Gasping loudly, Lorey sat up, hand splayed at her side keeping herself in place. Panic streaked through her mind as she grasped her face, feeling for blood. Nothing seemed right, just a few seconds ago she was on the verge of death but now her body is telling her that there is nothing wrong.
Bile slowly started building up in her throat, an itch all over her body. Forcing the bile down, she noticed the sweat drenching her body, cooling her down from her previous overheated state. Resisting the urge to itch herself, Lorey glanced around, her eyes resting on Shem now just waking up.
As soon as he opened his eyes, his hands instantly darted to his calf, a pained expression plastered on his face. Her previously blank mind acted up as she reached towards Shem, intending to check his temperature and see if he was healthy.
'Shit, is h-'
Having her phantom pain reappear mid reach Lorey was brutally reminded of the creature and her torture. Flinching, she shakily brought her hands toward her face, the acidic taste of throw-up still lingering in her mouth.
A memory of her parents resurfaced in her mind, she had been so focused on survival she only had limited time to process the past few days. She tried to think but no discernible thoughts were formed in her mind, only trauma remained. Slow, ragged sobs soon filled the air, breaking the previous silence as the phantom pain retreated at a snail's pace. Letting out a small exhale of air, her thoughts leisurely returned. Still sniffling, Lorey reached for the back pocket on her jeans to pull out a cigarette.
As she was searching around for one she stopped midway and let out another sigh.
'I quit a few years back. Guess I still need it for the pain.'
She leaned back down on the bush, the previous blanket like feeling turning cold and prickly. Lorey stared blankly at her outstretched hand on the curb. No thoughts could express her emotions. She had stopped sniffling by now and Shem was leaned back against the bush as well, eyes shut closed while still clutching his thigh.
A smudge of brown dirt was present on the back of her hand and seemed to seize her attention. Slowly, she lifted her gaze from the smudge, the smudge held her life, an escape, it represented procrastination, but she couldn't stay there forever.
As Lorey got up, an audible "Fuck me," could be heared, her knees made poping sounds. She once again let out a deep sigh before her hand returned to her back pocket, once again searching for something that was long gone.
Shaking her head, she dipped down to check on Shem.