liah

This Means War

"Hey, c'mon in." I gave him a small wave and smile. "Long time no see."
"Yeah, just a few hours. I'll let you two chat. I need to go make a plan. Or at least try to figure out some of those maps we've got. Can't sit here forever." Em pushed off the bed and walked by Sam, nudging him in the arm as she exited the room.

This Means War

"Can I have something eat? I'm starving." I asked after a few moments of silence. Em nodded, getting up from her spot on the bed and returning to the others. I could hear her asking Spencer which bag the food was in, then rummaging around. "Thanks." She said. Someone must have handed her an apple or something.
"Feeling better in there?" I heard Joe call from wherever he was.
"She's fine!" Em answered for me as she entered the room. "Here you go. I found a pear. Hope you like pears." She handed it to me.
"Thanks, I appreciate it. All of this. For carrying me hear and dealing with me in all my drama." I took a bite of the fruit and savored the taste.
"Hey, don't thank me. You guys helped us escape that camp. It's the least I could do." She smiled.

This Means War

I opened my eyes to see Em hovering over me. She smiled and sat down on the bed beside me.
"How're you feeling?" She asked, tiling her head to the side.
"Better than I was earlier. Where are we? How long have I been out?" I questioned, rubbing my eyes with my free hands. "And whose bed is this?"
"We found a cabin in the woods." Em replied. "Sounds a bit scary in that phrase. But it's safe. Its been abandoned for what looks like years. You weren't out as long as you were the first time though. Almost, but not quite."
"Oh." I groaned, readjusting myself in the bed. "Where's everyone else? Sam and Joe and them?"
"They're all here. Spread about. Joe is on the porch, sneezing his brains out. Spence is readin' a book. We're all just waiting for the storm to pass."

This Means War

Hours seemed to go by before the storm began to calm down. The heavy rain was now a light sprinkle of whatever water the storm clouds had left in them. The loud thunderous crashing of the sky seemed to slow to a low stomach growl of thunder. The lightening wasn't as powerful as it was at the beginning. It was just a few flashes that lit up the cabin every now and then.

"You're cheating!" A faded, or loud -I couldn't tell- voice seeped into my ears.
"I'm not. Nina, you're just upset you're losing." I could hear the shuffling of paper.. Or something. Cards? Then sneezing. Loud, continuous sneezing.
"I'm going back outside." A deeper voice spoke up. Joe's voice.
I had yet to open my eyes. I couldn't find the strength. They were still so heavy. I was so tired and I couldn't remember why. I wanted to roll over onto my stomach, but I knew that wasn't a good idea. Half of me was insanely tired, while the other half struggled to fully wake me up.
"Hello?" I croaked. "Sam? Somebody?" I could hear the commotion come to a stop. Murmurs and whispers filled the air, but I wasn't sure what they were saying.

This Means War

"They're probably all dusty or infested with little bugs. You sure we should put Daisy on that bed?" Em asked, from the other room. She was watching as Daisy slept. "Or, at least let me air that blanket out she's lying on. Wouldn't want her to wake up covered in bug bites." She gestured Joe to come back inside to pick Daisy up once more. He put a finger in the air as if to tell her to hold on a moment. He went onto the porch and sneezed. And sneezed. And then sneezed some more.
"Alright, I'm good. Let's do this." Joe's voice was a little congested. He went into the room, carefully scooped Daisy in his arms once more, and watched as Em tore the blankets from the bed. She stepped onto the porch and beat them against the wind, trying to get rid of as much dust as she could.
"That's a little better." She said, satisfied with herself. She remade the bed and Joe lay Daisy back down.
"She's out like a light. Sure she'll wake back up?" A bit of worry lingered in Joe's voice as they both walked back into the room with the others.
"She'll be fine, Joseph." Em rolled her eyes at her brother. She rarely ever used his full name. "And stop being some rude to Spencer." She hit him on the back of the head. It didn't seem to phase him.
"So, Plan Man? You did good. Spencer, you too." Nina said to her brother and Sam. "What's our next move, Smart Guy?" She ran a hand through her hair.

This Means War

Joe was the first one to see Nina sprinting back towards them. He held Daisy in his arms, just like he had for majority of the day. "Is it clear?" He yelled.
"It's clear." Nina breathed. "Hurry up. It's about to get bad out here." Nina jogged back towards the cabin, leaving her siblings to make it back at their own pace.
"You got her?" Em asked, Joe. He nodded, trying to keep the rain from his eyes.
"The rain is really starting to come down. Hurry up!" Spencer yelled above the thunder. Em and Spencer ran towards the cabin as fast as they could, while Joe went at a good enough pace to not shake Daisy up as he half-jogged, half-walked towards the group.
"I'm glad you guys made it in." Nina was stood in the doorway as her siblings walked up the creaking wooden steps onto the porch. Spencer walked by Nina and walked straight into the cabin, eager to explore the ancient place. Em flashed a goofy smile at her sister before walking through the door. Joe took one step inside and immediately, his nose started tickling him.
"Oh man. It's- it's really-" He inhaled. "Dusty." He squeaked, holding in a sneeze. "I don't want to sneeze on her." He scrunched his nose up. "Gotta fight it." He inhaled again.
Thunder boomed outside of the cabin and the storm had finally arrived with all of it's might. Rain poured onto the roof of the cabin and began drenching everything in it's path. Everyone was visibly relieved that they didn't get caught in the storm.

This Means War

Nina cautiously opened the door to what lead to a bedroom. The room was dark and musty, covered a thick layer of dust that almost made it hard for her to breathe. There was a bed that sat on a rusted metal bed frame; it's blankets floral design barely visible through the gray layer of dust that sat atop it. Two pillows, sat neatly on the bed just where whoever had previously fixed them, left them. Nina walked further into the room, doing a full turn to make sure she'd covered all the space. "Huh?" She spotted another door in the room. Presumably a closet. She reached for the knob and swung the door open. Nothing but two very old dresses hung on old wire hangers.
"On to the next room." Nina whispered to herself, walking across the small hall and to the next door. It was cracked just enough for her to peek inside before fully nudging the door open. She gasped, seeing a small mouse run out of the room and into the next. "Good lord." She sighed, almost laughing at herself for being afraid. Inside the room was a dirty white toilet and a rusty broken sink. The shower had no curtain and the tub was fill of mouse droppings.
The sound of thunder and rain echoed throughout the house. It was time to get the others before the storm arrived with all of it's fury. "Clear." She said as she walked back into the living room of the cabin.

This Means War

"Ouch, Nina!" Spencer rubbed the middle of his forehead where Nina had thumped him. "You guys are gonna stop pickin' on me." Spencer pouted, standing between Em and Joe.
"I said shut up, Spence!" Nina hissed as she and Sam began their walk towards the cabin. As they grew closer, Nina became more cautious. "It looks really creepy. Do you think anyone is in there?" Nina glanced over at Sam before focusing her eyes back on the cabin.

Behind them, Em knelt down beside Daisy, gently touching a hand to her forehead. She wasn't as hot as before, so she figured Daisy's fever must've gone down. Joe stretched his arms high in the air, wiggling his fingers towards the clouds. "Did you feel that?" He asked his sister.
"What?" Em replied, standing up and facing her brother.
"That." Joe wiped a raindrop from his nose. "And that." he felt another tiny drop fall onto his face. "That's not good."
"It's been over two hours. It was going to rain eventually." Em huffed before taking a seat next to Daisy. Thunder rolled through the clouds and streaks of lightening followed. She prayed that the cabin was safe enough for them to stay for the night.

This Means War

"How long do you think we've been walking?" Spencer groaned, after what felt like an hour to him. He wasn't particularly complaining. He was just genuinely curious. He didn't want to get caught in the rain.
"Not too long, Spence. Maybe about 45 minutes. Don't start complaining." Em shot him a look and he sighed.
Nina gasped at the sound of low rumbling thunder that crept its way through the skies. The wind began to pick up, growing stronger and colder with each breeze that blew threw the trees. The skies continued to darken with each passing minute. She wasn't too thrilled about the impending storm. "We need to find some shelter soon. I think this storm is going to be rough." Worry lingered in Nina's voice.
"I agree" Joe looked down at the girl in his arms. "and this one's starting to shiver every now and then. I don't think she's doing too well. Must be getting hot and cold flashes or something." Joe chimed in.

This Means War

"I don't care." I sniffled. "Do what y'all gotta do." I wiped my eyes with my forearm. "Might be wiser to look for shelter before dragging me along though." I threw an arm over my eyes. "Might be q-quicker too." I let out a shaky sigh.
"Either way, we need to get moving. You want those drugs?" Em asked me. She gently removed my arm from my face and starred at me, waiting for a reply. I nodded.
"I've got them." Spencer walked towards us and handed Em the medicine. "I don't know why you guys think I'm so stupid." Spencer mumbled to himself. I didn't think his siblings heard him.
"Take these." Em handed me two blue pills and my bottled water. "It won't take long for them to kick in. About less than 10 minutes and you'll be asleep. Are you okay with that?" She asked me.
"Yeah, I'm okay with that." I replied. I looked down at the pills in my hand, then at everyone in our small, messy camp. "Try not to drop me while I'm out." I sniffled and took the drugs.
"Don't worry. I'm strong." Joe flexed his arms. "I won't drop you." He laughed. Nina nudged him, rolling her eyes.
I sat there, starring at everyone and they starred back, waiting for the meds to kick in. After a few minutes, my eyes began to grow heavy. Instinct made me fight the sleep and struggle to keep my eyes open.
"Just relax. Sleep." Nina gave me a small smile as the group waited for me to pass out. I nodded, quitting the fight and letting the medicine do its work.