The noonday sun was an oven the next day. Sweat dripped from Brooke's forehead as she sprinted into the woods, Taylor slowly, and reluctantly, following behind. 1
Their legs brushed the ferns as they came to the small clearing, where Will was laying in a fetal position in the middle of the grass. He was shivering, but not because of cold, but of fear.
Brooke slowly approached him. "Will, we brought medicine," she said.2
"Go away," Will shouted. 3
"Kid," Taylor said, "We're are gonna give you this and go, so roll over."4
"Taylor!" Brooke shot him a glance.5
"Fine," Will said, only because it would get these kids to leave him alone. He turned over to reveal his large, red cut.
Taylor and Brooke winced. 6
"Alright, let's make sure this thing doesn't get infected," Taylor said, and knelt down by Will. He carefully spread the creme onto Will's gash. Will groaned and shouted. Taylor turned around and grabbed a box. Out of it he pulled a gauze pad sealed in paper. He place it over Will's cut slowly, and stood up.
"There," Taylor said, all done. By the way, how long have you had that cut untreated?"
Will groaned, "I do not know. A week or so is all I can remember."
Taylor raised his eyebrows, "A week? I would think that'd be infected by now."
Taylor turned around to pick up the wrappings from the bandages, then looked at Brooke. Her jaw seemed to be touching the ground as she pointed at Will.
Taylor turned back towards Will, "Whoa!"
The gauze on Will's side was sinking into his skin.
"Holy mother of Jesus man! What's going on?" Taylor shouted as he stared at the ever sinking bandage.
"Oh no," Will moaned, "not again."
"You're used to this?" Brooke panicked, trying to decide whether to say or flee.
"Well I tried earlier to cover this wound with some leaves or something, just so I wouldn't get a fever or something, but it didn't work. The leave just sunk in. I didn't know what was happening, but I was afraid.
"No kidding buddy, we're kind of scared right now too if you hadn't noticed." Taylor said, shaking.
"It seems to be about time I begin scaring you for a change." Will said, finally sitting up, "I'm a little frightened at what you've been showing me. What is all over the lane? Is it solid rock or something?"
Brooke laughed, but was puzzled at this kid's question. Had he only lived in the woods his whole life? Was he not used to modern technology? She didn't know how to answer the question, but luckily Taylor stepped in.
"Ever heard of asphault? Concrete? Pavement?"
"No..."
All three of them were looking at each other with the exact same confused expression. Then Brooke had had it.
"Alright look, this is really, really starting to bother me. Whenever we talk to you, we don't seem to be getting through. This method of communication sucks, but I don't know what's wrong with it, or you. I don't want to seem like I'm blaming you, but you're so freaked out about the real world. I don't know where you're from, or where you've been living your entire life, but it's like you've never really interacted with anyone before. It's like you can't figure out what's with the world. The road has pavement on it. Cars drive on it. It's the way it works okay? Bandages aren't supposed to sink into your skin, but to you it's just normal? You need to explain things. Don't just sit in the woods and hope that we'll come save you or something. It's not going to happen. I'm done."
Taylor could tell from the storm in her eyes that she was really fired up, and it was best if they did just leave, before things got violent. He glanced over at Will one more time, with an apologetic look. Taylor actually liked Will a little. He was sort of enjoying the fact that for some reason, Will didn't know about the outside world; but Taylor was loyal to his best friend. Besides, he could always come back by himself later.
"Come on Brooke, let's go. We have baseball in an hour anyway. Remember, it's our big game against Vincent."
Brooke just hmphed under her breath, and ran beside Taylor the entire way home.
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