A GIFT OF TIME

Episode 31

"Danny" I despondently called my voice breathy and shaky like I was gonna break down soon. I might as well break down soon. I thought as tears found it's way to my eyes as he stared at me as if pondering what to do to me or maybe the dust was just getting too much for me. 

"I never thought you could do it" Danny said gritting his teeth and clenching his fist as if holding himself back from killing Nicholas. 

" Danny-" Nicholas chose the worst time to call him and with a growl Danny moved to punch him in the face. I gasped as his fist landed on his face making Nicholas fall at the impact.

"you f*****g shut up or I'm gonna kill you before we find our way out of here" he gritted harshly. Nicholas spitted the blood that had made his way to his mouth and tried to stand, staggering as he did so. 

"Trust me it wasn't her fault. She tried-" Nicholas attempt to defend me was unwelcomed and resulted into another punch on his face. 

"I said you should f*****g shut up!" Danny yelled and I jolted a little at his extremely penetrating voice. 

"Danny" I called timidly sniffling as tears made way to my eyes. Part of me wanted me to stay on my stand and admit firmly that I did nothing wrong but I couldn't. Not when Danny was giving me a look that reads backstabber, betrayar and cheater. 

"I'm sorry. But it's not what it looks like" I finally found my voice. 

"really? How does it looks like Claire? Because it looks to me that I caught him pinning you to a tree and making out with you. And you enjoyed it-

" Danny please-

" deny it Claire, tell me you didn't let him have his way and you weren't moaning to his touch" Danny boomed and I flinched at his voice bearing so much hurt and pain. Why would he be so mad?, it was his face that had me distracted. They were each other and alike in almost all every way. I just got so confused in my feelings, why was he so mad?. 

"I told you it wasn't her fault" Nicholas just don't give up. He would have gotten another punch from Danny if I hadn't hastily move to the front of him to stop Danny from landing him another blow in the face. Danny scoffed coldly at my act and turned to go. My next action surprised me as I ran after him to put my arms around his waist. 

"I love you both Nicholas" I mumbled to his back and he stilled a little. But he recovered and slowly removed my hand around him heading away not sparing me a glance. It made my heart cringe. It was unusual but I was weakened to the knees and I felt my self going down into the sand. Nicholas moved next to me and I wept into his arms completely perplexed not knowing what to do. It might be impossible to have them both but I could make them understand I loved them both. After a while I made my way to the tent suddenly feeling cold and weak. For someone who just ate I felt too weak. I stopped on setting my eyes on Danny staring blankly at the dying fire. My throat felt dry and I couldn't help the cough that announced my presence. He turned to me for a brief moment and turned away. It made me ache in the inside. 

"you alright?" you're pale? And you're shivering"Nicholas observed staring into my face but I had my gaze fixed on Danny. I didn't notice I was starting to shiver though. I was probably getting down with a cold. I choose to ignore Nicholas until he had his hand on my forehead. 

" you're burning too " he furrowed his brows looking worried and sounding concerned. 

"I'm fine Nick" it was all I could manage to say as I moved my gaze away from Danny who refused to spare me a glance. I moved inside the tent getting into the blankets to keep warm because I was terribly cold. For minutes I shivered and my teeth start to chatter. I hugged myself into the blanket but it wasn't working as I coiled up in double sleeping bag. Nicholas moved in to see my state and sighed. He knew I wouldn't appreciate him lying down next to me so he moved out. I heard him calling Danny but their conversation was indistinct. But I do heard him saying please. I wasn't expecting anything from any of them because I believe I was going to be fine and it was just a common cold. But the goddamn thing was really affecting me, my vision was blurry and my head weighed tonnes. Nicholas moved back into the tent hurriedly moving next to me. He raised me into his chest and caressed my hair. It did help but that was a little I shivered in his chest nevertheless. After some minutes Danny made his way in inflating another sleeping bag in front of us. He glanced over to me and sighed like he was trying all he could to ignore me but he was finding it hard to. Maybe he was mad at me but he wasn't doing a good job at masking the worry written all over his face. 

"Dan-ny" my call was incoherent as a result of my chattering teeth and it made him shut his eyes tight and clenched his fist trying to ignore me. But he still had the extremely worried look on his face as he met my blurry gaze. 

"she needs you Danny. Please just let it go till she's fine at least" Nicholas voiced not minding Danny's abrupt glare at him. Danny stared at me for a brief moment while I cough as my throat felt to dry. He sighed and left the tent making my eyes watery Nicholas cleaned my tears as he noticed it wetting his plain Grey T-shirt. He adjusted me closer to him till half of my body weight was on him. Danny moved back in with two jackets and he he a similar one on. Nicholas was forced to move away as he moved closer to me. I couldn't help the whimper that left my lips as a result of lost of body heat. Danny took over wearing me the hooded jacket. And when he tried to leave I held him back locking my gaze with his. 

"I just want to get you the tea I'm making on fire. You need something warm" he notified caressing my cheek. His touch was soothing and I snuggle up hoping he wouldn't leave. 

"I'll get it" Nicholas volunteered leaving the tent. I moved closer to him closing the proximity between us and leaving no space for air. He sighed and wrapped his hands around me. 

"I love you both Nicholas" I muttered at the same time Nicholas made his way back into the tent. Nicholas seem to still at that but both choose to ignore it. Nicholas had in his hand a tea kettle and a mug. He poured me the tea and gestured it over to me. 

"here" Nicholas offered me the cup but my hands were too shaky to take it from him. Danny on realizing this help me with it. I was glad when he put the cup to my lips. It's hotness made my body warm and I felt relieved getting it into my system. 

"feel better?" Danny asked and I sluggishly nodded. 

"good" he remarked patting my head. I moved back into his arms allowing him to wrap his arms around me. 

"I'll stay watch" Nicholas offered moving to the tent entrance to leave but was suddenly halted by Danny's voice. 

"you need to get some sleep" Danny pointed both boys locking their gazes. 

“I’m fine-

“I’m not very nice Nick especially to the guy with feelings for my girlfriend. So consider the offer when I’m still being nice. I’ll keep watch stay here” Danny huskily relayed trying to stand but trust me, me trying to hold him back was quite instinctive. It wasn’t something I would have done if I wasn’t so needy. His body warmth had been very soothing. Too soothing for me to bear it’s loss in some seconds.

“why don’t we just stay, it’s not like anybody or alien is gonna show up here. This place is off limits for aliens and there are other people out there. I doubt we would be robbed either. I think we are safe being in” Nicholas put in and Danny sighed before retreating, allowing me to snuggle close to him. I heard him sigh as he rested his cheeks on me. I didn’t get to see the rest of it as I suddenly found myself slipping away. I found myself in a place quite different from any I’ve ever been. It definitely wasn’t any I had been. It had green lights illuminating the room and it had a table with a familiar figure sitting on it. The walls looked like metals going through corrosion. The floor had little pool of stagnant water and there was sound of water dropping into the wet floor. The table and chair was carved and there was a metal like jug resting on top of it, facing the-prince. I sighed in relief glad he was the one seated. I was starting to worry I was forced into dreamland by the chief which I haven’t quite build the courage to meet. The first time I met him didn’t really end well for me. He had almost killed me. I sighed and made my way to him before he raised his head.

“you are here. It was difficult bringing you. You were too far and it used up some energy. I am glad you could stop the driller but my uncle is well aware of your plans to stop him. He is hunting for you. You have to be very careful Claire.” The prince warned and I snickered. I suddenly had an idea. If the chief was to start hunting for me in US. He was likely to find me. But since it was difficult to summon me from Egypt. It was perfect. 

“do you think you can help me with something?, help me misguide him. The only way he might never find me if he believes I’m not where he could come or summon. Help me tell him that to protect myself from him I went to a place where he could never find me. The Sahara. If he’s desperate enough he would try to come for me and it would be a disaster for him to try. I have stopped the driller but I still haven’t find a way to lure him out-

“my uncle is a sly fox Claire. You trying this game with him might be a little dangerous" The prince warned looking quite doubtful about my plans to throw his uncle off my tracks. 

"he can't find me where I am at the moment. And it will be suicide to send anyone after me. I have people I'm protecting myself. It's better that way" I insisted sounding quite confident in my decision. 

" if that would be helpful. I would be glad to help but I doubt he is going to believe me if I told him-

"we stopped the driller prince. The only way we could have done that if we were there. The center of the earth" I made-known. The prince seem to look up and gave me a look I guess was bewilderment because his eyeballs shot up rolling up it's lids totally and it tentacles sagged before. They started to roll into each other. And funnily I spotted it's tail behind the chair he sat in. It was long and it looked slimy. It had spot of glowing green. The prince on noticing my eyes immediately hid his tail looking a little embarrassed. Reminded me of Hero. 

"you're smiling?" the prince pointed and I straightened my face. 

"no I wasn't" I said moving to the chair in front of him. 

"don't touch it" he warned and I stopped in my tracks. I had wanted to seat in front of him but it seem he doesn't like the idea. 

"human scent last longer on objects. You are in our ship. And my uncle do come here. He can sniff out your presence if you touch anything. I shouldn't have called you here but this is the only place I could concentrate enough to summon your soul. You were too far so it was difficult. I am sorry for-

" it's okay. I understand" I said noticing the guilty look he had on his face. I wasn't really offended about him stopping me from sitting. My legs were just a little weak. It was silly though. I mean I was not even in my body and yet I felt weak. 

" There were dead Ghafils at the place where our ship had landed. They already decaying by the time they were brought back into the ship for a proper burial ceremony. It left me wondering what could have done that to them. I have read about human bullets and I know the damage it caused on both Humans and Ghafils but this weapon was different. Do... You know anything about it? " The prince asked putting an empty tube of ozone on the table. I don't know why but I didn't feel like telling him about it. The tubes must have being used by Charlie and the others after they didn't find us. Thinking of how worried they might be made me sick to the stomach or I was sick to the stomach. 

" No, I've never seen something like that " I lied and for a brief moment he looked over at me while I pretend to be studying the object I tried to take it but he covered it with his hand. I retracted my hand quickly to avoid touching him or his extremely sharp talons.

"that would be all Claire" He smiled and I felt myself slowly slipping back. 

"I wanted to ask your name" my voice trailed in an echo as I suddenly found back in the tent with some people talking outside. The inside of the tent had brightened up probably as a result of the morning sun. I was still wrapped in Danny's arms and Nicholas was sleeping vertically and had his back to us with a blanket over him. He did have one of Danny's leg over him though. Thinking of it now I realize how cramped the inside of the tent is. It was really cramped in here and I didn't noticed because I was so cold last night. I was still feeling feverish though. There was blankets everywhere and empty duffel bag at the end of the bed. There was a traditional tea kettle and three mugs at the side Danny face was turned to. I hope to God it was empty because if Danny moved his hand 3 inches closer he might pour the contents in the pot. I tried to tiptoe my way out to avoid stepping on the boys and I almost did when Danny suddenly turned to the other side and almost had his straightened leg tripped me. I signed as I staggered but successfully regained my balance. I zipped up the tent tent to find two man. Older men who seem to be in a seem be bickering at the moment. But that stopped immediately they noticed my presence. One was brunette and the other was a blonde. But looked like they haven't shaved in quite a while and had frustrated look on their faces. They moth seem to be in their late thirties. 

"Hola, my name is Diego Gutierrez. I am from Mexico, one of the campers and we realized only your tent haven't been folded since we are moving again. Are you heading to the city with us or you're...staying?" The Brunette asked after we our brief handshake and I blinked clueless on what they meant until I remembered what Nicholas had told me about the people around here. They were stranded like us. And they had formed a group to trek back to the city. 

" Um... We would be leaving with you thank you for the notice. We slept in. That's why our tents is still up. Thank you a lot." I explained giving them a warm smile. 

" that happens a lot. We would be leaving in an hour. We would be gathered at the middle of the camp. So everyone could join in before we start to move. " The blonde notified and I nodded. 

" thank you so much for the message. We would be sure to join you soon " I assured watching them nod and leave. I sighed feeling weak again. What was wrong with me? I felt fine waking up but I was starting to feel sick again. I turned to see Danny coming right out from the tent. His hair was disheveled and he had sleep lines on his cheeks. He looked well rested though. I despondently lowered my head knowing we still had score to settle. But he ignored my guilty look and placed a palm on my head. 

"you still have a fever, still feeling sick?" he asked and I nodded. He sighed patting my head probably to straighten most of my hair sticking out. 

" you should go in. it's airy outside. I'll get us something to eat" he offered and I held him back as he intend to head away. 

"Danny" I called but he merely stopped waiting in case I had anything to say. 

"I'm sorry" it was all I could manage. Before he moved his hand over my hand to free himself from my hold. 

"I'll get us something to eat" he reiterated heading away. When I moved back into the tent Nicholas was up and folding up the blankets packing everything into the duffel bag. Took me a while to notice there was few stuffs in the bag. He stood immediately I was in and I noticed for the first time he was taller than the tents height. His head was tilted a little to avoid pushing the tent with his head. I didn't realize I was way shorter than him until that moment. I mean there was about 6 inches from me and the roof of the tent. I almost frowned at the fact of being ridiculously shorter than the boys. 

"Thank God you're fine now" he said hugging me and kissing my cheeks. His cold cheeks against mine made me realize I was burning up again. 

"you're still burning" Nicholas observed studying me for a moment. 

"how do you feel?" He asked sounding quite worried. In a normal situation I would have been rejoiced at the fact that he was worried for me. Concerned about me but my feelings were kinda spiraling me in confusion. 

"feverish" I managed to reply and he sighed. We should quickly join the campers movement. We should get to the city soon. Cairo is not far from here. We need to get you drugs. " Nicholas prodded before turning back to arrange everything in the duffel bag. By the time he was done the bag looked quite heavy. All that was left was the tent itself and another bag which seem attached to the tent itself. 

" that's the bag the camping gears came with" Nicholas put in as he noticed my attention on the bag. I pouted in realization and Nicholas zipped up my jacket before holding me out of the tent so he could fold up the tent. Nicholas was done folding up the tents before Danny came back with breakfast skillets and beef jerky. As bad as it is for breakfast we didn't have a choice. 

"I still have some leftover snacks from last night. We shouldn't have" Nicholas said to Danny who merely ignored him and gave me the food. 

"what about you?" I asked but I got the same treatment as Nicholas. He ignored me, grabbed the bag with the camping gear and made his way down to the group that was now assembling at the middle of the camp. I sighed and waited for Nicholas to finish up before I set into the breakfast. Nicholas and I munch on the beef jerky as we head down to join the others. As heavy as the duffel bag looks Nicholas seem to be doing just fine with it. 

"where do you buy all these things?" I asked still chewing on some jerky. 

"the natives traveled on donkeys. They brought the supplies from town to make it easier for the campers movement back to the city. It's a perfect mode of business. They could as well make money out of the situation" Nicholas explained and I nodded. The movement started immediately everyone seemed to have assembled up in the middle. All we could see now was sands and dying camp fires. We stopped very often especially when we came across a pond or a well. Water was scarce and we had to refill our water bottles every time we came across a water body. Danny wasn't walking with me and Danny. He was walking a bit far from us until we could see Cairo in front of us. Danny gasp draw our attention and I couldn't help the panic that creep me all over. 

"Danny" I called leaving Nicholas and moving among the few people in front of us to get to him. He was gasping and I knew he was having difficulty breathing. He struggled to remove his inhaler but it was empty and he struggled to breathe. 

 "Danny" I called my eyes clouding with tears as he kept gasping. I took the inhaler and shook it countless times helping him with it but it was really empty. Other campers had stopped staring at us as Danny gasped! 

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