six months ago, the world had gone to absolute shit. what had started as a virus quickly evolved into chaos. riots started and cities fell as martial law conflicted with the lawlessness of those taking advantage of the incident. those who were sick? they spiraled. quickly. the virus either killed them in days or they were sent off to be tested, poked and prodded and never to be seen again. she had even heard whispers of extermination. there were checkpoints set up along borders of counties, states, and certain cities. places to check for the stick. the healthy always went to the right to move on and the sick? those with fever or any noticeable symptoms? they were taken to the left through a series of tents. it always made emma's stomach sink to think about what was waiting on the other side.
it had been four days since the group had been through their last checkpoint. they had found an old hostel-style place to rest their heads and recollect themselves. they were planning on going back on the move. it wasn't wise to stay put for too long, not without some sort of roots they could establish. there were too many looters and people creating their own rules. with a place like this? surely, it belonged to someone.
emma had been out on a supply run all day with tom and ziggs, trying to find some things to tide over the group for the next two days as well as however long they'd be on their feet again. she had woken up feeling a little congested, but the seasons were changing, right? the lightheadedness meant she needed more water. and the shortness of breath was from wearing a bandana around her nose and mouth all day while on the quick move. but when she got back, she excused herself to the bathroom and ripped her mask off as a coughing fit rattled her. a hard, violent few minutes of feeling like her lungs were about to explode out of her mouth and into the sink that she had in a white-knuckled grip.
her eyes had started to water in their squeezed shut state, and when she opened them as the coughing slowly subsided, she released a weak, pained groan. her vision was spotty and head throbbing from the event, but when her vision cleared, she noticed the red droplets that dotted her palm and had spattered in the sink.
the voice drew her out of the horror that set in as she looked over at the doorway. there stood her husband with a look that had her stomach in knots. a knowing look that confirmed what they two were saying. her lips were parted as her mind tried to think of what to say beyond the throbbing in her temples, but @timebastard was the one to break the ice.
she watched him move towards her to set a hand on the small of her back so he could move past her. she swallowed past the rawness of her throat as she watched him turn on the shower with a creak and then reached behind her to shut the door behind him. she sniffled a breath and turned to the sink to wash the blood off of her hands and out of the sink, but ted didn't say a word as he turned her towards him after. he tugged at her tank top to get it over her her before he went for his own shirt, giving her the cue to remove the rest of her clothes and join him in the shower. it was something they were no strangers in doing as husband and wife, but this time, she had a sinking feeling about all of it. there was no giggling or romantic rendezvous.
she noticed that the water felt a little cooler than normal, providing instant relief to her overly warm, feverish skin. again, it was something she had chalked up to just being out in the sun all day, but the reality of the situation was becoming more and more clear. she was sick. they were going to be crossing at least one checkpoint in two days. she was already running fever, a sure fail when they come to one. and she would be worse by then, wouldn't she? even more tells that she was meant to go to the ominous left.
" t, " she whispered in a quiet, weak voice as they were standing under the water together, giving a small swallow. for someone who had been so sure throughout all of this, who had stepped into a leadership position immediately when the group had formed, she spoke a phrase that she hadn't this entire time: " i . . . i don't know what we're going to do -- "
[ SHOWER ]: sender, learning the receiver has a high fever, takes a cold shower with them in order to lower their temperature.
