Lavivrus

Chapter 17

They made it out of the town without any more incidences. Somehow it was as though the infector simply didn't want to stop them. Perhaps it was too amused watching the unfolding events, perhaps it simply wasn't sure where they were. They teens didn't know.

What they did was that there wasn't one of them who wasn't glad to be out of that place and leave all the infected behind. The scrambled through the snow, as far away from the town as possible. Shai trailed somewhat behind the others.

The first stage after getting infected... Memories of his father surfaced. Uncontrollable shivering and sweating. Your body temperature becomes a mess. However, with the cold the entire group was shaking so no one was taking note of those symptoms.

Shai's eyes latched on to where Lake stumbled along. The boy had his head down, not looking away from Mav's footsteps. Asumi patted a hand on his shoulder before going on ahead. When she passed Roanna, the other girl eyed her.

Puffs of their breath was visible in the bitter cold. Soon, they got hungry, and still they kept going. It was Roanna who called for the break some time later.

The teens collapsed under a clump of trees. The snow wasn't deep here. Shai dropped his rifle and joined the small circle the others had formed. The only one who remained standing was Mav. The boy was gazing intently at the sky.

"How are you feeling?" Roanna's voice brought Shai's attention to her.

His hand went to the scarf wrapped around his neck. "It's bearable," he said through chattering teeth.

The girl raised an eyebrow at that.

"Your body temperature is the first thing," Shai began to explain. He was aware of Lake's eyes on him, however, he didn't shoot his shivering friend a glance. "Not being able to sleep or eat. Nausea. It all hits like clockwork..." he trailed off.

"Oh?" Roanna leaned forward. "And you know because...?"

"Watched it happen." Shai pulled his coat closer.

"Ah."

"Where are you going?" Asumi called.

The teens turned to see Mav had begun to trudge away.

The boy turned. "Taking a leak," he called from where he already stood a good distance from the group.

"Is it wise to go anywhere?" Asumi asked.

"What?" Mav cocked his head. "Want me to go here?"

The girl shrugged.

"Be right back." With that Mav hurried away.

"If he gets eaten we're leaving," Roanna commented as she watched his retreating back. A visible shiver went through her. "You think the infector is still tracking us?"

"You can count on it," Asumi had no doubt in her voice.

Shai's hand went to the rifle.

"You know..." Roanna was watching him. "It might be best to take all weapons away from you before you become delirious and shoot one of us."

"Doesn't hit till the last stage," was Shai's reply.

"Can we not talk about that?" Lake murmured. The boy was shivering uncontrollably.

Asumi scrambled to her feet. "I say we should get moving."

Picking up his rifle, Shai followed her lead.

"Guess you have a point there." Letting out a long sigh, Roanna followed. She stomped her feet and some snow fell off her coat. Turning, she reached a hand out to Lake. The boy looked at it in surprise. "What?" Roanna asked.