A Wall In The Way VIII

Thomas is cold and lifeless as you approach him. He seems to have faded in some ways. Frost creeps up his fingers unnaturally. It seems slow, almost imperceptible, but after a quick check he is breathing. You pick up Thomas as gingerly as possible, the cold seems to emanate from his body, penetrating all the layers of covering you’re wearing. Gingerly, you put Thomas in front of you on the snow machine and rush back the way you came.

Lorn will know what to do, the thought crosses your mind.

You return to the edge of the phenomenon and quickly fashion a makeshift cart for Thomas. Jill's going to be very mad at me as well, you think to yourself as you leave the snow machine behind. You grab the cart, make sure Thomas is safe, and rush back to Redbrook. The trip takes less time, as you skip breaks, traveling on minimal sleep, you travel recklessly to get back sooner. Each time you check on Thomas, you see the frost has crawled farther up his arms and legs.

Exhausted, you reach Redbrook after seven days of hard, almost ceaseless travel and caring for Thomas the best you can, you find yourself collapsing on Lorn’s doorstep.

Lorn opens his door as you weakly gesture towards the cart and even though you are pointing towards the cart, you don’t understand why Lorn is trying to help you to a chair.

“You fools. You bloody fools!” The words come from Lorn's mouth, but you hear Star Meerif's voice.