Beautiful Remains

The minute we stepped inside, Dylan wheeled around in his seat. His smile faded as the others dragged themselves in after me.

“Ray?” he asked in a prepared tone.

“Calm, Dee-Dee, they're harmless and they've got a half-starved girl.”

Dylan went back to the little gasoline stove and continued whatever he was doing, but the cautious looks over his shoulder told me enough. I motioned to the piles of comforters in the far corner, which the men attacked in seconds.

“How did you know she was starved?” Andy asked a little above a whisper.

His shockingly deep voice stunned me a moment and I realized that he hadn’t so much as given me acknowledgment until just now.

The rest of the group had collapsed in exhaustion, but I noticed that Jinx stood over them, watching me carefully. Andy hadn't even put the poor girl down to talk to me. He looked so broken and small, even though he overshadowed me by a foot. The protective arms around her confirmed my suspicions as I reached to touch the girl's neck. He cared for her and it would worry him to know the beat under my fingertips was weak. No one moved to slap me away from her, but something told me they were tempted to.

“I can recognize hunger in a face when I see it.” I responded, counting her pulse in my head.

“Will she be alright?” his deep voice cracked.

A low hum left my throat, which made Andy begin to panic,and I turned to Dylan.

“Dee-Dee?”

“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered, but he didn't go to Juliet, he faced me without moving a step,”This is so unlike you.”

Tense silence fell over the room and I could hear the doubt rising up in the guests’ chests. My pupils dug into Dylan's almost mournful eyes.

“They have a sickly woman, traveling, with them.” I pronounced clearly.

“You let that bigger group with the sick, old lady pass without a word.” he argued quietly.

The doubt was growing and Andy began to cower back with puppy eyes, fearful and confused. Jinx walked up and put a hand on his shoulder, glaring at me as Dylan and I continued. This isn't going too well.

“That lady was old and as sad as it is, she was going to die. If she didn't have that head wound, maybe I would have helped her!! On top of that, you saw their stores! They were packed with supplies!! It's not our fault they don't have a good healer with them!!!”

My volume shocked even me as I literally shrieked at Dylan. I took a moment, just a moment, to compose myself before I continued.

“These guys don't have a healer and have you seen their clothes? Not to mention the dying soul they are trying to keep alive?! No offense to them, but they need help or that girl is gonna die.”

My voice caught in my throat as I choked up one last sentence for Dylan’s ears only.

“I will not let another girl starve to death at my doorstep.”

Finally, realization dawned over his face and Dylan nodded in defeat. He knew all too well the reference I was making and the fact he didn't deny it broke my heart a little. At the very least, he could have said it wasn’t my fault.

“Andy, Dylan was a trained doctor at a military base, he can help her.” I stated as Dylan reached out to Juliet, felt for a pulse and checked her temperature.

Jinx, still standing next to Andy, nodded to me in thanks, his mouth quivering slightly. I returned the gesture and as our eyes met, I couldn't help but show the small smile that haunted me; I had gained some trust from at least one of them.

Notes

JULIET IS NOW IN CARE OF THE PROESSIONALS DYLAN