The Stars: Part 1

"Lilah, please. I'm asking you as a brother. Help me."

"Sam...I..."
"Delilah. Please."

"Fine, but don't call me Lilah, got it?"

Sam nodded. "Just help me pick her up. Grab her leg. It looks bad..."

Together the siblings picked up the sprawling form of the girl on the ground. Her leg was at an odd angle, and blood covered her face and was splotched on her light blue dress. Her black hair was a mess; it looked as if it had been in a loose ponytail but had been pulled out roughly. Her head lolled to one side, her breaths coming in shallow gasps, rattling in her chest. Sam leaned down and picked her up carefully, with Lilah holding her broken leg. They carried her carefully to the small cottage, which seemed like along distance to carry the girl, even though she was small. Sam could tell by carrying her that she was strong; her muscles were hard even though she was unconscious.

Lilah and Sam walked into the cottage slowly, checking for their parents first. When they walked in, Sam headed for the long dining table in the middle of the kitchen, but Lilah protested.

"Sam! What will mum and Da say? We can't put her there."

"De...just think about what we just did. This girl needs help. Mum and Da will see that. They won't want to come home and find her on the floor! Besides, we need to set her leg, and the table is the best place to do that. Come on."
Reluctantly, Lilah followed Sam to the table and helped him set the girl down as carefully as possible. The girl's head rolled a little bit when she hit the table. She remained unconscious. Sam stared at her intently.

"I wonder who she is."

"Or why she's covered in blood. Sam, what if she's an outlaw? What if she...ran away from prison? What if she was running from the law?"

"If she was running, it looks like someone caught up with her. If it was the law, they would have taken her back with them. Whoever did this to her obviously wanted her dead, or they wouldn't have left her in the middle of nowhere."

Lilah shut her mouth, swallowing her own theories. Sam made sense sometimes.

"Lilah..."

"I told you not to call me that."

"So sorry. Delilah. Could you...would you give her a bath?"

Lilah stared at Sam. "Are you serious? Sam, I don't know who she is. I don't owe her anything. I don't want to touch her. I only agreed to this because she doesn't deserve to die out in the middle of nowhere. Doesn't mean I want anything to do with her. Alright?"

"Please."

"You already tried that."

"You...are impossible. I don't want to give her a bath. I can't."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Lilah!"

"Fine. But I'm not doing anything unless you agree to take full responsibility when Mum and Da get back with the supplies."
"Agreed."