The neighborhood felt warm, and the conversation continued in a friendly manner.
—Thanks for the cookies —said Hael, getting up after finishing the last one—. I'll tell Elion to bring you more next time.
—Thank you, they were delicious… and thank you for listening to me —added Althea, bowing slightly with Max still in her arms.
—You're welcome… take care of the little one — said the old woman, stroking the puppy's head once more.
—And take care of yourselves too, young ones —said the old man with a tired smile, before settling back into his chair.
The two children waved goodbye and walked silently for a few meters until they found a small shady clearing where a couple of large rocks formed a kind of natural bench. Hael sat down first, letting the silence envelop them.
Althea sat down next to him, saying nothing at first. Max curled up in her lap and closed his eyes again. Above, the sky was clear, deep blue, with white clouds drifting slowly by.
— It's beautiful —Hael said suddenly, staring up at the sky.
—Yes… I haven't felt this calm in a long time —Althea replied, stroking Ma.
—Hey… what you said earlier —Hael began, without looking at her —. About your parents… I didn't know. I'm sorry.
She lowered her gaze.
— It's okay. I don't like to talk about it much. But... thank you.
There was a brief silence between them. Hael picked up a small stone from the ground and gently threw it toward a nearby bush.
—You know, when you said Max was like family to you... I understood. Sometimes, those little things are all we have left. A little dog. A brother. A memory.
—Did you lose someone too? —Althea asked quietly.
Hael shrugged.
—I don't know if "lose" is the right word. But yes… I've felt what it's like to be alone.
Althea looked at him for a moment. For the first time, his words didn't sound annoying or defensive. They were just sincere.
—Maybe that's why you're so grumpy —she said, half-jokingly.
Hael glanced at her and chuckled softly.
—Maybe. But don't tell anyone.
—Okay. It'll be our secret.
They both fell silent after that, staring up at the sky.
—Hey, Althea…
—Yes?
—When Max is better… would you let me take him out for a walk with you?
She looked at him, surprised by the question... and by the shyness with which he asked it.
—Sure… but only if you're not so grumpy that day.
Hael snorted and crossed his arms, but with a barely visible smile.
—I can't promise anything.
And so they remained for a while longer, without needing to say much.
Just as the wind was blowing gently through the trees and Hael and Althea were sharing a moment of calm, the sound of uneven footsteps broke the silence. A young man was approaching from the dirt road, staggering, his face pale and covered in sweat. His breathing was heavy, and he seemed to be struggling to stay on his feete.
—Aslan? —Hael murmured, somewhere between surprised and alarmed. He jumped up and ran toward him.—. Aslan! What's wrong?
Aslan tried to smile, but his expression twisted in pain.
—Hael… I feel a little ill… I think I have a fever. Since yesterday afternoon, I started to feel strange, and today my condition has worsened…
—Why didn't you tell me? —said Hael, his voice anxious, as he held him up so he wouldn't fall.
The elders, seeing the scene, immediately stood up.
—Bring him here, quickly! —ordered the elder Javier in a firm voice, already removing the cushions from his chair to make room.
—Come, lean on me —said Hael, struggling to carry his friend's weight.
Then Althea, still holding Max in her arms, saw Aslan's condition and hurriedly placed the puppy carefully in the shade before running toward the two boys. Without saying a word, she took Aslan's other arm and put it over her shoulder.
—Let me help you —she said firmly.
Aslan looked at her with some surprise, but gratefully, barely nodding. Together, Hael and Althea helped him to the porch of the house, where the elders had already prepared a seat and a blanket.
—He's burning up — said the old woman as she touched his forehead with her hand—. We need to bring his fever down quickly.
—I'll go get some water and a cloth —added the old man, quickly entering the house.
—Does anything else hurt? —asked Hael, concern evident on his face.
—I just… feel weak. Nothing serious, I think—murmured Aslan, closing his eyes.
—Don't fall asleep yet, okay? —Althea said softly—. Stay awake a little longer.
Hael looked at Althea for a moment, grateful, without saying it out loud.
— Thank you —he whispered finally.
She just nodded, without taking her attention away from Aslan.
A moment before everything fell apart, they had had peace. Now, another concern filled the air.
The elders carried Aslan inside their house, laying him down on an old but comfortable sofa and covering him with a light blanket. Mrs. Julia placed a damp cloth on his forehead while Javier prepared a hot infusion of medicinal herbs.
Hael sat on the edge of the sofa, looking at his friend with a frown. Aslan's eyes were half-closed, his face flushed with fever, and cold sweat beaded on his skin.
—And Elion? —Hael asked quietly, as if he didn't want to disturb the silence —. Is he okay?
Aslan nodded slowly.
—Yes... he's fine. It's just that... when I started feeling ill, I decided to come back... I didn't want to worry him or get in the way out there."
Hael sighed heavily, relieved.
—Thank goodness...
He collapsed into the nearest chair, putting a hand to his chest. He had been holding his breath since he saw him staggering down the path.
Althea stood to one side, watching silently. Max was in her lap, also watching attentively. The scene moved her. The way Hael cared for his friend was unlike anything she had seen in him that morning.
But despite the care and the damp cloths, the fever did not subside. Aslan's cheeks were still flushed, and his breathing was labored.
—This isn't a normal fever … —Mrs. Julia murmured, changing the cloth for a cooler one —. His body isn't responding.
Hael stood up immediately.
—What do you mean?
—It could be an infection —Javier said from the kitchen —. Or something he ate... or even something he breathed. There are a lot of things out there. Many more than we understand
The silence grew heavier for a moment. Althea clenched her fists. She didn't like the feeling of helplessness.
—Is there anything else we can do? —she asked, looking at the elders.
—For now, just keep him hydrated, cool, and watch for other symptoms— Julia replied calmly—. But if he doesn't improve, we'll have to seek more specialized help. Maybe Stella can help us.
Hael clenched his jaw. It wasn't easy to accept that there was nothing else he could do. But he forced himself to nod.
—You're right, Stella can help… but let's wait a few minutes, maybe his fever will go down. Until then, I'll stay here. I won't leave him alone.
Althea looked down… and then smiled slightly.
— I'll stay too.
Julia nodded with a sigh, as if accepting that it would be useless to try to get them out of there.
—All right... but Javier and I will go to the store to look for some medicine. There's not much, but maybe we'll find something that helps.
—Isn't it dangerous? —Althea asked.
—Don't worry, it's within the neighborhood….so it's not —Javier replied—. We'll be back as soon as possible.
Outside, the clouds were beginning to gather. The elders put on their coats and left, leaving them alone with Aslan.
The two looked at each other for a moment, saying nothing. Just the presence of the other was enough to know that they were in this together.
A few minutes passed, Hael still staring intently at Aslan. Sweat covered his forehead, his breathing was heavy, and although he tried to keep a smile on his face, it was clear that he was struggling not to lose control of his body.
Then Hael noticed something.
Aslan was still wearing his leather gloves. That seemed strange to him: with such a high fever, they must be soaked inside. He leaned over slowly and carefully removed one of the gloves.
There he saw it.
Aslan's little finger had a small wound… no, it was a bite mark. It wasn't fresh, but it wasn't completely healed either. The reddish color and slight swelling around it left no doubt.
Hael's heart stopped for a second. His brother's words echoed in his head.
"If you see someone who's been bitten… don't go near them. They could be infected."
He suppressed the trembling in his hands and covered Aslan with the blanket again.
—Aslan… I'm going to Althea to look for Stella. Max has been out for a long time and needs to rest, and it's better for you to be treated by a professional —he said in a calm voice, feigning normality.
Aslan opened his eyes heavily.
—Oh, are you talking about the puppy? He's hurt, isn't he? Of course… you have to take care of him. The little one needs to rest if he wants to get better… like me. And… thank you for helping me —he said, with a faint, almost childlike smile.
Hael felt a lump in his throat. His teeth clenched, and it took him longer than he expected to respond.
—No… you're welcome —he said at last, swallowing hard.
He didn't want Aslan to notice the tremor in his hands, so he looked away and turned to Althea.
—Come on. It's time.
He took her hand without giving her a chance to reply and almost dragged her out. His steps were quick, too quick. Althea, with Max curled up against her chest, tried not to squeeze the puppy too tightly as she stumbled a couple of times to keep up with him, feeling the little one tremble from the sudden movement.
—Hael! What's going on? Max doesn't need to go back to Stella anymore, she said so herself —she protested.
—I know —Hael replied, his face tense—. But don't ask questions. Just follow me.
When they arrived at Stella's house, Hael knocked insistently on the door.
—Who's knocking like that? — Stella's annoyed voice came from inside.
When she opened the door and saw them there, her expression changed.
—Althea, Hael... what's going on now?
Hael didn't answer. He pushed them both inside, slamming the door behind him.
—Hael! Why are you pushing us like that? — Stella complained.
—Miss Stella … —Althea interjected, confused —. She's been like this for a few minutes now.
Hael took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke:
—Miss Stella… it looks like we have a problem.
Stella's gaze sharpened.
—What color?
Hael swallowed hard.
—Red.
A deathly silence fell over the room.
Stella ran her hand over her face, scratching her head in desperation.
—Damn it… we're screwed.