Hold Back The River

The flood had been terrifying but Andy had managed to survive and she spent the next few days helping the pack recover. The cough never left her and, as the days progressed, she felt her energy begin to wane. Pain settled into her chest and her coughs began to sound wet while her breathing slowly grew more shallow and rapid. She did her best to hide her sickness, to even out her breathing and avoid coughing around others but, when the fever settled in, there was no more hiding it.

Andy is bedridden, the fever dulling her senses as the dirty water has caused pneumonia to take over her lungs. Every time she exhales, her breathes are wheezy and, with every cough, she brings up large amounts of greenish mucus. Pain is the only thing she really is aware of; from the pressure in her chest to the ache in her joints from the fever, the girl is absolutely miserable. Glassy eyes blink open, searching the room for the large form of her father, knowing he will be there. Rough voice softly calls out, “Daddy?” and she struggles to heave her body up off the bed in search for water.

The fever makes her thirsty and her body demands the cool liquid to calm the fire in her throat. A cough begins deep in her lungs, building as it moves into her bronchial tubes before passing into her throat. Her body shakes violently from the force of the movements and she desperately attempts to suck in air between each ragged exhalation. While she may have survived the water, the girl finds herself drowning on dry land as her lungs have filled with liquid. Fear takes hold as the cough continues on and she finds it difficult to draw in the air she needs.


"Andromeda Fatalis"