Chapter 33—Injuries can bring people closer
by Bocchan13
Lu Jingxiu was the first to react, his ice flying in the air, freezing zombies left and right to the rocks in hopes of grabbing either of them. Song Yu also took out the harness and dove first through the cliff, his legs touching the rock for only a millisecond before projectiling him forward.
Breath quickening with worry, he used his spatial blade to slice anything that came in his way. He couldn’t control his inertia, so his steps teetered as he grabbed for purchase, finally clenching a thick vine.
“Lan Zhou!!”
The zombies had all been cleared by the cliff, so Song Yu’s view was wide open. Lan Zhou and Xiao Zi seemed to have fallen to their deaths. He heard a sound from above him and saw Lu Jingxiu with tears streaming his eyes. A long piece of ice flowed down to Song Yu, the white in stark contrast to the brown rocks.
“Keep looking. Wang Cheng and Yu Ci already left to look at the bottom.” Song Yu nodded and nimbly climbed on the ice ladder. His arms were sore and numb from holding his body weight for too long. Lu Jingxiu spread a lattice of ice all over, his face pale and sweat built up.
He was overusing his ability.
Song Yu mapped the trajectory of their fall and followed Lu Jingxiu down the cliff. The view was clearer to the bottom, the bodies of the zombies piled up high like meat sacks on the surface level floor. But no Lan Zhou or Xiao Zi.
However…there was a tree branch. A single tree branch that had grown through the rocks, embedding its existence into the framework of the cliff side. Taking a closer look, Song Yu could see through the leaves, a lump shape…and a boot.
Xiao Zi and Lan Zhou were there, both bloodied and marred with gaping wounds from their fall. Song Yu immediately climbed faster. Lu Jingxiu seeing them as well did not climb down, but skate towards them on a slide of ice. Reaching them, he checked their breathing, and sighing in relief. But no celebrations were to be had. Lan Zhou and Xiao Zi were very injured.
Xiao Zi was a healer, but he couldn’t heal himself. He looked to have broken a few ribs and his entire body has scrape burns including his calves and legs, exposing interior skin. Lan Zhou was no better. Not only was there a branch imbedded in his abdomen, he also had a large cut on his forehead.
With the healer out of commission, he couldn’t heal Lan Zhou. They were in the large mountainous forests of A country, little medical equipment…and no safe place to hide from the zombies with two people unconscious. Their situation got direr every second.
Song Yu finally climbed down to see Lan Zhou and Xiao Zi. Both were unconscious for now, and the wounds weren’t too grave. Grave for someone who needed to run from zombies every day, but if treated correctly, it wouldn’t be life threatening.
Song Yu gulped down his panic and calmed down his trembling hands. He didn’t know what else was broken and was afraid to touch them. Looking to Lu Jingxiu, he uttered,
“Can your friend take people in his space?” Song Yu reached out and felt the blood on Lan Zhou’s face. The stickiness was more evident by the sap of the tree it might have hit.
“Yes, Wang Cheng can. We don’t have medical equipment though. We can only cauterize the wounds.” Song Yu turned towards Lu Jingxiu who had already brought Xiao Zi into his embrace. He squinted his eyes to observe Lu Jingxiu’s face.
Does he want to let them die? Will he abandon them? The worry on his face doesn’t look fake…but they don’t have any other option than to carry them out of here…they will all die. What will this person choose?
Song Yu probed a little bit, his unnerving stare penetrating Lu Jingxiu’s concerned ones,
“Even if you cauterize the wound, you would have to carry them. The level 7 zombie is still out there and you guys won’t make it.”
Lu Jingxiu’s lips pursed as the situation became clearer and clearer to him. Song Yu went even further, his appearance looking nonchalant and cold.
“Don’t you want to leave them?”
Lu Jingxiu paused his movements and slowly turned to Song Yu. Taking this as a sign, Song Yu dealt the final blow.
“They’re dead weight anyways.”
Lu Jingxiu’s gaze turned fierce instantly, eyes blazing at Song Yu. He savagely spit out,
“We are family, and family never leaves each other behind.”
Song Yu shrugged, his appearance even more indifferent.
“Even families can kill each other for just a second of life. What makes you guys different?”
Lu Jingxiu couldn’t retort, because he knew Song Yu was right. And he hated that he was right. Gritting his teeth, Lu Jingxiu pushed Song Yu aside and dealt with Lan Zhou’s wounds, sealing the edge with frost so he wouldn’t bleed more. Song Yu just stared at Lu Jingxiu.
Will he do it? Or not?
Song Yu could only awkwardly stand by as Lu Jingxiu took out the walkie-talkie. Clicking a button, he spoke.
“Wang Cheng, I’m bringing them down. Make sure you have cots ready for them.” The other end of the line responded back immediately.
“Affirmative. Yu Ci scouted the area and killed off the remaining stragglers. Send them down. How’s their condition?”
“Xiao Zi has broken ribs and maybe a punctured lung. Small and large abrasions on his legs and arms. Lan Zhou hit his head pretty hard and left a large gash. Suspected concussion. A tree branch poked through his lower abdomen, passing all vitals. We need to cauterize their wounds.”
“Jesus Christ. Okay. I’m checking the medical equipment…only bandages and iodine. Not even alcohol. Fuck. What should we do?” Lu Jingxiu closed his eyes, breathing deeply.
“We do what we can.”
“Copy.”
Ending the conversation, Lu Jingxiu looked at Song Yu, his eyes not so welcoming anymore.
“To answer your question, no I’m not going to leave them behind. If I have to drag their dead bodies back to base for them to have a proper burial, then that is what I will do. You, who cannot even empathize have no say in what we feel.” His eyes slitted with obvious disgust,
“I don’t know what you experienced in these two years, but if your go-to response to having someone as ‘dead weight’ then I suggest you leave. I don’t trust someone who can’t even empathize with others, even if Lan Zhou says you’re a good person.”
Lu Jingxiu made a small tourniquet and gently brought both of them down from the branch. It was still 20 meters to the floor. Song Yu’s eyes were unfocused throughout; his entire being feeling like it was dying from lack of oxygen.
That barb stung.
Song Yu silently followed Lu Jingxiu down the cliff, and met with Wang Cheng and Yu Ci. Derpy had at some point followed them out and was on the bottom, his saddle taken off for optimum speed. It was likely in Wang Cheng’s space.
Wang Cheng had both of their sleeping bags on the floor, ready for the procedure. Lu Jingxiu first took Xiao Zi to one, Wang Cheng immediately looking over the wounds. The ever so goofy man had now turned extremely serious as he looked over all of their wounds. He had to shake his head in anger, looking at their battered bodies.
“Bandaging them can only stop the bleeding; cauterizing the wounds will most likely lead to infection, especially Lan Zhou. I can do all that I can, but…he might not survive.”
Lan Zhou’s eyes fluttered as he groaned with pain. Wang Cheng moved a backpack under his neck for better support and opened a water bottle. Lan Zhou sipped a little bit before leaning back. Lan Zhou’s trembling hands touched his abdomen that still had the branch inside.
“Cauterize it. I’ll be fine.” His low raspy voice was filled with pain, but everyone understood that he was willing to do this. Lu Jingxiu closed his eyes before nodding. Wang Cheng looked into his space and came out with a dagger.
“Are you sure?” Lan Zhou nodded.
Yu Ci made a small fire using flint and immediately put the dagger in the flames in. They waited patiently for it to get hot enough. Lan Zhou turned his head at Song Yu, his eyes blazing in happiness.
“You didn’t get hit right? That’s good.”
Song Yu felt like had gulped down a large egg. His flitting smile was the only response. Lu Jingxiu, who already had a bad impression of Song Yu, now had a worse impression. Lan Zhou raised his hand and lightly touched Song Yu’s cloak.
“Don’t watch. It’s not going to be good.” Song Yu pursed his lips as more and more guilt occupied his head. More so than ever before.
Can he do this?
Should he help them?
Will Lan Zhou die?
Song Yu watched as the dagger turned bright red and smoky. Yu Ci took the dagger out and walked towards Lan Zhou. Song Yu fidgeted on the side as Lan Zhou eyed the dagger. Wang Cheng had the steadiest hand, so the dagger was handed to him.
“Are you ready?” Lan Zhou hesitated before nodding.
“Bite this.” Lu Jingxiu took out a leather strap. Lan Zhou grudgingly bit it. Wang Cheng took a deep breath and positioned himself in front of Lan Zhou. Lu Jingxiu was also besides Lan Zhou, holding the end of the branch, ready to pull it out.
Lan Zhou’s breathing was getting heavier as he felt the slight pressure of the branch imbedded in his flesh. He didn’t know if there were smaller branches or thorns inside. But, if they were going to do this as quickly as possible, they had to pull it out fast.
Song Yu’s breath got even quicker, as he saw the branch squelch out of his body, showing just how deep it was inside him. Dark red blood oozed out as Lu Jingxiu tried to pry the branch out, testing the motion.
“Okay, keep as still as possible.”
Lu Jingxiu was in a steadier position to rip out the branch, Wang Cheng close by to close the wound. Song Yu watched as their preparations were finally done. All that was left was the action.
Lan Zhou had sweat streak down the side of his face, his lips pale on the strap. All of a sudden, Song Yu felt a hand wrap itself around his own. Looking down, his hand was covered with a bigger one, his knuckles showing white.
Eyes met eyes. Song Yu could feel that pit in his throat grow bigger. He squeezed, a small comfort.
Come on. Why won’t you say anything? Say something! Say something!
Song Yu’s vision was now alight with Lu Jingxiu about to pull. He could see everything in slow motion as the sinews in his shoulder contracted with muscle, readying for the strength.
“Wait!”
Damn I’m crying my eyes out