Sky on Fire Read Free Page B

floor.
    Sahalia was screaming his name and pulling at his body, trying to lug him back onto the seat, I guess.
    Josie came back up the aisle.
    â€œHow long has he been unconscious?” Josie asked Sahalia.
    Sahalia said something back but I couldn’t hear what it was.
    â€œBrayden, Brayden! You’ve got to stick with us!” Josie yelled. “We’re trying to get you—”
    â€œHe knows all that. I’ve been telling him that but then he fell asleep and you have to help him!” Sahalia was freaking out.
    â€œSahalia, listen to me—” Josie pleaded.
    â€œWe have to pull off and get help!” Sahalia was screeching.
    â€œStop screaming!” Josie shouted. She was getting mad.
    Suddenly Josie pulled off her mask. Then the ski mask she’d had over it.
    â€œI can’t understand you, Sahalia,” Josie said. “Calm down and speak more slowly.”
    She was holding on to Sahalia’s arms. Kindly, but firmly. That’s how Josie is.
    Then Sahalia took off her masks and fleece mask.
    The little boys started to yell. I think they were saying something like, “No fair.” They wanted to take their masks off, too.
    I knew Sahalia was type B, like me. Type Bs suffered the least serious of the four effects—loss of sexual function.
    And Josie was type AB—so unless she got her mask on soon, she would start hallucinating and accusing us all of trying to kill her or something.
    â€œHe’s dying. He’s dying and you two are going too slow!” Sahalia shouted.
    Her eyes were red from crying and she looked thin-faced.
    She was acting mad, but I have noticed that Sahalia usually acts mad, even if she’s feeling something else. Like being scared or even happy.
    Niko yelled something muffled from the driver’s seat. Most likely something like, “What’s happening back there?”
    He didn’t stop driving. That was the right decision, given the circumstances. Brayden might be shot and he might be dying, but if we didn’t keep moving and get him to Denver, Brayden would die for sure, along with the rest of us.
    â€œBrayden!” Josie said. She snuffled a little. “Can you hear me?”
    I was watching and I saw it happen.
    Josie shook her head. She looked like she had a mosquito buzzing around her. She shook her head and stumbled backward onto her heels.
    Josie put her hands up to her head and started laughing. Laughing mean.
    â€œEw,” Sahalia sniped. “What’s wrong with you?”
    Then Josie lunged at Sahalia. The two of them fell into the aisle and Sahalia started screaming.
    Niko stopped the bus. “What’s going on back there?” he yelled. Niko came hurrying back and grabbed Josie, trying to get her off Sahalia.
    Josie wasn’t AB. She was O!
    Why had I thought … why had I been certain she was AB?
    She was type O and she was trying to kill Sahalia.
    â€œGet rope!” Niko yelled, but I couldn’t remember where the rope was.
    The boxes were not in good order. Food was in with medical supplies and batteries were in with the tarps and I couldn’t find the rope.
    And all the while I was looking, the little boys were screaming and clutching one another and sobbing, and Niko was trying to drag Josie off Sahalia and I still couldn’t find the rope.
    Then I found it. (Under the seat in front of the little boys.)
    I ripped the package open and I got the end free and by this time Josie had raked him across his face and his mask was pushed aside.
    â€œYour mask!” I shouted.
    Niko had Josie facedown in the aisle. Her face was pressed onto the floor mat and she was snarling and bucking.
    He reached up and pushed the mask back over his face.
    Josie elbowed him in the side of the head and tried to throw him off her.
    I didn’t know what to do with the rope so I just handed it to Niko.
    â€œTIE. HER. FEET!” he shouted.
    Josie kicked me in the head but I got