Arapocolypse (Part IIX)

My father chuckled and winked.

“I know what you kids are up to, just come back tomorrow to help me spruce up the shack, eh?”

“It's not that, it's just my stomach doesn't feel right.”
“Yeah, whatever you say.” He yawned and stretched. “I think I'm going to take a nap.”

I nod and leave. At least if something happens between me and Maddie and I'm gone for the night he won't be surprised. The cave's entrance is still covered, but with a significant hole that I left running away last time; I note that I should probably patch that up for her. I walk in slowly and try to find her, and hopefully find her soon, because my stomach is killing me. I doesn't feel like I have to go, but I may vomit. On an unrelated note, she seems to have cleaned up her mess at the start of the cave, with most of the torn clothes in piles near the walls and the garbage gone.

My stomach is feeling worse, and my throat is starting to hurt, too. I finally see her sitting on her mattress reading a heavily damaged, magazine, and go up to her. She crudely tied some of her old clothes together into some kind of two-piece covering.

“Uh... Maddie, do have anything for stomach aches, it's killing me.”

“Oh, it's you. Your voice sounds weird. Like, a bit higher that it was.”

I didn't know that my voice changed, must've been when my throat started hurting. She blankly stares at me for a moment, and begins asking questions.

“Does your tummy hurt? Do you feel weak?”

I nod about the ache but say I feel strong enough, and say that me and my father had some fish that must've had something in them. Her eyes flashed with clarity.

“It's not the fish. Lie down.”

She rolls up her magazine and stands up. I get on my knees and roll onto the mattress, which seems to have deflated slightly. Maddie begins to leave.

“You'll be fine. I know it hurts, I know it's scary, but you'll be fine. Just relax, I'll get you something for your tummy.”

I don't know what there is to be scared off, it's probably just a cold. But colds usually don't just hit you like that. I shift on the mattress, unable to get comfortable, and wondering if Maddie has a blanket around. She comes back with some sort of cheap chemically punch drink that belongs in an Ashens video more than anything. She says that she doesn't have anything for the ache, but says it has a good deal of vitamin C.

I thank her for it, but ask her how this will help me. She says it won't really, but that my illness will clear itself up soon enough with a smile.

Oh shit that smile.

I know what is happening to me, and a thousand voices in my head are screaming “you fucked up, you dun goofed, you idiot!” over and over again. A sense of dread pours over me. I have lived to see the day, and that day is today.