“Doc, if we don’t keep going, I’m not going to make it.”
Kyle moved closer, cupping her cheeks. “You’re burning up.”
His words were soft but heavy with concern.
Ava pulled away. “I can keep going.”
There was no other option.
“Ava…” He tilted his head, concern etched into his features.
“Doc, we don’t have a choice here. I need to keep going,and if I rest right now…” Her features pinched, her burning eyes turning water. “I don’t know if I’ll make it.”
“Whoa, okay, you’re feeling that bad?” Kyle’s eyes went wide.
Ava tugged away from him. “Doc, we don’t have time for this. Let’s go.”
“Ava, I really don’t think this is a good idea. You’ve already been through the trauma of a plane crash, and you’re sick with a deadly flu. We need to call Shadow and get an evac.”
“For what?” She stretched her arms to the sides. “So I can die in a hospital instead of the jungle?”
Kyle huffed out a breath, his hands falling to his hips as he shook his head. “What I would really like to avoid is you collapsing mid-jungle and have no way to stop you from getting worse or assess whether or not you’re in cardiac arrest. Ava, please…your life is more important than–”
“Than what?” she asked. “Than everyone else’s? Than Alex’s?”
She shook her head, her nose wrinkling. “No. We keep going, we find that cure. Now, let’s go, Doc.”
He raised his eyebrows as she spun on her heel and stormed in the direction her GPS showed.
Kyle jogged closer, matching her pace. “You should at least slow down. You don’t want to get overheated.”
“I’m fine–”
“If you’re saying that because you think I’m going to stop you, I’m not. But I do think we need to manage your symptoms the best we can. Unfortunately, we don’t have any fever reducers or pain medication to make this any better.”
“It’s fine. I’m using the adrenaline and fear to fuel my drive to find the cure.” She waved a dismissive hand in the air.
Kyle shook his head. “I don’t know how you’re on your feet right now with that fever.”
She didn’t even want to let her mind go to the place that was keeping her moving forward. It was Alex. The thought of him in that bed, sick, possibly dying, made her put one foot in front of the other.
She had to keep going. She had to find the cure. She had to save them both.
“We have to find this cure…for everyone,” she murmured.
“We can call and check on Alex if you want,” Kyle said.
She set her sights on a tree ahead, willing herself to make it that far. But Shadow’s silence gnawed at her. If Alex was okay, why hadn’t he answered? The thoughts spun in her head, each step heavier than the last. “Kyle…” Her voice cracked. “Why isn’t he answering?”
“I want to know he’s okay,” she answered. “If he’s not…”
“You’re doing the best you can do,” Kyle said.
Tears suddenly fell to her cheeks. “What if it’s not enough?”
“Hey, hey, hey,” Kyle said as he slid an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer. “Stop. Let me text Shadow and get an update.”
She sniffled, flicking away the tears. “I’m sorry. I blame this on the flu.”
