“How bad does it hurt?” Gemma asked.
“When you touch it—not at all. Otherwise, it aches and I have one hell of a magnificent headache.”
“I’ll get you some ibuprofen.” She started to turn to the truck, but Stella touched her shoulder to stop her.
“Instead, just press your hand to his wound and think about the pain going away.”
“That’s cra—” Karen began, but Stella shushed her.
“Let the kid work through it,” Stella told the history teacher.
Karen’s lips disappeared into a tight, disapproving line.
“Try it,” Mercury said to Gemma. “The worst that can happen is nothing, but it could be like this backpack—light and easy to handle.”
“Okay,” Gemma said. She wiped her hands on her jeans, drew a deep breath, and then, as Ford bent down, Gemma pressed the palm of her hand over the gauze bandage.
“Concentrate,” Stella told her.
Gemma closed her eyes. Her brow furrowed.
Ford closed his eyes too, and within just a few heartbeats his face relaxed into a smile. “Such a relief,” he murmured.
Gemma bit her lip as she continued to concentrate. Sweat beaded her face, and she began to shiver. Gooseflesh prickled the small hairs on her forearms.
Stella touched the teen’s shoulder. “That’s enough.”
Gemma’s hand dropped heavily from Ford’s head. She opened her eyes and blinked several times, and then rubbed at her forehead—in the exact spot of Ford’s wound.
“D-did anything happen?” asked the teenager.
Ford straightened. His smile widened. “Absolutely. My headache is completely gone, and I don’t feel dizzy anymore.”
“Really? That’s awesome!” Gemma spoke enthusiastically and then grimaced in pain and staggered so that Stella had to steady her.
“How are you feeling now?”
“My head hurts and I’m kinda dizzy,” said Gemma. “And, uh, I may puke.”
Stella nodded slowly. “Imani, I think you should warm that soup. Be sure Gemma eats—slowly—and also drinks a full bottle of water and then rests.”
“I—I don’t want to take water from the kids,” said Gemma as she rubbed her forehead.
“I have a water purifier in my pack.” Ford gestured for Mercury to turn around. He unzipped an outside pocket and pulled out a neatly packed water purifying kit. “You can get all the fresh water you need. The instructions are still in the case.”
“Y’all, it’s dusk. We need to go,” said Mercury.
“Where are we going to say we’ve been?” asked Karen.
“I have our fiction ready. I’ll give you the details on the way,” said Mercury. “See y’all soon.” She turned to head up the gentle slope when Cayden detached himself from his sister and ran to her, wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly. She smoothed his hair and rubbed his back. “Thank you for the hug.”
He looked up at her, tears poised in his worried gaze.
“Hey, I’m coming back. Promise.”
Cayden released her, but instead of returning to his sister, he stared up at Stella.
“Oh, I get it,” Stella said. “Yes, we’re coming back—and that includes Mercury.”
Cayden nodded somberly and turned back to hug Mercury again, and as he did, she glanced at Stella—and Mercury’s breath caught in her throat. Her best friend wasn’t looking at her, but instead stared into the distance as pain flashed across her face—and Mercury Elizabeth Rhodes shivered as if someone had just walked over her grave.