Seth

Jennifer came awake with a gentle exhalation of air.

The house was silent save for the slight whirring sound of the heater as it continued to work, and by now the temperature was beyond sweltering. Her clothes and hair were damp and clinging to her skin, and the sheets and pillow were also wet with perspiration. Beside her the boy was sound asleep, his face smooth and tranquil while he dreamt, of home perhaps. One of his arms lay loosely draped around her neck, and his skin felt hot against hers.

There had been more than a few moments last night when she was sure that he wasn’t going to make it, but she had kept him warm and fed him at regular intervals. The nightstand with the moon-shaped lamp was littered with empty Tupperware containers, glasses, and bowls.

The Day-Glow stars were dark now, but she could still trace their path upon the ceiling. Based on the pattern of light on the nearby walls, she estimated that it was most likely no later than eight in the morning. In the five hours that had passed since putting the boy to bed, she herself had probably slept half of that, perhaps less. She felt remarkably well rested despite this, and she figured a large part of this stemmed from the fact that he had survived his ordeal.

He would have to eat again soon, and judging by just how much she had fed him the night—and day before—she would have to go into town today and restock at the grocery store.

Groceries.

She glanced over at the nightstand searching for her phone, but all she could see were the myriad cups and bowls clustered around the base of the lamp.

The boy made a low, contented sound in the back of his throat and stretched languidly under the warm comforter. She froze, not wanting to wake him, happy for the moment to merely watch him sleep.

I really am going to have to do something about that hair.

The overlong waves tumbled down over his face as he slept, and careful not wake him, she gently smoothed them back and away. The corner of his lips quirked up as if he were smiling at some private memory, and she found herself smiling back even if he couldn’t see it.

“Thank you,” she whispered to the air around her, though who or what she expected to hear she couldn’t say. She felt such gratitude for the simple miracle of seeing him smile in his sleep that she forgot that he was far from being out of danger—he would have to return to wherever he’d come from soon, but the missing rocks had yet to be recovered.

The boy’s stomach gave an audible growl and her pulse ratcheted up a notch.

I have nothing for him except that bottle of corn syrup we left on the kitchen table. I can’t take him with me into town, but I could call Tom.

Tom.

Tom would understand why she wouldn’t accompany him into town no matter what explanation she would give him, and as for the type and quantity of foods she would ask him to bring her…well, that explanation would have to wait for a later date. Right now the boy needed food if he was to keep his strength up. All she had to do was locate her phone, give Tom a call, and then she could go and continue the search for the missing rocks. As for whether or not the boy was strong enough to accompany her, she would have to wait and see.

She glanced around the bedside table for her phone, but all she could see were the empty bowls and glasses littering the surface.

I must have left it in either the kitchen or the bathroom when we came in last night. The trick is going to be getting up without waking….

Gammeh-te-rah?

She glanced down and saw that the boy was staring at her with wide blue eyes. His stomach gave another audible growl and this time he couldn’t hide the wince of pain from her.

Their eyes met.

Hungry.

“I know sweetheart.” She carefully folded back the comforter so that she could free her legs and torso. She tucked in the material around him so that none of the heat they’d generated would escape, and she lightly laid her hand on his forehead. He was still warm, but not hot like he’d been just minutes ago. She schooled her features not to show how frightened this made her and gave him a reassuring smile. His stomach gave another loud growl and she hurriedly swung her legs out of bed. The wood floor was warm under her bare feet as she came around to the other side of the bed and knelt down beside him. He continued to watch her silently, his expression betraying nothing.

“I’ll call Tom and have him bring over some food. How does a nice plate of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for breakfast sound? Or would you rather have cookies? They’d be store-bought, but you’d still like them.” She was rambling and she knew it, but she concentrated on keeping him calm and warm while she began to smooth down her rumpled clothes. They had been damp when she’d laid down and they were now hopelessly wrinkled.

“Hey.” She smoothed back the overlong curls of hair away from his forehead. He turned his face towards her and she could see that there was the faintest tinge of blue around the eyelids. His temperature had dropped again in the time it had taken her to get out of bed, and with another whispered prayer she leaned towards him.

“Just hold on a little bit longer, okay? I have to go get my phone to call Tom, but he’ll be back with your food before you know it.” She tried to smile reassuringly but it felt wooden and somehow false.

The boy was failing fast.

It had been just over forty-eight hours since he had arrived here from wherever he had come from, and at this rate he would not last another day. She had to find the missing rocks soon so that he could return and regain his strength. Her best efforts were simply not enough, and try as she might to keep him warm and fed, this world was not suited to his physiology.

Okay. He smiled back, and though small it still filled her with hope.

“I’ll be right back, I promise.” Without thinking she planted a quick kiss on his forehead and made her way rapidly to the bathroom. The phone was not on the counter or floor, and practically running she dashed into the kitchen. She found it lying near the sink and she snatched it up and quickly dialed Tom’s number.

He answered on the second ring. “Jennifer? I uh….” There was the sound of muffled movement in the background. “Good morning, I uh, wasn’t expecting you to call.”

She closed her eyes and sank against the cabinets. “Tom, good morning. I…I need to ask a favor.”

He immediately sounded alert. “Sure, anything.”

She sighed and angled her body towards the hallway leading to Seth’s bedroom. There was no sound coming from there, and while she doubted that he would take a turn for the worse or possibly fall and injure himself, she still felt more comfortable being where she could hear.

“I’m feeling a bit under the weather, and I was wondering if you could pick up a few things for me at the store. If you’re going into town, that is.”

“Are you sure you don’t need me to drive you to Doc Hutchins? I mean, if you’re feeling that sick—”

“No. No, I’m fine, Tom, really. I must have gotten chilled last night and now I’m feeling a bit off.”

“Just tell me what you need and I’ll pick it up for you. Hold on,” there was the sound of rustling on the other end, and then he came back on. “Alright, fire away.”

“I need peanut butter and jelly, two packages—no, four packages—of store-bought cookies, any kind.” She held her breath, waiting.

“Peanut butter, jelly, four packages of cookies, any kind. Any preference on the jelly?” He sounded almost bemused at her request and she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Grape is good, or strawberry. Actually, could you bring me…five jars each of peanut butter and jelly? If they have the large jars I’ll take those, oh, and some bread, too.”

There was an extended pause on the other end as he processed her request. “Jennifer, are you alright?”

Her pulse leaped in her throat. He suspected something was up but he was being polite about it.

She licked her dry lips. “Yeah. Yes, Tom, I just have some…odd cravings today. My appetite seems to have returned, that’s all.” She hoped that her tone was convincing.

He sighed but let the matter go. “Alright, if you say so. I’ll take off in a few and will come right back soon as I can. Anything else?”

Thank you.

She shook her head. “No, that should be fine Tom, thank you.”

“You don’t want any soup or cold medicine? Just peanut butter, jelly, and cookies?” This time there was no mistaking the tone of deep suspicion in his voice.

“No, I…I have some here at the house.” She forced her hand to not crush the phone in her grip. From Seth’s bedroom came a low whimpering sound that indicated the boy was in distress. She desperately wanted to run to him but she couldn’t afford to raise Tom’s suspicions any more than they already were.

“Thank you, Tom. I appreciate this more than you realize.” The whimpering was increasing in volume and frequency, and she could feel her legs twitching as she fought the urge to go to him.

“I’m leaving right now. I should be by your place within an hour or so. I’ll call before I get there— ”

She barely heard him before she disconnected the call and made a mad dash for Seth’s bedroom. When she got there the boy was curled up on his side, his hand clutching the edge of the mattress weakly.

The whimpering came at regular intervals and sent pangs of pain and misery through her.

“Seth? Seth!” She practically fell as she rushed to his side and quickly gathered him up in her arms. His lips were turning blue again and the lids of his closed eyes were blue as well.

“Oh God, please, please….” He was dead weight in her arms as she held him close to her, his body limp and pliant.

She began to rock him gently, shushing him when the whimpering began again in earnest. “You’re going to be fine. You’re going to be okay.” His back arched as the hunger whipped through him and his eyes flew open, wide and searching.

She found herself moving back towards the kitchen without being aware of it. Seemingly in an instant she had managed to seat herself at the table and had the bottle of corn syrup in her hands.

“Here…Seth, wake up. Seth, you have to wake up!”

The bottle rested against his slack lips and she gently forced them open so that the syrup could flow inside. A tiny bit dribbled out of the corner of his mouth but then the old miracle occurred as the muscles of his mouth and throat began to work while he drank.

“Just hold on. Just hold on a little bit longer.”