White Noise

"Something weird was happening to the TV so... I went over and smacked it. It didn't do anything to help," Souji explained, voice hoarse and raspy. He bit his lip and looked to the side. It'd been weeks since the event, and he was having troubles remembering what had happened. He remembered his flesh burning from strange creatures, that... copy of him with the haunting eyes, but... How he got to them in the first place, he couldn't remember.

"Take your time, Souji-kun, it's okay," Adachi hummed at his side, lightly patting his shoulder.

He closed his eyes and continued to chew on his lip, straining to recall the events. They blurred by in a haze—the only thing he could clearly remember was hitting the TV. He didn't remember hearing anybody walk in, didn't remember the start of the monsters and his double, he didn't remember a thing. He scratched his head in frustration, growling to himself as nothing came to mind.

"I can't remember anything past that..." he finally admitted, ashamed of himself and his faded memories. "I'm sorry..."

"Don't be sorry, Souji," his uncle sighed, patting his head. "It was a traumatizing experience, and you're doing great. Just don't push yourself trying to remember."

"Yeah..."

"Hey, Dojima-san, you think it'd be okay if we took him for a walk around the hospital? I bet Souji-kun's bored to death of this room, right?" Adachi smiled, hopping to his feet.

Dojima crossed his arms, brow stitched in concern. "I don't know... You were still pretty weak just getting to the bathroom," he mumbled, eyeing the teen warily. "It's up to you though. I'll get you a wheelchair if you want to take a stroll around."

"But that defeats the whole purpose of a 'stroll', Dojima-san!" Adachi whined. "I thought it'd be good for him to stretch his legs a bit, not just sit in a chair while we roll him around!"

"Like I just said, Adachi, he could barely stand to get to the bathroom. I had to pretty much carry him there. If he wa—"

"Thank you, Adachi-san," Souji chuckled, waving his hand as he interrupted his uncle. "I'd love to go for a walk myself, but I think I'll take the wheelchair for now."

The detectives lightly bickered as they left the room to find a wheelchair to borrow, Souji laughing as they did so. He smiled after them as the door closed, letting out a short sigh as he pushed his head back into his pillow, scrunching his face as he stretched awkwardly. It had been almost a month since the incident, but his strength was still fleeting, his injuries healing slower than the doctors had anticipated. Chie had visited again multiple times, one time even managing to bring Yukiko, and another time the kid who'd sat behind him in homeroom, Yosuke. Souji could see that Yosuke hadn't been to thrilled to be there, the brunette agitated and jumpy. He could tell Yosuke was trying to be nice, but it was obvious there was something else on his mind the entire visit. It didn't bother him too much, he was just glad to have visitors.

Nanako had started to warm up to him on her odd visits, sharing tales about her days at school and talking about the latest episodes of Featherman and Detective Loveline. She didn't hide behind her father anymore when she walked into the room, her little feet tapping quickly as she jumped into the chair, ready to show him drawings that she did in art that day. He was always glad when she visited.

He glanced to his phone at his bedside, flipping it open hesitantly as he grabbed it. No new messages. He'd received one text from his parents when he was allowed his phone. He never received a reply when he messaged them back. His fingers drummed on the keys, chewing his cheek as he questioned about sending them another message, asking them how they were and how work was going. He glanced up as Dojima and Adachi walked in, squabbling about something Souji didn't quite understand as his uncle wheeled the chair over. He tilted his head curiously at the conversation, brow furrowed and questioning grin on his face as he looked at his uncle, lightly pushing himself to throw his legs over the edge of the bed.

Dojima caught his eye and shook his head. "It's nothing—work stuff—don't worry about it. Here, gimme your hand."

Souji grasped his uncle's hand and slid off the bed, legs wobbling as his feet touched the cold, tiled floor. Dojima leaned over him, grabbing the IV drip stand and moved it alongside the teen, making sure it didn't get tangled as Souji sat in the wheelchair. His surroundings spun for a moment, and he found himself gripping onto the armrest rightly.

"You okay?" Adachi questioned.

"Yeah, yeah..." He breathed slowly, blinking until it felt his mind was focused again. "Just moved a little too fast... I'm okay."

He could feel Adachi glancing at Dojima behind him for a moment before Dojima uttered a 'let's go', and started to move the chair. Souji had no reason to leave his room much, so even just being in the hallway was a breath of fresh air. He waved to one of the nurses who had been catering him this entire time, the woman waving back before returning to her conversation with a doctor nearby. He could hear birds chirping idly outside. In his room, they were distant and barely audible. It was like music to hear them so clearly.

They greeted the doctors and nurses as they strolled past, Souji enjoying the sights of his surroundings as he listened lightly to Dojima's and Adachi's idle conversation. Giant windows covered the center wall, allowing the guests to look outside to a garden, flowers and trees well-kept. He peered over lightly, watching as he saw patients, visitors and nurses walking through the garden or sitting on benches. A smile widened on his face as he glanced over his shoulder to his uncle, who smiled back knowingly.

"You got it," he laughed.

"Got what? What's going on?" Adachi chimed in, clueless. "Don't tell me I missed something important!"

Souji snickered, "You just don't have the family-mind reading ability yet, Adachi-san. Give it at least seven years."

Adachi pouted as Dojima laughed even harder, which caused Souji to laugh even harder too. His throat tickled at the action, but he was grateful it wasn't burning and bleeding like weeks ago. After their laughter had quieted down, Souji continued to watch the garden below as Dojima lead them through the halls, muttering under his breath that he swear he saw the elevator this way. Souji didn't get to look out the windows for long as they rounded a corner, the cafeteria below now in his line of sight. He lifted himself slightly, trying to watch the array of people on the floor below, only to turn in confusion when Dojima suddenly stopped. He stared at his uncle, who was paying him no mind, glowering ahead. Adachi had stepped a few paces in front before turning on his heel, questioning the hold up.

Souji turned back in the chair, freezing at the sight before him. Talking to a receptionist at the end of the hall were two adults, covered head to toe in expensive clothing out of place in the small, rural town. He felt his mind empty, watching in a haze as the duo started to head in their direction, pausing after a couple of steps before resuming their calm strides. The woman adjusted her glasses, heels clicking with power as she traipsed towards them, the man following close behind, hands shoved deep into his coat pockets.

His parents were here.

What should have filled him with joy sent panic and fear shooting through his system. His breaths came out rapid as the world around him froze, the scenery melting before his eyes as a fog enveloped. No! No no no! This hadn't happened in almost a month! Not again—not again! The walls shook in heavy tremors, he could hear the glass windows behind him creaking and cracking, he could hear the smooth strides of his amber-eyed double.

It suddenly snapped back in hot flashes—after he'd smacked the TV he saw something—his hand went through the screen—he was grabbed and he screamed as he tried to escape—he fell in—they were chasing him—the things—those monsters—his lungs hurt—everything hurt—everything—

His stomach jumped to his throat as he heard the glass shatter behind them—heard the intense bubbling of the monsters as they neared. They drowned out the footsteps—they were gone—he was gone. He watched in horror, the monsters started to crawl up the stairs, the gurgling noise filling his ears, the walls distorting, the ground splitting. He screamed when a hand snaked around his wrist and he ripped it away, scrambling as he pushed himself out of the chair. He fell to the floor almost immediately, his legs wobbling and shaking under the sudden pressure, the IV tearing out of his skin. He found himself hurling at the sudden shock, finding it hard to remember how to breathe.

Sets of hands burned onto his back and shoulder and he found himself screaming again, thrashing around and throwing them off as his feet slid while he tried to gain traction. He managed to start a running crawl, somehow lifting himself completely as he sprinted away, panicked and pained tears blurring his vision as his legs rejected the movement. He almost fell again and again, but he kept himself standing. The banging on the walls grew fiercer, the gurgling of the monsters more rapid. They were following him. They were gaining on him.

He skid around a corner, slamming his still broken shoulder into the wall harshly, silent scream echoing through his system as he felt the bone shift awkwardly, pain surging intensely. Souji stood in shock, slowly forcing himself out of it as he pushed off the wall with his good arm, entire body trembling as he resumed his run. He slid to a stop as the monsters pooled around the corner in front of him, heart pounding rapidly as he looked over his shoulder, watching as they flooded in behind him. A sound unfitting to the scenario rang at his side, and he watched two doors slide open, few of the monsters trickling out. Without a thought, he bolted towards them, pushing them out and, realizing quickly it was an elevator, rapidly pressed the buttons to close the doors again. He jumped and screamed when the grotesque things started digging their hands into the door as it almost closed, and he yelled as he tried to pry their fingers off.

The doors suddenly slammed closed and he toppled over, sobbing hysterically while the elevator carried him away.