Charlie remained silent as possible, hiding himself into her. As the taller boy's entered the cave, they began to seek him out. Unable to find the tiny teen, they set about, tearing the books apart, grabbing the toys and ripping them open. The only item they didn't touch was the mermaid doll, wrapped tightly in Charlie's thin arms. Laughing rudely, the men left the cave and thus left Charlie and Kassy.

Charlie wept quietly into the mermaid's side, afraid and entering possible hypothermia, shivering so violently it was like the boy was starting to fit in her arms...

And if he wasn't given his medicine, he would.