Page 76 of Totally Wrecked
With black saliva running down his chin, he chews as he answers. “I don’t know if I’m imagining it, but my neck feels real stiff.”
I notice his eye is twitching. “Keep eating.”
Neither of us speak now, Leander chews the charcoal lumps, gagging every now and then. I just watch him, praying we have done enough.
“How much should I…” Leander doesn’t finish his sentence. His back arches and he collapses onto the sand, every limb rigid.
It’s like nothing I've ever seen, Leander’s back arches further, lifting him off the sand, while his head and heels remain grounded. Keyara screams—I think I do as well.
Do I touch him?
This is too much. I don’t know what to do. His fists are clenched and it’s like he is struggling for breath. I feel so useless. If only I were Brooke.
I get close to his ear and talk.
“It’s OK, don’t panic. Try to keep calm, this will pass. I’m here, Leander. You are going to be OK.”
I pray that is true. It feels like hours, but is probably only a few minutes when his body drops back to the sand. He groans and rolls his head.
“Can you hear me?”
I don’t get a response, he just continues to groan.
Leander.
A hissing sound comes from between his clenched teeth, then his body shudders and he starts to heave again. I gently roll him onto his side, stoking the hair off his face.
Water, I should get some water in him.
“Key! Bring me a can of water!”
I take off my shirt and pour the water onto the cotton, then moisten his lips, hoping a few beads of liquid get past his rigid jaw. But Leander starts to shake uncontrollably. I rub his back, and then gently pry open one of his eyelids. The pupil of the eye contracts against the light. I presume that’s a good thing. My own eyes have been watering with all the smoke from the fire, but they are a bit clearer now. The smoke has died down.
No! Not good. We need the smoke so we can be rescued, now more than ever. I don’t want to leave Leander’s side, but the wood pile is low, and the green leaves we have for making smoke are all used up.
“I’m still here,” I whisper gently in his ear. “I’m just tending to the fire.”
As I get up, I see the wet-wipe container still holding the fruit. I pick it up and throw the contents as far away as I can. A useless, frustrated gesture.
Restocking the firewood takes too long, even though I hurry. When I get back Key is curled up next to Leander, who still doesn’t respond when I talk to him. As I stroke his brow, it’s clear he has a new symptom: high fever.
I put the damp cloth on his forehead, hoping it might help a little. There is so little I can do to help.
Leander was sure Rex and Gray would find us.
Dad always said hoping and praying was useless. Only doing counts.
But I’ve done all I can, so now I pray.
I pray and pray and pray andpraythat he’s alright, and that his crew are coming to save us.
I can’t do this alone.
GRAY
Ican’t breathe, I’m trapped, I’m suffocating.
“Deploy…”
