The Heat

‘’I think it’s this way.’’ Jerome stated after what felt like ages of walking. Since we couldn’t just walk through the quarters anymore, we decided to go around the outside. The whole Core is basically just a huge mass of cave and rock, so it was pretty easy to blend into the grey colour. Not that anything had any colour around here anyway…

‘’Do you even know where we’re going?’’ Aurora asked as they inched their way along the wall. Sweat dripping down his face, Jerome just scoffed without looking back at her.

‘’Yes, of course I do. And by the way, princess…’’ He drawled, smirking slightly, ‘’I still don’t know your real name.’’ Aurora paused. She wasn’t really thinking about that.

‘’Oh. Right. It’s Aurora.’’ She said after a few second of hesitation. Jerome smiled and nodded, still not stopping his long strides.

‘’That’s a beautiful name.’’

‘’Thank you…’’

There were a few moments of comfortable silence, Jerome focused on where they were going rather than engage in conversation. Aurora didn’t mind though- she was used to the silence. Sure, she had a whole bunch of sisters, but it’s not like all of their conversations were happy and bubbly. It was manly just enjoying each other’s company…while they could. It’s just something they had all gotten used to by now. Suddenly, Aurora opened her mouth and looked towards Jerome, the breath slightly caught in her throat. ‘’So, uh…how do you know about where the suits are kept? Have you…needed a new one before?’’

Jerome stopped dead in his tracks. He looked like he was expecting the question, but Aurora couldn’t really see his face. She was still facing his back.

‘’Yeah.’’ Jerome said after a very heavy pause. Still not turning around, he looked down at the floor and brushed his sweaty fringe out of the way, ‘’I needed one for…Hazel.’’ Aurora paled as her mouth hung open, only now registering that she shouldn’t have asked at all.

‘’Oh. Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know. Otherwise, I would have asked- ‘’ She stuttered, her clothes getting coated in sweat. The heat was getting sweltering.

‘’No, it’s okay.’’ Jerome said, finally turning around. Aurora didn’t know what to say, so she just stared. ‘’I know you didn’t mean it like that. It’s a long story anyway.’’ He turned back around and continued his trek along the dirty wall.

‘’Okay…’’

‘’Look, it’s still a little while away…I’m scared we’re not going to make it.’’ Jerome admitted gruesomely, panting as the heat started to overtake him.

‘’Well, we will just have to, okay? Because I have seven sisters and I swore that I would protect them at all costs. We have to make it, Jerome.’’ Aurora snapped. She didn’t mean it at him; she meant it towards that goddamn devil that called himself the Serpent. Nodding, Jerome turned back to her and gave her a sympathetic look. Maybe he’s not as bad as I thought, Aurora smiled at herself.

~~~

One hour? Two hours? A millennium? Aurora had no clue how long they had been walking for. What she did know was that she was about to pass out from the goddamn heat, and it didn’t help that they didn’t have any water. She just had to constantly remind herself that they were nearly there. That they were so close to relief. She knew very well that she was doing this for her sisters, but she couldn’t help thinking that she was doing it for someone else as well. Jerome; he’s going through a lot with Hazel, any idiot could see that. Even if it wasn’t clear what they once were, Aurora couldn’t help but feel sorry. She’s never felt this sort of connection with a victim of the Massacre before. She normally just felt relieved that it wasn’t her, no matter now selfish that sounded. Everyone felt that way.

‘’Okay…j-just a little further.’’ Jerome stuttered, pulling himself up the rocky surface of the hill. The rock was burning, but they couldn’t do much about it if their suits were destroyed. They weren’t naked, but the clothing was pretty useless at this point.

‘’Is it…up this hill?’’ Aurora panted as she followed the boy in front of her. Right now, she didn’t want anything more that a glass of water. She hoped she would get her wish soon.

‘’Yes. Y-yeah, it’s just up here.’’ Jerome whispered. His voice was absolutely destroyed from the lack of water.

‘’Okay, n-nearly there then.’’ Aurora whimpered, trying to reassure herself. Well, maybe she was reassuring Jerome, she didn’t know. After what seemed like an eternity, Jerome finally got to the top with a shuddering breath, flopping down onto the floor. ‘’C’mon Jerome, don’t give up now…’’

‘’It’s s-so hot…’’ Jerome panted, not making an effort to get up.

‘’I’ll g-get us th-the suits, okay? J-just st-stay put.’’ Aurora offered. Shaking his head, Jerome coughed and wiped away the sweat drenching his forehead and neck. He tried getting up unsteadily. Aurora instantly pushed him back, ignoring the burning in her own body.

‘’Stay. P-put. I can get the suits and some water, okay?’’

‘’A-are you sure?’’ Jerome asked uncertainly.

‘’Yeah, I’m sure.’’ Aurora said, ‘’I’ll b-be back soon.’’ And with that, she took off, already seeing the heatproof bars of the suit shack. She had never seen it in real life, but she had heard some older kids talking about it back in the Children’s quatre. She wasn’t eavesdropping or anything, it’s just a bit hard to keep conversations private in such an open area. Screw the Serpent and his clever tricks.