Apex

Chapter 29

 •Kriss•

It was painfully obvious that Doc wanted to question me further, I was thankful when he decided to bite his tongue.

"Well, it looks like Sam did a good job at putting your shoulder back in place. Sorry, I can't offer you painkillers. They're more valuable than gold. Some rest should suffice. I'll get some bandages on these cuts before you go."

I was ready to wave off his offer since there's no sense in wasting resources on a stranger. The patter of bare feet interrupted my objections.

At the entrance of the tent, the boy in the dinosaur t-shirt was creeping further into the tent.

He stopped when he realized he'd been caught.

"Ara," Hudson's stood.

Ara put his hands behind his back, one of the lanterns in the tent became very interesting to him all of a sudden as the large man marched towards him.

Ara didn't move until Hudson bent down to seize him, so when he made to run off it was already too late. He lifted the boy as he squirmed, no match for Hudson who didn't struggle in the slightest as he held Ara in his arms.

"Where's your mom, little one?" Hudson scolded, though the dimple in his cheek betrayed his lack of any real annoyance.

"I don't know," Ara grumbled, focusing on anything but Hudson's stern expression. Instead, his eyes landed on me.

"Who are you?" Ara's face was inquisitive, big hazel eyes curious, but the tone of his high pitched little voice made his question sound like an accusation.

"Kriss," I raised a brow. "Wasn't Zoe trying to catch you like a minute ago?" His smile was mischievous.

"I'm fast," he answered.

"I'm sure you are," Doc says brightly. The dismay that was present moments ago all but disappeared, but his kind smile no longer reached his eyes.

"Connor should be fine for a little while. Why don't you get the boy back to his mother and eat something, Hudson?"

"Got it," Hudson made for the exit. "Come on, Kriss."

Honestly, I'd rather not have to walk through the camp and be gawked at like a zoo animal as a large man carries a small child to his mother. My plan for the morning hadn't gone further than finding the med tent and staying in the med tent for as long as possible.

"Sure," I concede. "See you later, I guess." I say to the doctor.

"I'm sure I will, Kriss." With the boy and Hudson on their way out of the tent, his expression faltered. I followed Hudson reluctantly. At least I'd be free of Doc's incessant questions.

The camp was fully awake and bustling as I followed Hudson, so I took it as an opportunity to practice ignoring people.

"What's with you?" I ask the kid. "You've been following me around all morning."

A shrug. 

"You're new," was Ara's only explanation.

"You're running from your mom because I'm new?" I deadpanned.

"You're from the sky." He pointed at the ceiling with one hand, the other arm hugged Hudson's shoulder.

The sky...

Eye's flicking up so the dirty cement ceiling high above us.

How long has it been since you've seen the sky, Ara?