The Sickness

Chapter Seven

Renee finished wrapping the stump and turned to look at me. She gave me a warm smile. "Kaylee!" She embraced me, and then pulled away. I studied her.
She didn't look like she had before, but she didn't look terrible, either. Her fingernails and under her eyes were tinted with the black liquid, but it wasn't dripping out. Then I saw a bandage on her arm, stained black.
She noticed me looking. "Do you want to see what's underneath it?"
I hesitated for a second, but then nodded. She unwrapped the dressing to reveal a hole in her arm, about the size of a quarter. It had a metal ring sewn to the inside of it, and it was coated with the gunk.
"What's it for?" I asked, in awe.
She tilted her arm, and out dripped some of the sludge. "Well, to keep this black discharge from building up inside of my body like it had before, I carved a hole in my arm. I sewed this ring into it so the hole wouldn't close up. Once a day, I un-bandage the wound and drain the discharge." She re-wrapped it with the bandage.
I almost gagged, but stopped myself just in time. Throwing a quick glance over to Ana, who was sitting with Ollie, I noticed that the sky was turning dark. I shivered, and Renee put an arm around me. My heart pounded in my throat, and I managed to smile. "Thanks," I whispered.
She returned my smile, and then pointed up to the stars. "Look, Kay!" she exclaimed. "That's Capricorn, my star sign. What's yours?"
"Cancer," I replied.
Renee searched the sky for a minute before showing me. "There! Cancer. Cancer the Crab." She hugged me tighter, and a warmth spread through me. I gazed into her eyes, and she gave me a soft smile.
Then, my heartbeat sped up, and I couldn't help myself - I closed my eyes and leaned in for a kiss.
Our lips met, and she pulled away in shock. Her eyes searched mine.
"I... I'm sorry..." I whispered, a tear escaping from my eye. "I.. I shouldn't have-"
But she quickly leaned in and kissed me again. When we pulled away this time, we were both crying.
Through my tears, I managed to speak. "You- you, too?"
She nodded. "Yeah, Kay. I do too."
We leaned our heads together and rested there for a few more minutes.
But we were interrupted by Ana's call.
"Um, Kay? Renee? Ollie's awake!"