Genesis : Knights of Salvation Series
Chapter 24: Slip of the Tongue

Foxglove and I sit for a while waiting as the sound of banging and tumbling rocks grows louder. All the while my head continues to throb from my cut not to mention the large amount of blood I’ve lost. Luckily my blood has finally started to clot leaving the right side of my forehead stained with drying blood as long bloody streaks fall down my temple and still slowly drip from my jaw. Foxglove’s eyes begin to grow heavy, her head slightly tilting off to the side. I want to go wake her, but if I get close to her I could be putting her far more in danger than a simple concussion can.

“Foxglove, Hey! Foxglove you need to stay awake until Harrison looks you over!” I call to her trying to keep her from sleeping.

“Hmm” She grunts out but her eyes open wider as she scoots up higher trying to keep herself from sleeping. She opens her mouth to say something when the largest boulder in the way tumbles down, clearing the entrance once again. Immediately our eyes fall to the team as Harrison, Enyo, and Clare run in to check on us. Harrison stops his eyes catching on my face and the blood covering it. He begins walking towards me when Clare yell’s out urgently. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Don’t go near her!” Harrison freezes in his steps as everyone else looks at her like she’s insane. I clear my throat trying to get this handled.

“I’m fine really, Just a small cut. Look at Foxglove first, her leg is hurt.” I say. I avoid the many eyes staring at me like I’m crazy but I ignore them. I grab my uniform and stand up only to fall back slightly. My head’s swirling as I try to deal with my lack of blood.

“Sit back down Aspen!” Enyo gets after me stepping near me.

I brace my hand on the rock and take in a deep breath still ignoring the orders. Later I’m going to be in a lot of trouble but right now it’s about making sure I don’t kill the team.

“Clare, grab my pack from my horse,” I order sliding back down against the rock. I watch as she takes off out of the entrance. Harrison tends to foxglove’s leg, his hands slightly sliding up her leg checking for any more problems. Enyo watches me almost to make sure I don’t die right here and now. Clare comes back with my bag and gets close to me, stopping a few feet away, and tosses the bag to me. The moment I get the bag in my hands I’m shuffling through it. My hands grasp my personal medkit and open it. I also grab my pouch with water in it. Ignoring the watching eyes I pour the water over my cut hissing slightly as it stings my injury. I grab a small rag and quickly clean away the blood on my head.

“Foxglove?” Clare’s voice echos out quickly.

“Yes?” She says looking up as Harrison pulls down her leg sleeve.

“Did any of Aspen’s blood get on you?” She asks. I was near her but I had not begun bleeding until later. I immediately left which is good.

She squints confused as does Enyo. “No, why?” Clare doesn’t answer her but looks back at me with relief in her eyes.

I finally finished cleaning away all my blood and use my hand to slightly move over my hair grunting as I find my cut. The cut is only about an inch long but not very deep. I open the med-kit again pulling out a medium-sized bandage. I bandage my wound finally letting out a heavy breath. I look up to see Enyo still analyzing me, Clare watching a few feet away worriedly and Harrison still looking over Foxglove.

I let out a breath of ease, I stand again and leave holding my uniform close to me and carrying my bag on my back. The valley’s afternoon sun shines bright on us. Talon stands watching further into the valley for any signs of trouble while Orion watches over the horses holding their reins. Orion looks at me as I leave the tunnel.

“Are you okay Aspen? He asks most likely noticing the dark wet color of my uniform shirt and my bandage. I give the usual smile.

“I’m fine, just a slight knock on the head,” I say as I move away from them. For now, I don’t have anything to wash my uniform with so I bundle it up and pour more of the water onto it. I hear the rest of the group make their way out of the tunnel. I hear them talking but try to ignore it as I ring out the uniform watching as dark blood-stained water splashes onto the ground. I repeat this a couple times until all the blood is out. I pull the soaked shirt out allowing it the sprawl on a large dry rock.

Now that the blood is all gone I can relax a little. I hear Clare speak up behind me.“It’s all gone now right?′ She asks concerned. When I turn around her arms are crossed as she fills her face with concern and anger.

“It’s gone, I’m no longer a danger,” I mutter out.

“That was incredibly stupid!” Clare begins yelling her arms flying in the air with anger.

“I know... but she would have died.” I try my best to give a suitable reason for my actions. Truthfully, I can’t even understand why I acted so recklessly myself. I’ve never been the type of person to take action but today, it was like a whole other person took over my body.

“I don’t care! You’re the whole point of the mission! If you die this is all worth nothing!” She continues yelling. Clare’s fuming as her usual porcelain face is beat red as she paces back and forth.

“She right Aspen,” Enyo says behind her. He walks over to us his eyes looking over my face. He looked just as angry as Clare. His jaw clenched as he furrowed his brow upset with me.

“I get that. Okay? But it’s my fault you are all out here and in danger. There’s no way I was going to let her die because of me! Not without a fight!” I yell trying to explain my actions. I know I’m important to the mission, but each of their lives is important too. Enyo’s eyes flash with something other than anger and I can feel the other team members watching us.

“I told you they knew what they signed up for when they agreed to the mission! Everyone chose to do this.” Clare argues back insisting I see it her way. I huff out upset. At that moment I felt like hitting her. I have spent the day trapped and bleeding, my head hurts and I don’t want to deal with her.

“They had to because of me. They’re all here because of some, one-shot belief that I may just be able to find that stupid Virus. I didn’t sign up for this but I’m here and I already have to deal with what that means! I won’t have their lives on me either!” I burst out upset. Clare glares at me for snapping at her.

“When we get back the director and your father will hear about your reckless behavior!” She huffs out angrily. I watch as she turns around heading off further down the valley to calm down. Suddenly I can’t help it I just start to laugh. I’m sure they see are looking at me like I’m crazy. I calm down and smile shaking my head.

“I’m sorry but the fact she thinks that I’ll ever return to the walls is naive,” I say closing my eyes to take in a deep breath. When I open my eyes Enyo hasn’t moved but he no longer seems angry just confused, like he has a million questions in his head.

“Virus?” He asks as he squints at me. Suddenly I realize that I had allowed that to slip when I was yelling. I lick my lips and look down. I quickly lie.

“I have the tools to make the cure... I just need the primordial virus to make it.” It wasn’t really a lie though. I do have the tools to make the cure and I do need the virus for it. I just didn’t tell him specifics of how the cure will be made. Enyo takes a moment to think and nods his head accepting my answer. I breathe out heavily.

“Now that Foxglove’s injured what are we going to do?” I ask him. My thumb rubbing my wrist for comfort.

“I think we should camp out here and continue on tomorrow.” He says turning to walk back to the group.

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