PROTECTING YOU
CHAPTER TWO
Ian scooted to a halt when he saw what was going on in the hall. Tala was lying on the floor unconscious and covered in blood, muck and dirt. Bryan was kneeling next to him, trying his hardest to wake the red-head. Ian ran over and dropped down next to Bryan. "What happened?" he asked.
"How the bloody hell do you expect me to know!" he yelled fearfully. Ian did his best to calm him down.
"Alright calm down! Look get Tala up to his room and I'll go get the first aid kit." The lilac haired Russian nodded and picked Tala up bridal-style before heading up the stairs.
Bryan carefully lay Tala down on the bed and started to unbutton his school shirt that was now entirely red from his blood. What he saw underneath made his blood run cold. Tala's torso was a mass of wounds. Some were small, deep gashes and others were long, repeated cuts that resembled claws. Ian appeared with the first aid box clutched in his arms. Once he saw the full extent of Tala's injuries he dropped it and gaped. Bryan snatched the box and started to tend to his friend's wounds, becoming more and more concerned as he discovered every new cut and graze. Ian could only stand by and watch. Not for the first time he wished Spencer was here and not in Murmansk looking after his little sister and attending his father's funeral.
Both boys froze when Tala started to stir feebly.
"Tala?" Bryan said gently. The red-head groaned and opened his eyes.
"Bryan. Ian. W…what happened?" he queried.
"We were hoping you could tell us." retorted Ian.
But Tala just shook his head and closed his eyes.
"No I can't say. I can't because… because" suddenly Tala started to cough up blood. Bryan pulled him into a sitting position and Ian got a bowl for him to be sick in.
"It's alright Tal." Bryan told him. "Get some sleep. You can tell us when you wake up."
The teen shook his head again. "No. I can't say. I can't."
"Well get some sleep anyway, yeah?" Ian told him. "You definitely look as though you need some."
Tala didn't reply and 2 seconds later he was fast asleep.
Bryan finished cleaning and bandaging Tala's chest then him and Ian sneaked quietly back down stairs to the living room.
"What do you think happened to him?" the shrimp asked Bryan. "It's like he's been in a fight but he was just standing there and taking it. Not trying to defend himself at all."
The lilac-haired Russian sighed wearily. "We'll know when Tala wakes up."
"Yeah but he said he couldn't tell us." Ian reminded him.
"Let's just wait until he wakes up and take it from there."
"Bryan I wish Spencer was here."
"Me too Shrimp. Me too."