We, who Survived

My surroundings changed in a blur. My head felt heavy, my back screaming in agony as tendrils of fire burned outwards from my wound. With every step Spark took, it jarred my joints in their sockets. His heart was beating rapidly under my ear, his body heat causing me to squirm in his arms until my wish was granted and I was placed down. Something soft sunk slightly under my weight.

“His back is festering...he could be...attention we already...” Spark’s voice was muffled, dipping in and out with emotion. Gently, I was pushed onto my side, cool blankets soaking up my sweat as my shirt was lifted.

Maria sighed heavily. Fingers pushed around my wound, the pain-causing me to curl up into the fetal position. Maria spoke, her voice distant as her fingers brushed through my damp hair. I managed to catch only a little more of their conversation about food and medical supplies before my consciousness slipped from my fingers.

As I slept, nightmares plagued me. The situations either me being on the station or on Earth. I was viciously attacked by a predator here or by Daniel and his goons there. I was always defenceless and left on the brink of death. The times I did have a delusional wake-up, water was dripped into my mouth and someone touched my cheek, whispering lowly until I went back to sleep. When I was finally coaxed awake, someone was saying my name and warm hands were holding the sides of my face. Opening my eyes, I saw Spark, a giant grin on his face as he watched me. I tried to give him a smile but it probably came out looking fake, pained.

“I’ve got some food for you if you think you can keep it down?” Spark asked gently, helping me sit up and stacking...pillows? Yes, pillows on top of each other for me to lean back on. Looking around, I was in a medical bay on a soft bed with thin covers pooled in my lap. Spark placed a tray on my lap. A soupy mix inside a bowl and light green cut up things on a small side dish sat on it. “Charlie and Dean have been working hard feeding everyone since Charlie and Max managed to find a large storage room with dehydrated foods. I think the soup is like a chicken broth?” Spark sat back down on his chair, still smiling as he explained.

I picked up the spoon and tried to scoop the soup up but my hand trembled with the effort. I heard Spark chuckle before he came to sit by my side.

“Can I help? Maria said you would be feeling the residue of the fever still.” Allowing him to take the spoon from me, he gingerly lifted the bowl off the tray. Sighing, I leaned fully back into the comfort of the pillows.

“H-how long was I out for?” Coughing, I tried to clear my throat.

“Two days,” He stated as if it were only two hours, I had been asleep for. I stared at him in disbelief before glancing down at my hands in my lap. How much had I missed in the last forty-two hours in our supposed new home?

“Stop sulking, here.” Spark held out the spook, bowl hovering underneath it. Gritting my teeth, I begrudgingly opened my mouth. Even though the broth had well passed its expiration date, it tasted fresh and went down quickly. The light pieces of questionable origin were actually an apple Carly had picked that morning from a large, flourishing tree outside the medical bay’s windows before forcing Dean into cutting it up for me.

When I was done, Spark took the tray and placed it on another bed before helping me disentangle myself from the sheets. My legs were numb, my backing aching with the movement as I stood up tall. Even with such little movements, I was sweating and gasping for breath. Due to this, I was leaning heavily against Spark who held me upright.

“I will take you to your room. Uh...hope you don’t mind but you’re bunked with me,” He muttered with a sheepish smile. Being too tired, I leaned my head against his shoulder and gave him a small nod.

“How far are the rooms?”

“Not too far. If you struggle, tell me.”

Nodding, I let him lead me down the hallway. Large windows fairly covered in vines looked out at intervals, showing off glimpses of the untamed vegetation outside. Laughter and muffled songs would seep through the cracks the vines had created as they tunnelled their way in. At least some of us were enjoying ourselves.

When we entered the hallway with all the rooms, I was leaning all of my body weight against Spark, breathing heavily with each step but refused when he offered to carry me. We stumbled to one of the last doors in the hallway, opening the door with his free hand. Light blinded me momentarily but as my eyes adjusted, I couldn’t help but widen them.

Straight in front of me were floor-to-ceiling windows only half blocked by thorny vegetation and watching over the slow setting sun. Warm sunlight bathed the surviving grey carpet which was tickling my feet. Spark helped me in further, closing the door behind us. To my side were two double beds, both having black duvets, one just being rumpled. Spark then moved me towards the untouched bed before strolling to another door.

“Bath is ready,” Spark called, his voice echoing slightly. Clenching my jaw, I took my first step without assistance and stumbled my way to the bathroom. Holding onto the doorframe, I watched as steam rose above the water. Spark smirked before tilting his head, leaning forward on his stool.

“You have a choice. Either I stay in here so you don’t slip and hurt yourself further or I wait outside but would need to rub some ointment on your back when you are done.”

“I don’t feel comfortable with having you in here while I’m that exposed. Wait outside, please.”

Spark nodded, kissing my temple as he walked out, closing the door behind him. Closing my eyes, I swallowed down the unease. Stripping quickly, I climbed into the bath, It burned, turning my skin pink as the water darkened. The dirt slowly slipped off my arms and hands. Relief only came to my back when I sunk lower, the water coming under my chin, legs close to my chest. Trying to relax, I took deep breaths.

I soaked until my head began to throb, before getting out and drying myself off with a thin towel Spark had left on his stool. Taking care of my fragile scab, I wrapped the towel around my waist before pulling the bath’s plug and opening the door.

Spark was on his bed, eyes closed as he leaned back on his propped pillows.

“D-done...”

His eyes fluttered open. He turned to look at me before standing up and indicating I sit where he had. I did so with burning cheeks. Spark opened another door that ended up being a closet with our bags sitting at the bottom. He unzipped one of the pockets of his duffel and pulled out a tube before grabbing a shirt and jeans from my bag.

“I’ll make this as quick as possible so you can see how everyone is doing,” Spark said as he placed my clothing on the other bed and sat behind me. He then began rubbing the coconut smelling cream on my wound, creating a stinging sensation as he hummed gently. In a way, I was getting that back rub he had promised me.

Trying to keep my breathing steady, I tried to relax my muscles but ended up sitting straighter and stiffer. Spark stopped humming at that moment, hands coming to my waist. My heart was in my throat with the sudden action. His hot breath was on my neck causing an unwanted shiver down my spine as he pressed his lips to my neck.

“S-Spark...” His chest pressed against my back. I felt dizzy, weak and hot. “Please, stop. I don’t feel well.”

He sighed audibly, placing one last feather-light kiss on my skin, an unknown feeling running through me. Spark stood, his expression unreadable as he glared out the window.

“I will wait outside,” He muttered, eyes downcast as he left the room. Puffing out my cheeks, I changed quickly into the clothing he had brought out for me, making sure to ease on the well-worn shirt over my head before lacing up my boots.

Opening the bedroom door, I saw Spark leaning against the wall. His facial expression was blank, eyes hiding all of his emotions as he studied the floor. When they flicked up to me, guilt flooded them. Giving him a small smile, I let out a breath while glancing around.

“You have a lot of explaining to do with how everything is so well preserved here and how there is hot water of all things.” Spark seemed to be relieved with me speaking to him and nodded, returning my smile even though it was shy before walking.

“All sheets and blankets were vacuumed packed and placed in storage like the food. No elements were able to get in to destroy any of the structure’s stability and inside. Archie, a plant specialist, said that it is only recently that the vines have been able to get through some of the windows.” As Spark spoke, I took in how everything had stayed like it was since the day it was left. There were some spiderwebs here and there but they were empty of spiders, like the ones in the entry hall.

“The hallway here leads to the kitchen and what seemed to be a gym. This door here is out to the garden. Once we show the others how well you are, I can show you the rest of the building. We do have an upstairs as well where there is a room, I know you would like.” Spark watched me before gingerly touching my shoulder and pushing the door open.