In30°C86°Fheat,hehadCra’sbackpack—stuffedwithheavyreferencebooks—slungoverhisshoulder,andhewashaulingafeverishgirlwhocouldhimevenifshewao.Afteronlyafewsteps,sweatsliddownhisjawline,soakingintohisoversizedbckT-shirt.
“Shutupandsaveyourstrengthforbreathing,”Elianshroughchedteeth.Histonewasharsh,butthearmaroundhershoulderstightenedslightly—quietly—soshewouldn’tslip.
Hesteeredtoa7?Elevenattheer.
Thestore’sair-ditioninghitlikeasmallsalvation.Elianpressedherdownontoachairilerestareabytheregister,threwoutawarning—“Ifyoutrytorun,you’redead”—andstrodestraightfortherefrigeratedse.
Inunderaminute,hepaidforanice-coldbottleofwaterandaroom-temperaturesportsdrink.
“Holdstill.”HecamebadpressedthecoldwaterbottledirectlytothebackofCra’sburningneck.
“—!”ThesuddenshockofadeCraflinch.Herunfocusedeyespulledintoslightlyclearerfocus.
Eliantookthecetotwistopenthesportsdrinkandbringittohermouth.Whenhesawherlips—dry,cracked,peelingfromfever—hisbrowstightenedevenmore.
“Drink.You’reburningup.You’relosingwaterfast.You’llbedehydratedbeforeweeveheic.”
Crablinkedslowly.Reasontoldhershehadtotakeinfluids.Withhandsthattrembledfaintly,shecuppedthepsticbottleandmanagedafewswallows.Thewarmliquidsliddownherrawthroat,andsherecoveredthesmallestfrath.
“Let’sgo.There’saithealleynearby.”
Eliandidn’tgivehermuchtimetorest.Hereachedoutagainandpulledherupfromthechair.Withthebriefcoolingandthequickrefillfromthevenieore,theretchofroadwasslightlymoremanageable.
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