Chapter 78 The Shoulder to Cry On

I am tired of tears and laughter

and men that laugh and weep

of what may come hereafter

for men that sow and reap.

I am weary of days and hours

blown buds of barren flowers

desires and dreams and powers

and everything but sleep.

-Proserpine's Garden

Emma

This entire day has been torture. I kept looking over my shoulder, expecting someone to sneak up on us to cut Burns open. Three nights without sleep is causing paranoia.

As usual, I'm the only one that worries.

It's almost dinnertime and I dread that moment because it means we'll have to face the others again. I'm not so sure they have cooled down.

From the corner of my eye, I see Kim casting glances in our direction. It seems like she wants to say something, but doesn't have the courage. I leave it for the time being. At least she's not threatening Burns.

I look over at Burns. We're supposed to tend to the vegetables and herbs, but Burns keeps getting distracted by how the whole greenery is set up.

Hot lamps, tin foil, a small generator.

It's the Explorer in him I guess.

It makes me smile

Blake strolls over to us, a crate of potatoes in his hands. He stacks it on top of a bucket filled with carrots. "I think that should be enough for tomorrow's dinner," he says while wiping the sweat from his forehead.

I bite my lip and nod. I'm tired of the same food. I know I'm being spoiled, but I don't want to eat potatoes and carrots for the rest of my life.

Kim joins us and places a few turnips on the stack.

"Why don't you girls go hit the shower?" Blake suggests, "we'll carry this stuff to the kitchen."

"You sure?" Kim asks while glancing at Burns.

"I'm sure," Blake nods, "go on. We'll manage."

"Okay," I nod. I smile at Burns. "I'll see you again in a few minutes."

I follow Kim towards the shower with a quick stop at our sleeping place to pick up a fresh set of clothes.

"You know," Kim says, "if you drop those at the entrance of the bathing room, they'll get washed and you'll have them back clean." She points at the clothes I'm currently wearing. They really could use a wash. They're stained with sweat and dust.

"Thanks," I mutter.

We have to wait our turn for the showers and by the time we go in, the water is almost cold, but I don't mind. When I was still on my own, I had to wash in rivers and streams. This isn't so different. At least I'm cleaner than five minutes ago.

I do feel a bit self conscious though. I'm not used to showering with other people. The light is dim enough to obscure most of my body, but it still makes me uncomfortable.

We walk back to meet the others. Kim is not bad company, even if she does seem wary of me. I suppose I'm officially labeled crazy now for keeping an alien company. Perhaps it should bother me more, but I've never been good with people anyway.

She tells me she's Milo's partner. They have a sleeping space in a tunnel on the other side of the storage room. They met here a year ago, but they've only been together for two months.

Commotion further down the tunnel draws our attention and we both start sprinting towards the noise. When we turn the corner, I freeze.

Burns is sitting on the ground. His hand is pressed against his head and he has a dazed look in his eyes.

Blake is in front of him with a gun. But it's not directed at Burns. It's pointing at two people in front of him. Will and Arashi. Their eyes are trimmed on the gun and there's a wooden pole in Will's hand.

Is that what he used to club down Burns?

I run up to them and look at each and everyone of them.

"He's fine, squirky," Blake assures me, but he keeps his eyes on Will and Arashi. The threat is not over.

"Just step aside Blake," Will says.

"We just want to check his story," Arashi says, "if we take him out, we'll see if the human really does come back. Then we'll believe him."

I gasp in horror. "Y-you can't just do that."

"I agree," Blake says, "this isn't how we do things."

"Why are you taking his side, Blake?" Will growls.

"Because I believe him," he answers, "and I trust her." He nods towards me. "Now walk away. I don't want you two to do anything that hurts either Burns or Emma. Nor any of the others either. Is that clear? Because next time, I will shoot before I ask."

Will pulls his lips in a snarl. "You won't always be around, Blake."

Blake smirks and nods at me again. "She can shoot just fine."

He's bluffing. I've never held a gun in my life and I have no intention of touching one now, but I can't let them know that, so I keep my face as neutral as possible.

Both men scoff and retreat and Blake lowers his weapon.

"Thank you," I whisper and before I know it, I'm hugging him.

His hand rubs my back. "I told you I wouldn't let anyone hurt him."

I offer a small smile and then kneel next to Burns. "Are you alright?"

He nods, but then winces and tries to get up.

"Careful," I say, "you may have a concussion."

"I'll be alright," he says, but he stumbles and I catch his arm before he can fall over. I'm surprised when Kim takes his other arm.

"They shouldn't have done that," she says. She's looking a bit pale.

Burns smiles at her. "It's not so bad."

"They wanted to kill you!" I shout.

"I know," he says quietly.

"Perhaps we should sit this one out," I suggest, "eat in our room."

"You can't do that," Kim says, "they'll think they've won."

"She's right," Blake nods, "you have just as much right to be here as any one of us. I'm telling Nate about this."

"No," Burns says, "I don't want to get them in any trouble."

"They would have killed you," Blake says.

"I know," Burns nods and he winces again, "but they have a right to be angry. We took over your planet."

Blake shakes his head. "I'm never going to understand you."

Burns smiles weakly. "I'll just take some No Pain and I'll be fine."

"Are you sure that will fix a concussion?" I ask suspiciously. I'm pretty sure my mother once warned me against taking medication when you have a concussion.

He smiles again. "It will be fine, Emma. I promise."

I nod, but I am not convinced.

"We should go," Kim says quietly, "the others will wonder where we are."

***

Whatever Will and Arashi thought to accomplish seems to have had the opposite effect. Kim joins our table for dinner. She receives some strange looks from Milo and after a slight hesitation he sits down with us as well, keeping a suspicious look.

He ignores us mostly, but at least he's not threatening Burns.

I poke my uninspiring food with my fork. Carrots and potatoes. I wonder how long it will take for my pee and skin to turn orange.

Blake smiles as he watches me and leans over. "It's not so bad, squirky. You get used to it."

Milo looks up at his comment. "It's what we have," he says, "we'll have some different food when we raid next, but for now this will have to do."

"We can't raid now," Blake says, "we'll have to wait at least a few more days. We need to make sure it's safe."

"I know that," Milo says, "but we need to contact Russell."

Blake sighs. "I know. So who's going?"

"Me and Will," Milo answers, "Tom and Marcus."

I want to hear more about their plans, but Burns is rubbing his temple. "You need to lie down, Burns," I say.

"Maybe you're right," he mutters.

Blake eyes him concerned. "I'll walk with you," he says and he stands up, "I'll get you some of that No Pain stuff."

"What's wrong?" Milo asks.

"Will and Arashi attacked him," Kim explains.

"They did what?"

I don't hear the rest of their conversation, we are already out of the room.

...

"Are you sure you don't have a concussion?" I ask as soon as Burns is settled in our room.

"I'll be fine, really."

"I'm still going to wake you every two hours," I say.

"You need to sleep as well."

"Go sleep, squirky," Blake says from the doorway, "I'll stay here and keep watch so they don't come back."

"Thanks," Burns smiles.

I blink confused. When did they become friends? But I don't comment on it. It's actually comforting to have someone watch out for us. Even if it's the person I least expected to.