Chapter 21: Despair and Determination
Conan awoke to find himself in a clean white room on a soft bed as orderlies in colorful scrubs checks his vitals. In a chair sat Jake half of his face bandaged and looking worse for wear. Leon was with him as well; he must have arrived shortly after the clouds had disappeared, but he slept on the cot the hospital had provided for them while they waited for Conan to wake. Jake looked worse than Conan felt. He glanced up to the barbarian with a blue eye sighing heavily and appeared as if he had been weeping.
"Jake…where the hell am I…"
Jake sniffled a bit.
"Hospital…Leon found us after the lightning strike…he took up your sword and killed Setesh…"
"Lore…" Conan glanced to him as if to ask where she was. Jake closed his eyes shaking his head.
"She was gone after the lightning had struck…there wasn't a trace of her or Khalar or the witch…"
It was if someone had run a sword through his heart. Lore…his Lore was gone. Disappeared to God knows where. Conan closed his eyes taking a deep breath to get ahold of his emotions. This was his fault. If he had just taken Lore with him…then maybe she'd be there watching over him as he recovered. But she was not…and it was his fault.
"I've informed Lotte and Romey…they'll be here tomorrow…" Jake muttered.
But Conan didn't hear a single word he said. His mind was too focused on Lore.
"We have to find her…"
Jake glanced up to him and shook his head.
"Conan…she's not here…"
"I don't care…we have to find some way to get her back…"
"That's impossible…"
"I'm not giving up on her…"
Jake heaved a sigh upon seeing the determination on Conan's face.
"You love her…don't you." He whispered.
Conan just nodded his eyes fixating into a glare.
"I refuse to give up on her."