After caring for the patients, we went to the doctor's tent to report.

  "The male patients didn't let me clean them, but they did drink the medicine," I said.

  The doctor nodded while still reading his medical book. "More than I expected. I thought they wouldn't even drink the medicine."

  "It took some convincing," I said and looked at Ly Giai. "And encouragement."

  We smiled at each other, but the doctor didn't notice it.

  "Is there anything else for us to do?" Ly Giai asked next.

  He shook his head. "You've done enough for today. Return and rest well. Don't let yourself get sick. We will continue moving to the capital tomorrow morning."

  I noticed that he looked kind of grumpy, so I asked, "Any progress on Si's symptoms?"

  "No," he sighed and frowned. "I'm still looking."

  After some more exchanges, Ly Giai and I left to let him focus. We went back to the old leader and he had prepared two extra tents for us when we returned.

  "A man and a woman shouldn't be in the same tent at night unless they are married. I don't need to tell you two this right?" he didn't even let us respond.

  "Well... good night Ly Giai," I said.

  "You too, Do," she said back.

  I went to my tent. The inside was simple, with only leaves tied together for bed and blanket. For the past weeks, Ly Giai, Si and I only had each other to keep warm during the cruel nights' chill. To have this in this kind of bed is a luxury. I couldn't ask for more.

  I lay down and immediately fell asleep.

  I dreamt. Since the attack, I hadn't dreamt so I thought it had stopped. It was strange. Since I began to remember things, a strange girl kept appearing in my dreams. These dreams were all over the place, in no particular order. I could never make sense of what they meant.

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  "Do! Come here with me!" she called.

  We were in what seemed like the middle of a night festival. The girl, wearing the light green dress that I've seen in previous dreams, took me through cart after cart of the festival, buying so much food and gifts.

  "** ***! Please stop! My hands couldn't carry any more stuff!" I cried to her. Still, I couldn't hear her name no matter how much I'd seen her.

  The girl realized that my hands were full, so she carried some of the stuff so that I had an easier time. "Ha ha sorry Do. I was too excited."

  I smiled at her happy face. "It's fine. As long as you are happy."

  Almost immediately, a cart caught her eyes and she flew to it, "Woah! Look at that! I want it!"

  "Hey!" I wanted to complain, but she was already far away. I just shook my head and tried to catch up.

  The dream suddenly changed to when we left the festival. The streets were dark and narrow. I looked around and she was not with me!

  "** ***! Where are you!?" I shouted while running everywhere, trying to find the girl. "** ***!" I kept calling and calling, but there was no reply.

  The dreaded and desperate feeling grew more and more as each step my feet took. I kept running through the streets, turning at each corner hoping to see her then. But every time, there was only darkness.

  The more time went by, I felt as if the streets had become narrower and narrower. A dark aura seeped to the surface, slowly covering everything. In a short time, even the air was completely suffocated by it.

  My steps slowed bit by bit as it was becoming harder to look ahead and breathe. But I still didn't give up trying to find her.

  My body slowly crumbled until I was lying on the ground, eventually being swallowed by the darkness.

  ...

  My eyes wide opened. It took a while for me to realize reality and calm down.

  I let out a huge sigh of relief while standing up and preparing for a new day. My back was full of sweat even though it was bone-chillingly cold at night. After changing to a new shirt, I stepped out of the tent. Next to me, Ly Giai also tiredly stepped out. She stretched with her messy hair.

  "Good morning, Ly Giai," I greeted.

  "Morning Do," she returned satisfyingly after the stretch. "Did you sleep well?"

  "Yeah," I lied. "I felt like I only lie down for a minute before waking up."

  "Me too," she smiled. She then looked around and said. "We have to start packing things up and continue moving."

  After some cold water to fully wake me up and some self-talk to put the dream at the back of my mind, I quickly had a small piece of bread and dried meat given by the old man.

  We then went to the doctor and helped him move Si and the other patients with self-made carts using the woods nearby.

  When everyone grouped up and was ready to move, the old leader stood in the front. "We are only three more days before reaching the capital! Keep yourself warm and hydrated! We will all overcome this harsh time!"

  "OH!" the crowd rallied.

  During the travel, I was responsible for Si's cart, letting Ly Giai, the doctor, and other patients' family members handle the other patients.

  As expected, the people from South City and villagers avoid walking near me. I would often feel unfriendly gazes on me too. I wasn't too bothered with it now.

  During the mid-day, something great happened. Si was conscious.