Chapter 940: Painkillers

Early on, Archie mentioned something was wrong with their water. Roxanne detected a faint, unusual smell—indicative of a specific bacteria usually found only in laboratories. Its presence in the wilderness suggested deliberate contamination.

First, Roxanne scanned the field; no one else was around. She initially dismissed the smell as a coincidence, but the children's distress soon proved her wrong. The thought of the bacteria's effects sent a pang through her heart.

"Mommy, it hurts so much..." Benny whimpered, his small hand clutching hers before falling limp from weakness. Roxanne's heart ached as she stroked his hand, whispering, "Don't worry. Everything will be fine. I will cure you soon."

She'd seen adults suffer from this bacteria during clinical trials—the excruciating pain, the tossing and turning, even unconsciousness. The thought of her children enduring such agony was almost unbearable.

Noticing her panic, Archie took her other hand. "Mommy, should we feed Benny and Essie some medicine?" His maturity belied his age; though he felt stomach discomfort himself, he prioritized his mother's composure.

His words steadied Roxanne. She knew there was no modern cure, only traditional remedies, though modern medicine could alleviate the pain temporarily. Strong painkillers, however, were rarely found in standard kits—their use usually necessitating a hospital visit.

Her search of the medical kit proved fruitless. Benny and Estella writhed in pain; Estella cried silently, her concern for others evident despite her suffering. Roxanne's heart ached at the girl's quiet endurance.

"Archie, can you handle the herbs for me, please?"

He readily agreed. Having spent much of his childhood at the research institute with his mother, he was adept at preparing medicinal herbs. He carefully cleaned and prepared them while Roxanne gathered additional ingredients from the kit.