Chapter Five — Strange Condition

Opel:

In the hollow Bowels of Mount Helicon , we wait out the passing storm. The fire is warm and a show of beautiful golden, flickering flames cast dancing shadows across the cave’s wall. Smoke blankets the ceiling as he chucks more pages from the book to feed the flames. The crackling of wet wood echoes throughout the tunnels where we have found refuge, while awaiting the passing storm.

Aecker removes his shirt and places it over the rocks. He still has a firm hold on his usual cool cat self; nothing seems to faze him at all. But I know it irks him to have defiled the pages of a book he calls treasure. When he turns, I can see the blossoming of bruises spreading across his shoulders in huge, black and blue spots. I don’t know how to thank him for getting me out, although a simple thank you wouldn’t be nearly enough. He had no reason to save me again, but I think I know why he did. It’s something neither of us dare say out loud―however, the emotion is there in his eyes when he looks at me, in the feral state of protection he shows for me.

We huddle close to the fire, hoping the flames will ease out the tension in our muscles. Every now and then I’ll catch Aecker staring at me, like he wants to say something. But when our eyes meet, he chooses to offer a simple smile before turning back to the fire, almost as if he is scared of what I might think. Through the stretching silence we eat a forest squirrel; a few comments on the taste and texture of squirrels are exchanged. Then it’s back to that awkward state, a rusted wheel too afraid of turning in case it might break. I’ve never eaten meat before, I don’t think. But I know now I like the strong taste. When we are done eating, Aecker builds up the fire to keep us warm throughout the remainder of the night.

“We’ll have to leave before sunrise.”

“Where will we go?” I ask him.

“I know of someone who might be able to get that bracelet off.”

“Great,” I say with pure glee, and already my mind wonders to what that might mean for me, for us.

There are a million things I want to ask and things I want to explain, but the words don’t come as bravely as they should. They don’t mean much when someone has just risked their entire life and future for you.

“I’ll take the first shift,” I offer.

The shock to his beaten body from the storm has left him pale and tired. Aecker doesn’t disagree, he knows I don’t sleep or get tired much.

Once he dozes off, I wander the circle of the main cave’s room. When I am absolutely sure he’s fallen into deep sleep―his breathing deep and constant―I seem to relax a bit. Grabbing Aecker’s T-shirt from the rock, wanting to turn it over so the front can dry, I catch sight of blood all over the back of his shirt. My confidence suddenly wanes. Would he tell me if he was injured? The rain has spread out the strips of blood and smeared it like blossoming, pink petals across the arms. For a supposed Tracker, I know very little about human compassion, or valor.

The feeling in my gut when I look at my injured hero is much like a hollow ache twisting and turning its way into my chest. While trying to decipher my feelings, and pondering over what to do with them, I keep wandering the tunnels.

The cave has a network of connecting passageways. In some, I can hear the whistling song of the wind outside. Others are dark and musty, thick moss growing like carpet over the walls. On my way back, I find the remains of dead animals, and even what looks like human bones littering the floor of a dark tunnel that leads to a steep downhill. In the distance, I hear the rapids of water. I hope that whatever roams these tunnels isn’t hungry tonight.

When I return to the cave, the flames are almost extinguished. I run for my rucksack, find and snatch the flint, pile on the wood and light it. Perhaps the fire is what is keeping the beast away. Eventually, the fire rekindles. I sit back and take in the heat, mesmerized by the ballet of illuminated flames.

I stare at Aecker―his hair concealing most of his face―and move closer, glaring at his handsome features. In my mind, I’m trying to place him, hoping some memory will be sparked. He knows me, he has said so, but why can I not remember? My fingers lightly touch his cheek; his warmth leaves a twisting gale inside the pit of my stomach. It clenches, suddenly nervous. When he moans, I jump back, feeling the fall inside my stomach again. Is it a hint of fear I have for him? I know I feel something, but what it is I can’t quite explain. I wish I could wake him. I can’t take this wondering anymore. If he knows anything about me, he has to tell!

I lean in close and lightly touch his arm to wake him. “Aecker,” I whisper, feeling slightly guilty at disturbing his peaceful slumber. That’s when I notice his breathing has changed, it’s haggard and fast.

Is he having a bad dream? Crawling closer, I notice the silent shiver of his body. I touch his head, it’s bathed in a thin gloss of sweat from the heat of the fire, but he doesn’t feel warm. In fact, as I touch his fingers they are ice cold and blue beneath the nailbed.

“Aecker,” I call again.

He is unresponsive. I feel his pulse―it’s weak and slow. I run for his shirt, but it is still slightly damp, so I remove my jacket and place it on his shoulders. It’s so small, but it’s the only thing that can provide him with any bit of covering. Instead, I wrap his bare feet, hopefully preventing his body heat from escaping. Rushing to the fire I try to increase its size.. Then I create another fire against the cave wall behind him, attempting to surround him with heat, and wait for the warmth to work its magic. Despite my efforts, though, he is getting worse, mumbling in an entirely different language. Sometimes, it’s English, but other times it’s a slur of foreign words.

Removing my pants, I fold them in a way so it covers his head, trapping in more of his body heat. The material is stretchy and water resistant—it should work perfectly. My vigorous movements cause my ribs to ache, a spike of pain that rips through my torso throwing me into a fit of coughs. When I remove my hand from my mouth, I see blood. Perhaps during the storm something struck me and caused an injury.

Shrugging, I realize the fire isn’t reaching Aecker’s back and for now, that is my only concern; to keep him warm and alive. I try to share anything I have, but he is heavy, making it almost impossible to move him a little in order to crawl in behind him and take him in my arms. His body only rocks back and forth. He’s deadweight. Finally, I give up the silly idea. Sulking and in pain, I slump against the rock wall. I, too, am feeling drained suddenly. A cold sweat begins to work its way down my spine, but once I move forward I realize it’s only the bedrock behind me. The storm outside must be getting worse and heavier if water is seeping through.

Aecker is shivering so hard his teeth begin to chatter. I have a debate with myself whether or not I should take the next step. This time, the stubborn side of me loses for a change. Giving in to my weakness for him, I find the boy is worth risking my dignity and shame over. I climb into the circle of his arms, curling my body inside of his. With my back against his chest, I lock my legs over his. Taking his arm, I seal myself inside the cocoon of us. For a moment, I almost feel embarrassed as my body lights up in odd places. Gently, I lay my head inside the crook of his arm and wait. For what, I am not sure. I hope he gets better soon. I am afraid of falling prey to the exhaustion and ache in my ribs in case the beast of the cave finds us… or the fire burns out.

Aecker’s shivers have erupted, leaving me feeling cold. Each time he shakes, I shake too, and the pain in my side flares up. I try to wrap him fully over me, intertwining my body with his. I close my eyes, experiencing that sickening feeling of fear as it washes over me in waves. It brings on the paranoia. Horrible images and different scenarios flash before me. It’s the same kind of fear as before, when I lay dying in the concrete tunnel the day of my assault. It is the exact same intense cut of raw terror that leaves me feeling sick to my stomach.

I imagine the fighting storm now inside Aecker’s body. I want to imagine how all the little components are battling together in order to stop whatever is happening to him and heal him from any pain. The thought is comforting, and for the first time since I can remember, I let go of all thought and drift with Aecker into the dead of night.

***

Sometime during the night, I wake with unbearable pain over my entire upper body. My head feels foggy, my limbs heavy, as if I have woken halfway between a dream world and reality.

I check on Aecker’s obvious vital signs. Immediately, I can feel his body is warmer, his breathing has returned to normal and the shaking, thankfully, has stopped. Aecker is wrapped around me, one of my hands trapped inside his, while his other arm holds me close to his body. I feel the gentle rest of his chin on the top of my head. It feels more than nice―it feels safe, as if I am entombed inside the arms I wished to feel forever. I snuggle deeper into him. The pain in my side is too much to bear and I need to rest. The soft wisps of a blissful sleep pull me back and tuck me right back into the heaven that lives in Aecker’s arms. I float off for the second time, thinking how risking everything was all worth it… just to have this.

During sleep, unwanted memories and faces from an unknown past haunt me. I feel like I know them, but at the same time it is a strange, oppressive feeling, smothering me from the inside. I stop breathing, scared the shadow men might hear me. Strange faces weave dark tendrils of bad memories into millions of black, greasy hands grabbing hold of me, pulling me into a slick, oily substance threatening to drown me in their world. My legs become heavy, my chest heaves for air. Flashing lights have me blinded. I can’t get out. A hand appears and pushes my head right back into the gruesome death. And as I go under, my lungs explode and my heart stops.

They have me!