Chapter 48 Chapter 46: The Furnace

Jamie was about to sit up. "Hold on, boy, how are you feeling?" Ian pressed Jamie's shoulders against the mattress. "I feel fine, why is everyone here? I don't remember" "You are sick, don't move, let us continue to treat you." "Can I have some water?" "Of course, child, here you are." The doctor stared at Jamie in disbelief. I could barely speak, my throat was tight with pleasure. "It's the painkillers," I muttered. "It's great!" "Why is Jared holding Sharon's head?" Jamie asked Ian in a low voice.

"She's in a bad mood," Ian said loudly to Jamie, so that no one else could hear him. "Don't move, Jamie," the doctor told him. "We're going to disinfect your wound now, okay?" "Okay." Jamie replied quietly.He noticed the scalpel in the doctor's hand and looked at it warily. "Tell me if you feel this," said the doctor. "If it hurts," I corrected. The doctor is skilled, swiftly and gently with the scalpel across the diseased skin.We glanced at Jamie, who was staring up at the pitch-black ceiling. "It feels weird," Jamie said, "but it doesn't hurt."

The doctor nodded secretly, then cut the knife down again, making a cross, and bright red blood and dark yellow pus flowed out from the incision. Immediately after the doctor's operation, I sprayed disinfectant back and forth on the bleeding cross-shaped incision.Disinfectant clings to the discharge, and the noxious yellow pus seems to sizzle softly.The pus began to subside, like soap scum being dispersed by a mist of water.It melted, and the doctor beside me was breathing heavily. "Look there." For better results, I sprayed that area twice.The dark red gore had disappeared from Jamie's skin, leaving only the normal red of human blood.

"Okay, Prosthetic." I muttered to myself.Find the can of medicine and point the small nozzle at the incision in his skin.The clear liquid dripped in, wrapped the bare skin, shimmering, and stopped the bleeding wherever the repair essence sprayed.I poured half the liquid in the jar over the wound, which must have been twice as much as needed. "Okay, help me bring the edges of the wound together, Doctor." At this moment, the doctor was dumbfounded.He did as I told him, gathering the edges of the two wounds with both hands. Jamie laughed out loud: "Itchy." The doctor's eyes widened.

I applied glue to the cross-shaped incision and watched contentedly as the edges melded together and transformed into pink skin. "Can I see it?" Jamie asked. "Get him up, Ian, we're almost done." Jamie propped himself up on his elbows, his eyes bright and curious, his sweaty, dirty hair matted.Compared with his healthy-colored skin, such hair looks out of place. "Look, I put this on," I said, rubbing the shiny powder on my hand over his scar, "this makes the scar very light, like this." I showed him the scar on my arm. Jamie smiled: "But don't scars attract girls? Xiaoman, where did you get this thing? It's like magic."

"Jared took me to steal it." "Really? That would be great." The doctor dabs some of the powder on my hand and sticks his finger under my nose. "You should really see it," said Jared. "She's incredible." I was surprised to hear his voice coming from behind me.I looked around, subconsciously looking for Sharon, and happened to see her with light red hair, as she was leaving the room, with Maggie right behind her. How sad, how terrifying, filled with such deep hatred, even the recovery of the child can't make you happy How on earth did people become like this?

"She walked straight into the hospital, went straight to the aliens there, and told them to heal her, so fearless. Then, when they turned and left, she ransacked it!" Jared told the story. Thrilling, and Jamie loved the story too, grinning from ear to ear, "with enough medicine for all of us for a long time, she came out of there. When driving away, she even turned towards the nasty guy behind the reception desk. The ghost beckoned." Jared laughed. I don't have the ability to do this for them.Melanie suddenly felt very regretful, you were worth more to them than I was.

Shhh, I said, this is not the time to be sad or jealous, only to be happy.I wouldn't be here to help them without you, and you saved them too. Jamie stared at me with wide eyes. "Actually, it's not that exciting." I told him, and he took my hand, and I held it tightly, with gratitude and love, "It's easy, after all, I'm a nuisance, too." "I didn't mean that" Jared was about to apologize. I smiled and waved. "How do you explain the scars on your face?" asked the doctor, "Didn't they wonder why you didn't" "Of course, I had to have fresh cuts. I was careful not to make them suspect anything. I told them I fell and got cut with a knife in my hand," I nudged Jamie, "who It’s possible for something like this to happen.”

I'm in high spirits right now, and it's as if everything is radiating from the inside out—clothes, face, even walls.People in and around the room began to whisper and express doubts, but the talk was just a buzzing in my ears—like the aftermath of a clock after it has been struck.There was a shimmer of light in the air, and everything seemed unreal except for the small circle I loved.Jamie, Jared, Ian and Jeb, even the doctor in this wonderful moment. "A new wound?" Ian's tone was calm. I stared at him, startled by the anger in his eyes. "I have to do this, I have to hide my scars and learn how to heal Jamie."

Jared held up my left wrist and ran his fingers over the pale pink line a few inches above it. "It's horrible," he said, the humor lost in his serious tone. "She almost chopped off her hand, and I thought she'd never be able to use that hand again." Jamie opened his eyes wide in fear: "Did you scratch yourself?" I shook his hand tightly again: "Don't worry—it's not that serious, and I know it will be cured soon." "You should take a look," Jared repeated under his breath, still rubbing my arm. Ian's fingers caressed my cheek and it felt good.His hand rested on my face and I leaned in to snuggle into his hand, thinking maybe it was the painkillers or just the joy of bringing Jamie back to life that made everything feel warm and glowing.

"Don't go out and take risks anymore." Ian whispered. "Of course she'll be out again," Jared said, amplifying his voice in surprise. "Ian, she's just amazing. You've got to see it for yourself, I'm only just beginning to think about all the possibilities" "Possibility?" Iss' hand slid down my neck to my shoulder, and he pulled me to him, away from Jared, "What price will she pay? You almost let her cut off her hand?" He Fingers curled, covering my shoulder joints. Such anger does not belong to the warmth in my heart. "No, Ian, it's not like that," I said, "It was my idea, and I had to." "Of course it's your idea," growled Ian, "you'll do everything that comes across these two, you've got no limits, but Jared shouldn't let you" "Ian, is there any other way?" Jared retorted. "Do you have a better plan? Do you think Jamie would be happier if she died and she lived unscathed?" I shrank back in horror at the dreadful thought. Ian replied with a less hostile tone: "No, but I don't understand why you can sit there and watch her do that to you." Ian shook his head in disgust, and when he answered, he shrugged, "What kind of man" "Pragmatic man," Jeb interrupted. We all looked up, and Jeb was looking down at us, a huge cardboard box in his hand. "That's why Jared is the best at getting what we need. Because he dares to do what has to be done, or has the courage to watch what has to be done, even though sometimes it's harder to watch than to do." "Now, I think it's long past dinner time, and it's almost breakfast time. I think some of you haven't eaten in a while, though," continued Jeb, changing the subject without concealment, " Are you hungry, kid?" "Well, I'm not sure," agreed Jamie, "I feel empty, but not uncomfortable." "It's the painkillers," I said. "You should eat something." "Drink something, too," the doctor said. "You need to rehydrate." Jeb throws the bulky suitcase on the bed: "I think we might celebrate tonight, take whatever you want." "Wow, that's great!" said Jamie, rummaging through the boxes of dehydrated dry food that hikers eat. "Macaroni, that's great!" "I want garlic nuggets," Jeb said, "I miss garlic so much—although, I guess nobody misses garlic in my mouth." He giggled. Jeb provided drinking water and a few portable stoves, and the crowd gathered, huddled in the small space.I'm sandwiched between Jared and Ian, and I hold Jamie on my lap.Even though he wasn't old enough to sit like this, he didn't object, he must have sensed how much we both needed him to sit here - Mel and I had to feel him alive and well in our arms. The circle of flickering fire seemed to grow larger and spread throughout the late night dinner, turning everyone into a family, each contentedly waiting for Jeb to unhurriedly prepare a surprise dish.Fear was replaced by relief and joy, and even Kyle squeezed into the narrow space opposite his brother, not snubbed by those in the circle. Melanie sighed contentedly, feeling excitedly the warmth of the boy in my arms and the touch of the man, still running his hand over my arm.Even the fact that Ian put his arm around my shoulder didn't bother her anymore. You also feel the effects of the painkillers.I said jokingly. I don't think it's because of the painkillers.None of us are affected by it. Yes, you are right.This feeling is something I have never felt before. This feeling is something I have lost. What makes this love of humanity so much more fascinating to me than the fraternity of my own kindred?Is it because it is specific and unpredictable?The soul gives love to all and accepts love from all.Am I hungry for a bigger challenge?Love like this is hard to deal with, it has to have strict rules—it may be free, like Jamie's; it may be earned through time and hard work, like Ian's; or It's a love that's utterly elusive, heart-wrenching, like Jared's love. From a certain point of view, maybe such a love would be better?Because these humans can hate terribly, which is the other extreme where they can love more intently and passionately than we do? I don't know why I crave this emotion so madly.All I know is that now that I have this emotion, it's worth every risk I've taken, and all the pain it's caused.It's even better than I imagined. it is everything. When the food was ready and eaten, it was midnight, or rather dawn, and we were all sleepy.People stumbled out of the crowded room and back to their beds.After they left, it became much more spacious here. The room was empty, and we were left to sit lazily where we were.Gradually, our bodies became limp and finally lay on the ground.My head rests squarely on Jared's stomach, and his hands run through my hair from time to time.Jamie's face was against my chest, his arms were wrapped around my neck, and one of my arms was hooked around his shoulder.Ian rested his head on my stomach, and he put my other hand on his cheek.I feel the doctor's long legs stretched out next to mine, his shoes next to my ass.The doctor is asleep - I can hear him snoring, maybe I've even touched Kyle. Jeb was sprawled on the bed, and he hiccupped, making Kyle chuckle. "It's been a better night than I expected, I like saving money," Jeb said thoughtfully. "Thanks, Man." "Yeah." I sighed, half asleep and half awake. "Next time she steals—" Kyle's voice came from the other side of Jared's body, interrupting him with a long yawn, "next time she steals, I'll go too." "She's never going out again," Ian replied, his body tensing.I stroked his cheek with my hand, trying to calm him down. "Of course not," I whispered to him, "I don't have to go anywhere unless I need to, and I don't mind staying here." "I'm not talking about putting you in jail, Man," Ian explained exasperatedly. "As far as I'm concerned, you can go anywhere you want. You can jog on the highway if you like, but don't Go steal something, I'm talking about keeping you safe." "We need her," Jared said, and his tone exceeded my expectations. "We did well without her before." "Good? Jamie would be dead without her, and she can get us things that no one else can get." "Jered, she is a person, not a tool." "I know, I didn't say" "I said, it's up to Man." Just as I was about to interrupt their argument, Jeb cut them off.I hold Ian by the hand, and at the same time, I can feel Jared's body twisting behind my head, he is about to stand up, and Jeb's words stop him. "You can't let her decide, Jeb," Ian protested. "Why not? Seems like she has a mind of her own. Is it your job to make decisions for her?" "I'll tell you why," Ian muttered, "Man?" "Yes, Ian?" "Do you want to go out and rob?" "If I can help, of course I should." "That's not what I asked, Xiao Man." I was silent for a while, thinking about his question carefully, wondering where I had gone wrong. "Look, Jeb! She never thinks about her own needs—her own happiness, or even her own health. She'll do anything we ask, even if it kills her. With us asking each other It's not fair to ask her the way we do. We stop and think about ourselves, she doesn't." The room was quiet, and no one answered Ian's words.The silence continued, and I felt the need to speak up for myself. "It's not like that," I said, "I've been thinking of myself, and I want to help. Shouldn't that count? I'd be so happy to help Jamie tonight, can't I just use the things I like?" way to find happiness?" Ian sighed: "Do you understand what I mean?" "Well, I can't keep her from going if she wants to," Jeb said. "She's not a prisoner anymore." "But we don't need to ask her." Jared was silent the whole time.Jamie was also quiet, but I'm pretty sure he was asleep.I knew Jared wasn't asleep, his hand was aimlessly drawing lines on one side of my cheek, warm, burning lines. "You don't need to ask," I said, "I do it voluntarily, and it's really not scary, not at all. The other souls are good, and I'm not afraid of them, it's so easy." "Easy? Scratch yours" I interrupted Ian right away: "That's an emergency, I don't need to do that again," I paused for a second, "Right?" I confirmed to him. Ian complained: "If she goes, I will go too," his tone was desperate, "someone must protect her from hurting herself." "I'll be there to protect other people from her," Kyle said with a chuckle, and then he grunted, "Ugh." I'm too tired to look up to see who hit Kyle. "And I'll be there to bring you back safely," Jared said quietly.