Chapter 4
As we were walking back to the car, Jess wanted to look around at the other stores before we go. So we diverted our course and headed towards the other places.
I jokingly let out an unneededly loud sigh as Jess started to drag me into a clothes shop. She shook her head, rolling her eyes as I was forced through the doors.
It felt like hours as she picked out clothes. Trying each of them on, showing them off for me to decide which looked better on her. Repeating this same process over and over again.
I guess I had dozed off because the next thing I knew I was woken up by Jess. She shook her head smiling at me. I sat up to stretch. "How long was I out for?" I asked with a yawn. "Only about ten minutes." She responded.
Luckily we walked out of the store with only three new items. A new jacket and shoes for Jess and just a black leather-ish jacket for me.
We continued to walk around for a bit. We decided to eat at a nearby diner before we headed home.
Mark's POV
I took a deep breath as I gazed up at the intimidating building. I shivered, not realizing it until a chill went up my spine. I took another breath before letting it go slowly, trying to calm my nerves. I stepped closer to the building, reaching for the door.
It smelled like medicine the moment I opened the door. I walked in expecting it to be a little busy, but to my surprise it was relatively quiet. A few beeps and rings here and there, quiet whispers echoing faintly throughout the halls... and the sad distant cries of sorrow and lament in the desolated hallways.
I slowly made my way to the receptionists' desk, feeling my mouth go dry when I was a foot away. Sitting in a chair was a woman calmly reading a book. She wasn't wearing the normal blue outfit, instead it looked like a professional made this shirt.
It had colors scattered out randomly. The thing that caught my eye though was the middle of the shirt. There was a mixed rainbow of a man that had a giant outline of a red heart on his chest and distinct black hair. He was kneeling down beside another multi-colored person, a child. His hand was stretched out, reaching towards the child's face as if he was wiping away their tears. I noticed a slightly thin dark pink strip outlining the man. I then noticed that the child had red lines going all up the arms.
I took a shaky breath before I cleared my throat. She looked up with a kind smile. "I'm guessing you're Mark?" She kindly asked. I nodded, not sure if I could trust my voice. She stood up walking around the desk. Her pants was just like the shirt. The only difference from the shirt was that there wasn't a hidden picture but there was pink mustaches spread throughout the design. She followed my gaze and looked at herself.
"A very close friend of mine made me this." She said smiling slightly. I nod, clearing my throat again. "The man and child in the middle, it has a deeper meaning doesn't it?" I asked curiously. She nodded, "She's always going on about how this one guy on YouTube had saved her life. She's here if you'd like to meet her. She's almost 14." I smiled softly. "Did she tell you the name of the YouTuber?" I asked. "Yeah it was something like Mark-iplier. Have you heard of him?" She asked smiling. "Yeah actually, I know all about him most likely since I am him." I smiled when I saw her eyes light up and a giant grin spread out across her face. "No way, now you gotta go see her." She said. "I would be happy too... But first I want to see Aaron..." I said ending in a slight whisper. "Oh, of course. I can't promise you that she won't find you." She said trying to cheer me up. I smiled halfheartedly in response.
"So... What ruhm?" I asked trying to hide how shaky I was. "I'll show ya. Follow me." She said walking away.
As we walked down the halls, I tried not to look into the rooms fearful of what I might see inside. I look up seeing a sign, an arrow pointing towards the way we're heading... that this hall will take you to the ICU. I started to feel shaky again as I continued to follow. She stopped beside a door, waiting for me. She took a breath when I caught up to her. "Mark, don't freak out when you see him, ok? He might look bad, but he is definitely still alive. I promise." She said slowly. I breathed in a quivering breath as I nodded my head. She nodded her head reaching for the door.
