AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is an excerpt from my novel Steal Tomorrow, posted here for Sunday Scribblings. In this scene the teenage survivors of a global pandemic have been in a fight with a rival gang and are checking up on the status of their wounded.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many of the casualties were sharing mattresses, but Cassie had made sure Julilla had her own. She lay so still that if not for the rise and fall of her ribcage, Cassie might’ve thought her dead. “Her ankle is only sprained, but she lost a lot of blood from the cut on her arm. Doc said in a normal world, she would’ve gotten a pint or two, but he’s not set up for that sort of thing.”
“But she’ll be okay, right?” Galahad sat down and rested a hand on her good shoulder. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her. A lot of us wouldn’t.” He gave an ironic smile. “She must’ve been deadly on the basketball court. She can rally a group in full retreat and make them want to fight.”
“She just needs rest,” Cassie said. “And food. And to not get an infection.”
“Three impossible things.” He stood up. “Well, we attempt the impossible every day around here, so what’s new?”
By now Cassie had noticed that not all the blood on Galahad’s shirt was from battle. Some was oozing from his arm and she took a firm tone. “Would it be impossible for you to let Doc look at that arm now? Come on. Before you end up like Julilla.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you enjoyed this story, go to Steal Tomorrow for the serialized novel, flash fiction "extras" and and other fun Steal Tomorrow stuff. Be sure to also visit Sunday Scribblings today and see who else contributed!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many of the casualties were sharing mattresses, but Cassie had made sure Julilla had her own. She lay so still that if not for the rise and fall of her ribcage, Cassie might’ve thought her dead. “Her ankle is only sprained, but she lost a lot of blood from the cut on her arm. Doc said in a normal world, she would’ve gotten a pint or two, but he’s not set up for that sort of thing.”
“But she’ll be okay, right?” Galahad sat down and rested a hand on her good shoulder. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her. A lot of us wouldn’t.” He gave an ironic smile. “She must’ve been deadly on the basketball court. She can rally a group in full retreat and make them want to fight.”
“She just needs rest,” Cassie said. “And food. And to not get an infection.”
“Three impossible things.” He stood up. “Well, we attempt the impossible every day around here, so what’s new?”
By now Cassie had noticed that not all the blood on Galahad’s shirt was from battle. Some was oozing from his arm and she took a firm tone. “Would it be impossible for you to let Doc look at that arm now? Come on. Before you end up like Julilla.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you enjoyed this story, go to Steal Tomorrow for the serialized novel, flash fiction "extras" and and other fun Steal Tomorrow stuff. Be sure to also visit Sunday Scribblings today and see who else contributed!
