The Stampede ~Vash x OC AU~

Chapter 43: Food Poisoning

Vash

Suddenly and without warning, Leilani bursts to her feet and darts away, leaving us at the table, confused and dumbfounded. We exchange glances, no one breaking the awkward silence until Meryl rushes after her. Then, it's just Wolfwood, Roberto, and me.

The three of us remain in this strange twist of silence, forks scraping porcelain as I try to keep myself planted in my seat. I don't like this. Every cell in my body is urging me to go to her, but I don't.

Finally, as if the silence can't get any denser, Wolfwood breaks it. "What the fuck was that about?"

Roberto finishes chewing the bite in his mouth and dabs his lips with a napkin, then stands as he replies, "Well, by the sounds of it, I'd say our friend is in there throwing up her guts."

Something pulls at my chest hearing that, but I know he's right. Even through the wall, I can hear the way she coughs and gags, followed by Meryl's gentle voice comforting her. My body is twitching, ready to dart in there, but all I can do is listen to the swirling of my thoughts.

Was it the food? Are the eggs expired? She did scorch hers a bit. Maybe that could have caused the food to not sit well with her. I turn, my eyes falling in the direction of the door, still hearing her. I ball my hands into fists as my heart beats harder and harder.

Roberto carries his plate away into the kitchen. My eyes follow him, watching as he lifts the egg carton and examines the packaging of the other ingredients. He frowns.

"Good news is that the eggs aren't expired, and everything else seems fine, too," he says. "So, none of us will have to worry about any food poisoning later."

"Well, that's a relief since we've all been sitting here eating it," Wolfwood scoffs.

So, the food isn't expired. I relax at hearing that. I've been around for many years, and I have seen many, many people unlucky enough to experience that. It is brutal and a nasty thing to encounter.

Still, if not food poisoning, then what? She has been acting off these last few days. Every time I've seen her it's as if she's been off lost in thought. Spacing out, unaware of anyone saying her name. She hasn't been herself. Could she be sick?

"Yeah, well, hopefully, whatever she has isn't contagious," Roberto huffs.

I hear more gagging, then the unmistakable splash of vomit in water. My fingers twitch, digging into my palm. If it wasn't for Roberto and Meryl, I'd be in there right now. I'd be the one right by her side, offering words of comfort. But there's not much else I could do.

"Yeah, I don't think that's what's going on here," Wolfwood says. There is a hint of a curl pulling at his tone.

Roberto lifts a brow, turning to Wolfwood. "What do you mean by that?"

"Oh, nothing," Wolfwood shrugs. His dark eyes move, falling on me. He laces his fingers together and rests his chin on them. "What do you think, Blondie? Do you think our friend Kanyon is sick?"

I furrow my brows, taken aback by his question. Obviously something is wrong. Otherwise, she wouldn't be in there right now throwing up her breakfast.

"She must be," I say, turning to face him directly. "I mean, she's in there vomiting. It could be a stomach bug or something."

"Or something," he chuckles.

I knit my brows. I don't get it. Why does he find this so amusing? Someone is sick and he's out here laughing. Why would he do that? Why would he find amusement in –

Or something.

Those words suddenly click, and everything around me seems to come crashing down. My blood runs cold, and my head begins to spin, and it feels as if my heart will beat itself out of my chest. And it feels hot. Why is it so hot? Did something happen to the air?