam. She stayed down listening, out of harm’s way. This was life before the chips. People just punched people, killed each other. Her brain was having a hard time wrapping around the idea. But the throbbing in her face was a reminder that yes this was her new reality.
“Jaxton I expected this from, but you, Sann I thought you had better sense!” Kai’s face was flushed red with anger; she stared at Gemi like a bug she desperately wanted to crush.
“Back off Kai!” Jaxton yelled as he approached.
“Oh great it’s you! Look at you coming to this pathetic piece of garbage's defense! You can protect her now, but I promise there will be a time when I get her alone.”
“Go tend to Callum.” Jaxton said dismissing her. She shot a dirty look at Gemi, before heading off to the doctor’s tent.
He then turned his anger to Sann. “Good job you did protecting her.”
Jaxton reached down, grabbing her under her arms to help her to her feet. He brushed the hair from her face, trailing his fingers around her tender eye.
“Come on, it was just a bit of a cat fight. Kai got it out of her system, she will cool down and everything will be ok. She’s fine. Aren’t you?” Sann said grabbing her shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze.
Gemi nodded and then winced. Her head was pounding.
“Come on we’ll ice your eye. The Doc can look at it later after everyone has calmed. Sann go make sure that Kai doesn't blow anything up. Do you think you can handle that?”
“Kai duty. That should be fun. I will come see you later little bird.”
Jaxton turned away from Sann and reached down to scoop her up into his arms. Gemi wanted to protest, to tell him that she could walk on her own, but she knew it would be a lie. Instead, she resigned herself to her fate, reaching her arms up around his neck and resting her pounding head on his chest. She noted that he tensed at her touch, slowly relaxing again when she stopped moving.
Jaxton didn't say another word on the walk back to her tent. For once she enjoyed his silence, listening instead to the soft pounding of his heart and feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest with each breath. She calmed matching her breath with his as the pain in her head subsided, her eyes drooping heavy as rocks.
Gemi jumped awake as the cool bed met her back and Jaxton’s hands slid from underneath her. The room spun as she tried to push herself up.
“It's ok, lay back. I am just going to grab a cool compress from my bag.” Jaxton said turning away from her.
“This isn't my tent.” Gemi mumbled as she fell back onto the mattress.
“No its not. It's my tent. You will be safer here until things wind down,” he said coming back into view. “Here.” He placed a cold pack on her eye, sitting on the floor next to her to hold it in place.
“What happened? Why was Kai so mad at me?”
“Kai is always mad,” he sighed. "In this instance however, it’s because they were attacked, and outnumbered on their outing. And Callum has been injured pretty badly.”
“Are they together?” Gemi asked.
“They are.”
“That must be a terrible feeling.” Gemi picked at her cuticles. A nervous habit she never quite broke. “I understand that she is upset, but why blame me?”
“It is not something you have to worry yourself about right now. Why don't you try to sleep, I will stay here.” Jaxton let go of the compress, turning away and leaned his back against the bed.
“What is going on out there? Back home I mean.” Gemi whispered.
“Go to sleep,” he said.
“Thank you for saving me... again.”
Gemi reached over and placed her hand on his shoulder. He tensed again.
“Sure.” he said, reaching up and patting her hand, before sweeping it off his shoulder and back onto the bed.
Gemi closed her eyes. So that is what being in a fight is like, she thought. Definitely not something she ever had interest in being part of again.
***
The sound of voices brought her back around from her slumber.
“Is he going to make it?”
“Yes. Thankfully the knife missed his vital organs. He will need a few days’ rest, but I expect he will recover fully. Kai insisted he be moved back to her tent. Said she could protect him better.”
Gemi opened her eyes and looked towards the opening of the tent where Jaxton’s back obscured the view of the doctor. She closed her eyes to slits, laying still, listening to their conversation hoping that they may answer some of her questions.
“How is she doing?”
“She is sleeping.”
“Ah, no doubt with Kai’s right hook. I will take a look at her when she wakes up. I am sure she will have one hell of a headache. I have herbs that will take care of that.”
“Has Kai calmed down?”
“I would say not. She reported Gemi to base.”
“She did what?” Jaxton yelled. He glanced over his should to make sure he hadn’t woken Gemi. She didn’t stir. Satisfied that she was still asleep he turned back to the doctor, lowering his voice. “What did they say?”
“You can rest easy. They said her being around us would be a great test. We would be able to monitor how long she stayed sane.”
“Good.” Jaxton let out a sigh of relief.
“Well yes and no. She can stay, and no one can harm her, which is good. However if she turns… If she turns
we have been instructed to put her down.”
“Put her down? She isn’t cattle for fucks sake.”
“To them, she is now nothing more than a science experiment, a means to an end. I warned you before not to get attached, it never ends well.”
“I won’t do it.”
“You may not, but the others will jump at the bit with Kai in the lead. I know you’re not like us, you joined late in life, but this is all they know.”
“That doesn’t justify it. You know they are sending in fleets to just
eradicate everyone? It’s been what two days and their first thought is to destroy and rebuild?” Jaxton was angry again.
“They have had control for so long, they won’t risk giving it up. We have a difficult journey ahead of us. We are all going to do things we may not be particularly proud of, including you. That girl in there, she was probably better off dying in the streets.”
Gemi sucked in air; she knew it was loud enough for them to hear. The jig was up. She groaned, batting her eyes playing like she had just woken up.
“Oh you’re awake,” Jaxton said turning towards her. “The doctor is here.”
“Hello again Gemi, we should stop meeting like this.” Doctor Askel stepped into the tent and strode towards her. “How are you feeling?”
“My face hurts,” she said pointblank.
The doctor laughed. “Well. A good punch to the face will do that to you. Do you mind if I examine it?”
Gemi shook her head, biting her lower lip when the movement sent a wave of pain through her. She glanced up at Jaxton who was staring at her, his arms crossed over his chest. Concern etched on his face.
Doctor Askel turned her head to the side and began pressing on different areas of her face around where she was struck. It hurt like hell, the pain radiated into her eye making focusing difficult.
“Well nothing is broken, that is good news. It will be quite bruised, not too swollen since you applied ice right after. I am sure you have one hell of a headache, I can make you an herbal tea that should take it away.”
“Thank you.” Gemi leaned forward to get up, struggling until she felt hands on her back, strong but gentle, helping her to a seated position.
“Well then, I will be right back.” the doctor said glancing between Jaxton and Gemi before turning to leave.
Jaxton turned to her, reaching up he pushed hair out of her face, letting his hand trail down her cheek before cupping her chin in his hand. He said nothing, just stared his eyes burning right through her. Her heart raced, unable to break his gaze.
“I will keep you safe,” he whispered more to himself than to her.
Then his hand was gone, turning away and releasing her from his trance. In two long strides he was gone, sliding gracefully between the openings of the tent.
Gemi fell back on the bed, breathing deep as she tried to slow the beating of her heart. She realized then he no longer frightened her, his intensity had always been there because she had been in danger the moment he met her. Somewhere inside she knew he would never harm her in any way even if it were demanded of him. The thought comforted her, making her feel safe despite the last few days. Her brain however was still plagued with unanswered questions, one of which she kept coming back to. Why would he have such loyalty to a complete stranger?
CHAPTER FOUR
Jaxton lead her down to dinner despite her pleads to leave her alone in the tent. The camp was quiet. Instead of eating dinner at the normal tables, they found the group all quietly sitting around a fire in a loose circle; everyone absorbed in their own thoughts and the past day’s events. The atmosphere was palpable.
Gemi noted as they passed by on their way to an open seat that Kai was missing from the group. Not one looked up this time and there was no staring or whispering. Gemi sat down next to Sann who bumped her shoulder with his as a silent greeting.
Jaxton left her there to go make them a plate of food. She fiddled with her hands in her lap not even wanting to make eye contact with Sann. All of a sudden she was aware that the silence they threw her way was much worse than the gossip and whispering.
“I hope everyone enjoys their last meal while not on the run,” Sann broke the silence. “It is caravan living for some time after this!”
Jaxton had returned, setting a plate of food in her lap before taking a seat on her other side.
“What does he mean?” Gemi whispered to Jaxton.
“We have to move camp.”
“But why?”
“Oh, he didn’t tell you?” Sann leaned in interrupting them. “Reports of the locos on the move!”
“Sann.” Jaxton warned.
“Oh come on. What is she going to find out once she is loaded into a van with all of our belongings?”
“Are they headed this way?” Gemi asked wide-eyed.
“Yes hordes of them. Got sick of city living I suppose. Wanted to come rough it out here with us.” Sann winked at her.
“Sann stop,” Jaxton growled back. “Yes, there have been reports of the affected traveling outside the cities. I wouldn’t necessarily call them a horde. And yes they are headed this way.”
“Was that so hard to tell the truth? She isn’t a child you know.” Sann pushed up off of his knees and headed towards the kitchen.
“You don’t have to shelter me,” Gemi said standing, her plate in one hand. “I am a grown woman.”
She turned meaning to leave, but Jaxton reached out and grabbed her other hand to stop her. It wasn’t his normal rough gesture. His hand brushed just slightly against her palm before settling on her fingers.
“You’re right I’m sorry. I was just trying to protect you. Now sit down.”
“You follow an apology with a demand? You know what, I don’t think that I’m too hungry all of a sudden.” She pulled her hand free and stocked off. He did not follow her.
Gemi found Sann at the kitchen loading his plate up on seconds. She threw her plate down on the table and leaned back against it.
“Free of your guard dog at last?” he said all smiles.
“Despite everything I think he means well. It’s just frustrating.”
“I think he is a control freak, but who am I to judge? You come for seconds?”
Gemi shook her head.
“Did you come to see me?” His smiled widened.
“Oh you’re still here?” a voice called from behind them.
Gemi turned to see Kai walking towards them. She glared at Gemi, slamming her shoulder hard into her as she walked by.
“You don’t have to be that way towards her. She’s one of us now.”
“She will never be one of us, but I won’t punch her again if that is what you are getting at. She is our little lab rat now and not to be harmed. Until she goes crazy, and then I will blow her brains out.”
Kai walked away without another word or glance at Gemi, who stood there mouth gaping.
“Oh she is just a little dramatic,” Sann said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “Come on lets go for a walk.”
“Um,” She glanced towards the fire where the group still sat. Jaxton was staring at her, an unreadable expression on his face. “I don’t know if that is a good idea.”
“Oh come on, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She paused contemplating before finally giving in.
“Ok.” Gemi agreed letting him steer her away from camp.
It was eerie in the woods, the darkness taking her eyes a moment to adjust to as it cast false shadows across her vision. She had grown so used to the city with its bright lights and constant hustle. Being alone in the dark was not an idea she was fond of. She wrapped her arm around Sann pulling him in closer to her, thankful that he was there with her.
“Where are we headed?” she asked.
“To one of my favorite spots.”
“It’s not too far off? I don’t think we should wander too far away from camp.”
“No it’s not too far,” he laughed. “Don’t
worry little bird, I won’t let anything happen to you. Besides, there is no one else for miles.”
Suddenly that was the thought that worried her especially with the sightings of the affected moving their way.
They walked a few hundred feet, coming to a slight drop off that ended somewhere shrouded in shadows. Sann walked down it with ease, leaving Gemi to slide awkwardly down after tripping on her own feet and almost rolling down the rest of it. He bent down and helped her to her feet once she had finally reached the bottom.
“It’s right through here.”
He led her by her hand once again, stepping though a thick covering of brush and holding it open for her to step through after him. Once through the world opened. They stood at the edge of an embankment a large river flowing past their feet. There was no sound but the crashing water.
She looked up at the sky spreading out for miles above them. Every star shone so bright they looked like a million fireflies. She was so in awe of the sight it momentarily distracted her from all the events of the past few days.
“Beautiful isn’t it?” Sann said bringing her back down to earth.
“It is amazing. You can never see the sky like this in the city.”
Sann sat down in the damp sand pulling her with him. She laid her head on his shoulder and let out a large breath.
“How do you know about this place if you’re stationed at the base?”
“We have set locations that we set up camp at whenever we are out doing research.”
“Oh.”
“What did you do before all this?” he asked.
“Book editor.”
“Explains why you don’t run so good.”
“Yeah,” she laughed. “It’s also why I want to edit that whole sentence you just said.”
“Are you insinuating that I don’t spoke well?” He sat forward and threw his hands on his chest feigning pain.
“If I asked you something would you tell the truth?” she asked growing serious again.
“Have I lied to you yet?” He tilted his head resting it on top of hers.
“What is really going on out there?”
“You’re trying to get Jaxton to kill me aren’t you?”
“You promised.” She sat up leaning away from him to meet his gaze with hers.
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