Jack's chest hurt as he stared at the ceiling. He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the buzzing and beeping and people talking around him and doors opening and closing and shuffling feet as they passed him. It was 5 AM. He hadn't slept.
"Jack McKinley?"
He opened his eyes. A nurse was standing by his bed.
"We called your parents and let them know what happened and that you're safe. You'll need to stay here longer so we're moving you to a bed upstairs."
"Right now?" Jack asked hoarsely.
"In a few hours." She replied. "Someone will come to do your blood work before then, and we'll need a urine sample. You can leave it at the desk when you're done. Is there anything else you need?"
"Can I have my phone back?" He asked. He was starting to feel restless without it and it was almost agonizing having nothing to do while laying in emergency for hours.
"Sorry, that's being kept with your other belongings. I can't give it to you. Breakfast should be coming soon."
Jack leaned back onto his pillow as she left and felt the emptiness in his stomach like an aching feeling that would never leave. He tried to fall asleep but his thoughts were racing fast. He wanted to scream, just make someone listen to him. He pinched his arm and closed his eyes again. His gown was uncomfortable and the socks they gave him kept catching on the blanket. He found himself wishing again that his brain had an off switch.
Fifteen minutes passed and someone else was standing at Jack's bed with a box. He had an unnerving grin on his face that made Jack's stomach drop.
"Blood work! I need your right arm please." The man said to him.
Tentatively Jack held out his arm, and the man swabbed the inside of his elbow quickly.
"Is this going to hurt?" Jack asked, dreading the answer.
"It will take less than a minute." The man said, taking out a needle.
"Less than a minute? So more than just a second?" Jack asked. He could feel himself start to shake.
"Hold still." He instructed.
The needle went in and Jack saw his own dark red blood being drawn out into a tube. He felt lightheaded and suddenly nauseous. His vision went black and then nothing.