\[Denali’s POV\]
The feel of something warm and sticky pressing against my skin rouses me from my peaceful slumber. It is accompanied by a metallic scent that makes my stomach turn.
Unable to stand it, I snap my eyes open and sit up, then fling the blanket off of me so that I can take in the blood that covers the sheet. Gasping, I try to make sense of what it is that I’m witnessing until a groan escapes Rosco.
Eyes widening, I look over, and my heart drops while my stomach turns.
“Rosco,” I whisper, reaching out and touching his cheek, which is hot to the touch. “Rosco!” I repeat, panic beginning to race through me. “Rosco, wake up!”
As I speak, Rosco’s eyes slowly open, but it is like he isn’t fully able to see me. They’re bleary, and his skin is so pale and covered in sweat.
No. This couldn’t be happening. No. I wouldn’t believe it, but the proof was in front of me.
“Rosco, can you sit up?” I ask, continuing to take him in. “Come on, get up.”
From what I could see, there were no visible wounds on his body, but the blood that stained our sheets had to come from somewhere. That could only mean that it was coming from somewhere around his back, but where and how severe.
“Please, sit up.” I repeat, grabbing his body and beginning to heave.
At first, he doesn’t move despite my best efforts, and I’m almost convinced that I’m going to have to find someone to help me. However, after a few minutes, it is almost like he is coming alive, and then he is finally moving, and I see the source of the issue.
On the center of his back is a large wound with pus and blood oozing from it. Even though it just appeared overnight, it looks like it has been there for days and is festering.
“Goddess,” I whisper, my heart beginning to pound in my chest. “No, this can’t be happening.”
How could this be? Why Rosco? And if he was suddenly showing symptoms of illness from the nue, like Elise mentioned, did that mean that the rest of the warriors who were present that day were showing signs too?
As these thoughts begin to race in my head, I hear shouting from just outside our room, and then there is pounding on the door.
“ROSCO!” Charlie’s voice booms from the other side. “THERE’S A PROBLEM!”
There it was—the answer to my question and the confirmation of my worst fear. This was actually happening. My father’s purpose for sending the nue was coming to fruition right before we were making a move.
“ROSCO!” Charlie repeats, the pounding becoming more frantic. “YOU’RE NEEDED!”
Giving Rosco one last look, I jump out of bed, rush to the door, and yank it open so that I find Charlie waiting anxiously.
“Denali?” He says, beginning to peer around me. “Where is Ros…”
He doesn’t finish his words as he takes me and most likely sees the blood that covers my skin and clothes.
“Fuck!” He hisses, his eyes growing wide. “Don’t tell me that you...”
“Not me.” I say, grabbing his arm and tugging. “Rosco.”
Charlie doesn’t ask any questions as I pull him into the room and lead him to the bed where Rosco lies, unmoving.
“Fuck,” he hisses, letting his gaze travel over the blood-stained sheets and then Rosco’s body. “This is bad.”
“How many?” I ask slowly, bracing myself for whatever is about to be said. “How many are sick?”
“At least ten,” Charlie responds gravelly. “Olga and the others are already doing what they can, but it’s bad.”
Nodding, I let his words sink in as I realize just what we are facing.
“We need to get Rosco there.” I say, deciding to deal with one problem at a time. “He has already lost a lot of blood.”
“Let me.” Charlie offers, reaching out and wrapping his arms around Rosco.
“I can do it myself.” Rosco grumbles, showing the first signs of life since I woke up. “Don’t fucking touch me.”
“Sorry, bud.” Charlie chuckles. “But you don’t look like you can even stand.”
Remaining silent, I watch the two while my panic continues to grow. Although I was relieved that Rosco was well enough to argue, I knew that he was bad off. His complexion screamed that he was dying, and I wasn’t sure just how much blood he has lost.
“Quit being stubborn.” I finally say, drawing Rosco’s bleary gaze to myself. “And let Charlie get you to the infirmary.”
“I’m fine.” He repeats, attempting to get up only to collapse.
“Yep, you sure as hell look it.” Charlie huffs. “Now shut the fuck up and let me carry you, my dear princess.”
“Charlie,” I warn, knowing that his comparing Rosco to a princess won’t work. “We don’t have time for this.”
“Sorry, sorry,” Charlie says. “I’ll behave.”
Growing quiet, he reaches out and grabs Rosco, then lifts. I have to admit it is a strange sight to see anyone lift Rosco, given just how big he was, but when Charlie did it, it was like he was lifting a child.
“Come along.” Charlie announces, beginning to move. “Let’s go get you taken care of.”
Standing in place, I watch as the two men disappear and then prepare to follow, but stop as Serenity starts to fuss in her crib. For a moment, I continue to not move until the fussing turns to cries.
“Right,” I say softly, making my way over to Serenity’s crib. “Daddy is in good hands. He’s going to be okay.”
As I speak, I feel a knot forming in my throat, but I swallow it down and fight the tears that want to escape.
“Nothing bad will happen to him.” I continue, placing Serenity on her changing table and going through the motions of changing her. “There’s no way.”
Again and again, I reassure myself while Serenity feeds and then gets burped. And when I’m finally finished caring for her, I’m moving, making my way to the infirmary, but before I reach the infirmary, the overwhelming scent of blood and decay reaches my nose, causing me to gag and stand in place.
With wide eyes, I watch nurses rush back and forth from place to place as they try to help those who have been infected by the nue. All I can do is watch in disbelief due to just how impossible all of it seems.
“What are you just standing there for?”
Yelping, I whirl around and find Elise standing behind me with a pinched look on her face.
“Are you going to help or just stand and watch?” She pushes when I don’t respond. “Actually,” she continues, eyeing Serenity. “I think the best thing you can do is go back to your room. A baby doesn’t have any place here.”
“Go back,” I repeat, anger rushing through me. “How can I possibly go back when my husband is one of the ill?”
“What?” Elise gasps, her eyes widening. “Did you just say that the big lug was infected? Shit. That isn’t good.”
“You don’t say.” I snap, knowing that none of this was Elise’s fault, but I just couldn’t stop the emotions from bubbling up.
“Here,” Elise sighs, reaching out and taking Serenity from me. “Go to him.”