The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 54: Morality

Part 1/2

“Whew, that was a close call,” Neddy said, wiping sweat off his face.

The five were resting on the small mountain they had spotted earlier upon entering the Redwoods. It was easy to see if anything was coming their way, and plus high ground was always an advantage in any battle.

Samuel eyed his injury with grimace. The sting mark was swollen and was starting to form a really nasty, pus-filled bump. Samuel really wanted to pop it, but he knew that would just make it infected.

“I should just patch it up,” Samuel thought. Samuel grabbed the sleeve of his graduation robe, then with one pull he tore it right off. He doused the article in clean water and wrapped it around his wound. The cool, wet water felt cool on his skin. He sighed in relief, as he tied a knot with it.

“Just like how Dad did,” Samuel murmured.

As Samuel looked off in the distance, he could spot a waterfall tucked away behind some sequoia trees. That looked like a good spot for a shelter. Perhaps there was someone there? Samuel decided that they should go there next.

“But not yet,” Samuel thought, rubbing his hands together, “I’m… tired? Yeah. I am.”

Samuel ruffled the back of his hair, and he could feel his father’s voice in his ear. His words still haunted his head every time he thought of his father.

And then that vivid day came back to him in an instant…

~

“Ow, ow, ow!” Samuel cried in pain. There was a giant gash on his heel, and it was oozing blood. Tears streaked down from his eyes, leaving his face hot and wet.

Tears…

Samuel was sitting on the hot concrete floor. The sun was out again. And Samuel’s bicycle lay crashed against a post, the wheel popped and the bar bent. Samuel could see a red haze in the bushes.

“Mom? MOM!” Samuel shouted in agony.

Footsteps slowly approached him, and Samuel blinked his eyes, seeing a blurry figure slowly approaching him. He wore a black t-shirt and had well-defined arms. He wore black sweatpants too, even in this weather.

“Samuel? Oh my, what a fall!”

“Dad, I fell, Dad!”

“I can tell.”

Dad got on one knee, and Samuel’s vision began to return. Dad’s eyes were vibrant, yet so monotone at the same time. He had a spark, yet there was no passion. Dad eyed Samuel’s injury with no worry.

“Does it hurt?”

“It hurts, Dad. Help me, please. It hurts.”

Dad looked into Samuel’s tear-filled eyes, then got up.

“Let’s go back inside. I’ll fix you right up.”

Samuel looked at Dad’s hand. Samuel held his hand out. Dad raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“Come on, Samuel. Get up. You can do it.”

Samuel put his injured foot out and attempted to propel himself up, but as he did, his foot went numb and he fell to the ground again. Samuel groaned, tears falling from his face.

“Dad, please.”

“Just one step at a time pal.”

Samuel looked at his bleeding heel again and groaned. He took his other foot, and with one giant push, he hurled himself up from the ground. His arms dangled by his side, and he lifted his arm up to wipe the tears away.