Chapter 20

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We rode off toward the stores and stopped at one of the bookshops.

Getting off my bike, I strode inside to a disgusting stench. Looking around, I saw that there were a few dead bodies here and there.

"Gross.." I whispered covering my nose as the door opened again and Marcus came in behind me.

"It smells so unsanitary... Let's hurry up and then get out of here." Marcus said covering his nose and mouth with his sleeve and walking behind the cashier's table to see the books.

I strode over to the back and looked at the titles of all the books that were stacked up to the ceiling.

Taking a ladder from the side, I put it up against the books and climbed up.

I took out some books and threw them down with a thunk.

Marcus came in with some bags a couple of minutes later.

"Wow, you're really taking this seriously with so many books." he said as he handed me the bags.

"Yeah, I mean, I did cut out a couple of subjects and stuff like that. So we should have a good knowledge spectrum of the other things we'll be learning." I said as I sat down and started bagging all of the books up.

"Hmm, I guess that works as well." he said and bent down to help me.

We finished packing all of the books and took them outside.

"We're taking these back to the neighborhood, or the college building?" Marcus asked as he set a few onto his bike.

"It's best we take them back to the college building. We still have to sort through all of them." I said and set a few bags on my bike.

We rode back to the building and then took the bags inside.

I looked around at the empty staff room as I put the bags down on the table.

"Look's like we got back first." I said as I sat down in a chair and picked up a bottle of water from the table Melanie had probably left.

"Should we go and make another round?" Marcus asked sitting down on the chair next to me.

"Sure, in a minute." I said and took a sip of water with a small sigh.

" 'K." he said and leaned backward in his seat.

We sat for a small while then he stood up and stepped out. I got up a minute later and walked out behind him.

We rode back to the bookshop and walked back in. Just as I stepped inside the stench reached my nose again.

I covered my nose and looked around. I strode over to one of the shelves and took out a few books.

They were picture books with cute animals and other stuff. This would be perfect for the babies later on.

I went over to the cashier's table to get a few bags. I looked around the drawers and saw that there was no bag left. Did we use them all before?

As I opened up a cupboard behind the desk, Marcus walked over with an inquiring look.

"I need a bag." I said and took in a breath which I instantly regretted.

"Here." he said and handed me one from his pocket.

"Thanks." I said and walked back over to the shelf and stuffed some of the books into the bag.

We rode back to the building a bit while later. I stepped inside the staffroom and put the bags on the table.

Melanie was sitting at the back with her head down.

I just walked up to her and sat down next to her. She looked up at me as I sat down.

"Hey, you feeling good?" I asked as I put a hand on her forehead. She looked exhausted from just one round.

"I'm fi-" she started speaking when I cut across her and stood up.

"You look sick.. Wait here, I'll go get Marcus." I said and ran out of the room.

I strode out of the building onto the lawn. Striding across the others who were just arriving, I walked up to Marcus who was sitting under a tree.

"Hey, Marcus?" I called as I stood next to him.

"Yeah?" he said and looked up at me.

"Can you come check on Melanie? She doesn't look so good.." I said.

He stood up with a small sigh and followed behind me back to the staff room.

He had Melanie sit down in a chair and then examined her.

"You have a slight fever. Take some rest for a bit." He said as he stood up. "I'll head back to the neighborhood and get some medicine for you. Stay here."

Marcus walked out of the room and Henry came in after him. He set the books he had brought down on the table and looked over at us.

"Hmm? What happened?" he asked as he pulled up a chair and sat down next to us.

"Melanie just has a slight fever." I said as I handed her a bottle of water.

"Oh, I see." Henry said.

Melanie sat silently and took the bottle from me. I handed another bottle to Henry and then took another for myself.

"Just take some medicines and some rest. You'll get better in no time, so you must use this chance to take a good rest." Henry said with a smile as he put the bottle down on the table and leaned back in his seat.

Melanie just sat in her seat silently and stared at the wall. Marcus came back a while later with the medicine and gave it to me.

When Melanie saw that I had the medicine ready she jumped up from her seat.

"Please, no! I'll get better without taking them. I'll take a good rest!" she yelled as she stood up and backed away from me.

"I know you have a problem with swallowing them, but you have to take them. Now get back here!" I yelled as I stood up and ran after her.

"Nooooo!"