Snow Lodge
Chapter 16
After what felt like forever, they were finally within sight of the cabin. AJ was relieved. Every breath, every step he took made the pain worse, until he thought he was going to pass out. His breathing was ragged and harsh, each inhalation making him feel like his chest was being crushed. What scared him the most though, was that everything was blurry, he couldn't focus on anything, and it seemed to be getting worse.
At first he had put it down to the snow, clouding his vision and distorting his view, but he had quickly realised that it was more serious than that, and he was scared.
Brian didn't know it, but he had not only been holding AJ up, to keep him from falling; he had been acting as a guide as well, leading AJ across the snow covered landscape to safety. And if AJ had his way, he wouldn't be telling Brian anytime soon either. Although neither of them had spoken a word for quite a while, AJ knew just how scared Brian was. He could feel it rolling off of Brian like waves, his distress and fear almost tangible to him.
The pair continued their slow pace until they finally reached the porch. By this time, both men were fit to drop, their bodies and minds completely exhausted. Brian helped AJ up the steps, before reaching out and opening the door, relief washing through him. They had made it.
He pushed the door open, and half dragged AJ inside. He released one hand from AJ's waist and turned around to shut the door behind them. As AJ lost the support of Brian's body, he felt his legs begin to buckle, unable to support his own weight. He blindly reached a hand out for Brian as he began to fall.
"Ugghh." Was the only sound that escaped as he felt his body begin to tip forward.
Brian heard the noise and turned around, yelping in surprise as he saw AJ start to fall. He instinctively reached out to grab him, wincing in sympathy as AJ let out a pained cry from his grip.
"AJ!?" Brian spoke, panicked, as in the relative silence of the cabin, he could now hear AJ's wheezing breath.
AJ couldn't answer him; too caught up in the pain he was feeling, and concentrating too hard on trying to get enough oxygen into his lungs.
Brian looked around the sitting room wildly, trying to find something that would help. His eyes fell on the doorway to the bedroom, and he quickly decided that he needed to get AJ to lay down. Slowly, supporting AJ as he went, Brian led AJ over to the bedroom, all the while fighting his rising panic at AJ's deteriorating condition.
