Kitty
I... couldn't believe it...
I... just... this... this... can't be happening...
I... I... pushed him off the mountain and he fell screaming... his voice fading away until... nothing...
He's... gone...
I took him...
What... what have I done?
I didn't feel anything for a moment when as soon as he disappeared below. I was... numb... shocked. It was only for a moment.
My eyes immediately started tearing up and I cried after that feeling went away, ignoring the taunts from the Ice Dancers they were throwing at me. I... I couldn't slow down my emu in time to prevent myself from pushing Zane off the mountain.
It... It... was my fault I kept telling myself. He's gone because of me.
The only thing that kept me from tearing myself apart was Emma and Sky holding me back and trying their best to calm me down.
I couldn't. How would I knowing that I took away Zane's life right then and there? It made me wonder how Sky wasn't even near tormented and sad as I was.
"It's okay." Emma told me with a very sorrowful expression, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Everything will be alright." Even she didn't seem too sure of that. It made me wonder how Zane would react if he even did survive the fall.
He probably won't forgive me after what I did. How could he anyway?
I shook off that thought as the paramedics took his body, which was covered up and placed on the stretcher, and prepared him for a trip to the hospital when Don called for them.
Sky was about to go away with them when she asked, "Do you want to come with me to the hospital?"
I instantly took up it without second thought. "Yes." She knew right then and there I was gonna go no matter what. Emma showed no sign to even try stop me. I guess she too thought I would do anything to find Zane's condition as soon as possible.
It was a silent ride up to the Emergency Room apart from my still shaken up sobs. Emma did her best to comfort me while Sky seemed to be herself keeping herself calm. When we arrived, all three of us waited in the patient area anxiously. I'm not sure how long we've been waiting, but I was able to tell we couldn't keep our minds off Zane as the doctors were inspecting him for damage.
I was conflicting with myself whether if I should know of his injuries or not. For me, I seemed to know already what his injuries were and if he would make it or not.
After what it seemed to hours, one of the doctors came out. "Sky Blackwood?" She was hesitant but stood up and walked over to him.
"Yes?" Her voice cracked under depression. "Is... he okay?"
"We've been doing some analyzing and could make out a few bruises. Other than that we... haven't been able to perform any proper scans." The doctor said. How were they not be able to perform any proper scans?
Author: *Cheerfully* Lampshade hanging that's what.
Kitty: *Glares* Could you please take this seriously?
Author: *Shrugs* What? I'm just answering your question... and trying to make this chapter positive...
Kitty: Bad. Attempt.
"We've... done everything we could. His heart readings... have flat-lined."
My skin ran cold. I was stunned I couldn't think or say anything.
He... he couldn't have...
No. No way! I didn't want to believe him. I...I just couldn't Th-this... this has to be fake!
"No." I spoke for the very first time and shook my head as tears flowed my eyes. "He...he can't be! It... th-that's not possible! Z... Zane can't be! He has to..." I stammered in disbelief and denial.
"Kitty..." Emma's voice rang out softly behind me. "It's okay."
"No, it's not okay!" I snapped back with a glare with tears in my eyes. She had a surprised expression on her face at my outburst. "I was trying to get to the chill zone and ended up pushing him off the mountain without even stopping! Now he's gone and it's all my fault! I'm the one that caused all of this! How can you even look at me?! I'm even your sister or a monster?!" I turned to Sky who seemed to have a sympathetic expression. "What about you, Sky? Can you even forgive me on what I did to your cousin?! I know I can't to myself! Knowing I was the one who got you not only knocked out of the competition but took away your loved sibling?! Someone who you were close to?! I... I don't even why I'm here anyway." I sulked down in extreme despair and sobbed again.
"Can you give us a moment?" Sky asked the doctor. He nodded went back outside the waiting room. Sky walked over to me and knelt down with a cross between comforting but sorrowful expression. "Kitty, I know how you feel. I know what it's like to lose someone you've loved or crushed on. I'm going through the same thing you are right now." She voice suggested she was about to mourn as well. "I'm sure Zane had the same level of feelings for you and would be able forgive you right now... and I'll let you know this." She paused for a moment. "I know that it was an accident... and I forgive you." She was able to lighten me up, still only a little. It wasn't enough to make me stop thinking about Zane.
"Kitty." Emma tried again. "I'm... I'm sorry." She hugged as I started to cry once again. "Could you ask the doctor if we could see Zane one last time?" She asked Sky.
Sky nodded her head. She walked back to the doctor who was in the hallway. We heard muffled voices from the other side. Not too long after, Sky opened the door and gestured for us to follow. Emma and I got up from our seats and walked behind. When we were on our way to see Zane, many thoughts were flowing through my mind at that moment. Was he truly okay? Is he even conscious? Would... would he even forgive me? The last question was the one I kept asking myself if he was still alive.
The doctor stopped and stepped aside a door. "He's in here." He opened it for us to go in. Emma and Sky voluntarily let me go in first. Once I entered, I was greeted by Zane... lying still in the bed. Not even breathing, no sign of life in him. I stopped for a moment, feeling very empty and hurt inside. I walked over slowly and gave him one last hug... the best one I could anyway.
"Zane." I said in his name for the first time in for what it seemed like a long time. "I'm... I'm sorry." I started crying softly on his chest for who knows how long. I could also hear Sky sobbing and I'm sure Emma was demoralized by the scene.
This was it. The end of someone who I loved and never got become his girlfriend.
The last time we would spend ever with him.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Then... something miraculous happened...
.
.
.
.
Zane
Beep...
.
.
.
Beep...
.
.
.
Beep...
.
.
.
Beep...
.
.
.
I heard faint beeping... crying... and... sobbing...
I felt something on my body. I... I'm still alive...?
I blinked a few times and was able to open my eyes no problem. It took a few moments for my vision to clear up. I saw Kitty crying quietly on my upper chest, I looked around, saw Sky sobbing quietly, and even Emma seemed demoralized.
I... had no idea what's been going on...
"Girls?" Kitty was the first one to look at me when I spoke. She had a surprised look on her face and gasped. Sky and Emma didn't notice until a second later.
"ZANE!" She screamed and smiled in delight and hugged me tightly. "You're back!"
"Um... yeah..." I felt awkward at that moment, trying to find words to put in. I put a hand on my head as I felt it pound. "Ugh, it feels like I took a boulder to the face."
"Well, you technically fell and took a rock to the... well... everything." Emma told me, stepping over.
"We were worried sick you were gone for sure." Sky answered.
"What do you mean?" I asked them.
"When you fell down the mountain, the doctors found you barely breathing when you were unconscious. They expected you to have life threatening injuries." Sky explained.
"Also after they strapped you up, they said you were flat-lining." Emma answered.
I immediately widened my eyes. "Wait, what?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"Yes, she's correct." A male voice inquired. We all looked to see the doctor walking in and checking up on us. "We could only see a couple bruises after the fall. When you flat-lined, we assumed that you might've had multiple broken bones or other life-threatening injuries. We couldn't properly scan you. However, you come out of the incident just fine despite you were unconscious."
"So... what kind of injuries do I have?" I questioned, still in confusion.
"Only a few bruises. Nothing too major. You are clear and may leave if you want to right now, but we'll just a few more minutes here to talk to the host and sort out if we can let you continue the race." The doctor left the room and headed to where Don might be.
Sky broke the short silence. "Like I saying, we were shocked that after they scanned you properly when you were unconscious that you had a few sores. We all thought you would be-" She was interrupted when Kitty starting crying again. Sky and Emma glanced worryingly at one another. I smiled, nodded, and gestured for them to wait outside. Both seemed hesitant, but both did what I silently requested.
Kitty grasped me even tighter and was crying more and louder. "I'm so sorry, Zane! I-I'm so sorry! I-I really am! I... I tried to stop! I-I did! I... I just couldn't. I-I bumped into y-you a-a-and l-left you f-falling down the mountain. I th-thought you would... A-a... and now... y-you probably w-won't forgive me-e-e-e-e!" Her voice was cracking in between her begging. I couldn't stand to see her like this. Knowing Emma, she was probably listening in from outside and was trying her hardest not to barge in here.
Broken, shattered beyond belief... demoralized. It's especially hard for someone like Kitty to go through this.
I stood up from the hospital bed and placed an arm around her. "It's okay, Kitty. I forgive you anyway. It wasn't even your fault in the first place. It was the Ice Dancers that sabotaged us all and got me falling off the cliff... in an indirect way. You had nothing, NOTHING to do with this. It could've have been your sister... or my cousin to take the hit and... well... I'd be mourning for them if they took the hit too. Things could've been worse if they took the fall." I sighed at the thought about it. "The accident was... unavoidable to say the least... but it came out for the best." I smiled comfortably and so did she, but still some sadness still evident in her grin.
"Besides, if it were Jacq or Josee that did it, they'd be in coffins right now." I said truthfully.
Kitty hugged me tighter, making me grunt a little. "Thank you, Zane."
I nodded my head in approval. "You're welcome." I made an awkward expression. "Uh, by the way, did I soil myself when I was flat-lining?"
Kitty widened her eyes and smiled sheepishly. "Heh, heh... I... may have gone overboard with the crying."
I looked at her with understanding eyes and a smile. "Hey, I don't blame you." I sat up more in my bed. "If it were you in this hospital bed, I wouldn't even know how to stop myself back from murdering the Ice Dancers." I was serious too. I did say I would try to keep the Sisters in the race, but now it's more clear to put their safety first in this race.
"You don't look like the type of person to get angry." She replied, seeming surprised.
"Well... I do tend to hold back... a lot." I said truthfully. "Besides that, I've seen you get angry with MacArthur when we were racing Dune Buggies."
Kitty scratched her head bashfully. "Yeah, I always push back when someone fights me. I mean it's not like should let them roll over me. That and she hurt you." I gave a curious look. "I couldn't stand to even think you got a bruise from being pushed around. I was trying to protect you as best as I could back there."
I smiled. "Thanks, Wonder Woman. You've done a great job thus far."
Her smile turned into a sad frown after she giggled and sighed. "Then when you fell down the cliff... well... I thought I'd lose you. I wouldn't even know what to do if you were gone."
"Same here." I agreed to her with a smile. "If you were in my shoes right now, I'd pray that you stay alive. I wouldn't know what to do if this happened to my cute crush." She looked at me as if I had three heads with wide-eyes, and so did I to myself as I stammered realizing I let myself slipped. "Er...uh... I-I meant a friend like you. I mean I'd be worried if a nice friend was lying in the bed with critical injuries. I-I'm just saying, if I did have a... crush on... someone... it... well..." I sighed in defeat.
Kitty placed a hand on her heart which I assumed was beating fast. "You... you find me cute?"
I scratched my head shyly. "Well... yeah. Ever since we met on the elevator..."
I directed my smile toward her, and so she. I could see stars in her eyes as we were staring at each other passionately. The moment seemed it would last forever until...
*GRRUUMMMBBBLLLEE*
Both of us lost our smiles and widened our eyes at the sound that disrupted our moment.
Kitty's cheeks colored pink, her smile turning sheepish as she held her loud rumbling stomach. "Ahehehe... uh, sorry. I'm... super hungry right now. I forgot to eat something when I came here with Sky and Emma. I was just-" She was interrupted by her tummy grumbling even louder and blushed harder. "Aw, man. This is so embarrassing."
*GRRROOWWWLLLLL*
I felt my cheeks heat up from embarrassment, held my stomach which answered back as noisy as hers, and presented an awkward grin. "Heh, heh, same here. I haven't eaten anything for a while either." My stomach growled louder than before. I did manage to compose myself a little. "I'm so hungry I could go for emu right now. How 'bout you?"
She laughed in response, her flush also starting to faint. "No thanks. I'd rather not." As if it heard her, Kitty's stomach rumbled irritably in protest causing her face to color again and laugh awkwardly. "On second thought, that sounds pretty good right about now."
"Yeah, I thought so." I grinned, slightly cheekily holding my stomach again as it made more noises. "Let's head outside and maybe we'll get something to munch on." Seriously, it felt like I haven't eaten days. I really wanted to go for emu right then and from Kitty said, she'd probably want the bird too.
"Right." We started to walk to the door to exit, but both of us got caught up in it. Man, for pete's sake Zane. You forgot your manners. What will we do with you?
"Oh!/Oops, heh. Sorry./My mistake. You first." Kitty and I spoke at the same time after backing out of the door space. "Eh, no./No, thanks. You should go/I'll wait. Hey, I'm okay with staying behind./ What ever happened to ladies first? You're injured so.../I insist you... Well, you've been considerate to me./It's only a few sores. I know that, but-/I'll keep doing the same-" We both laughed in enjoyment at our current predicament. It was kinda fun we were accidentally messing around in the door. The joy of it didn't last long though.
*GRRRROOWWWLLLL/GRRUUMMMBBBLLLEE*
Both of us had wide-eyes and blushed in embarrassment from our loud tummies sounding out their complaints of being empty and ruined our fun moment. We gripped them in discomfort at the same time. I seriously hoped no one didn't hear from outside.
"You first." I repeated for politeness' sake while sheepishly grinning.
Kitty smiled back in response with redness still on her and exited out (And yes, I admit it. Her face was cute. Very cute). I followed closely behind her where we walked through the hallways in silence. It made me slightly nervous for two reasons: 1. I couldn't think of anything else to talk about, and 2. I seriously hope our stomachs wouldn't go off again. We were already embarrassed in front of each other enough. I was thinking about confessing I truly felt to her since Dubai. I was... shy about it. Just saying she was cute wasn't enough of a confession anyway; more of a compliment.
We soon neared the waiting room where I (correctly) assumed where Sky and Emma were waiting.
"So, I guess this is it, huh?" I said after that quiet walk.
"What's what?" Kitty asked me.
"You know. The race. We're nearing the end. Down the final five. If one of us gets eliminated, it'll... be a while before we even see each other." I spoke the last quietly to myself.
"I'm pretty sure it won't be THAT long." She smiled back in reassurance.
"Yeah... but in 'zane-time', 2 days is like 23 years." I exaggerated on purpose. "Plus, I'm starting to feel a lot of pressure right now."
"Hey, we have each others backs remember?" Kitty told me. "As long as we stick together, we'll be able to come out of these challenges alive." I blinked back blankly (alliteration for you literary folks). She presented wide-eyes realizing what she just said, then presented another shy smile. "Oops. Um, sorry. I hit... a nerve didn't I?"
I grinned back. "Nah, you're just fine." I opened up my arms invitingly. "Courtesy hug before we go to the competition?"
She shrugged and we both hugged each other. I had an amazing, warming feeling inside of me. Not sure if it was because we were having a loving, yet friendly moment or if it was because I was starving.
I guess it might be because I'm... hug-gry. Heh, heh, get it?
*Silence from readers... even the cricket didn't find it amusing...*
Ah, whatever.
Author: *Smiling* The story was rolling along just fine. *Frowns* Then you said 'hug-gry'.
Zane: *Glares* Hey, you're the one who made me say it!
Author: No excuse.
Our heartwarming moment didn't last that long though. When I opened my eyes, I looked to see Sky and Emma standing there from what it probably looks like the entire time and broke the hug. Kitty was about to question me, but then she noticed the 'uh-oh' expression on my face and turned around. Needless to say, she also had the same face I did.
Emma grinning more widely and smugly than Sky at that moment asked cheerfully. "So! Having a private moment?"
Kitty scratched the back of her head and smiled bashfully as I returned a glare that would've killed a person 20 times over. "Very funny." I sarcastically replied.
*GRRRROOWWWLLLL/GRRUUMMMBBBLLLEE*
Bad timing, stomachs. Bad timing!
Kitty and I blushed from embarrassment and grasped our tummies as Emma was laughing while Sky giggled.
"N-Not funny, Emma!" Kitty exclaimed despite the humiliated expression on her face and while I did my best to glare at them both.
Emma wiped a tear from her eye. "You're right. It's hilarious!" She laughed even harder and fell down on the floor. I'm glad our shame brings amusement to your standards.
Sky stopped giggling but still smiled. "Let's leave 'em alone already. They look like they're about to burst." At least, she has rules and limits.
"We are gonna something to eat before we go back, right?" I questioned, hopefully and sheepishly.
"They have food on the ride we're going on." Sky answered. Kitty and I sighed and smiled in relief. Thank goodness. I could eat an entire buffet right now.
Speaking of which, is what exactly what we did. At least me and Kitty were enjoying most of it. In a way, we were sort of having a eating competition of our own. Needless to say, we were both satisfied.
Sky looked at me as if I three heads with a smug smile at everything I ate. That is, until I made the comeback reminding her of all the pork and beans she ate from the Buffalo challenge a while back. It was enough to redden her face and drop the subject from there.
It was a comfortable ride back to where we finished. But on the way there, a lot of stuff's been going through my head. I've been questioning whether I should step out of the competition to keep Sky safe. Ever since coming back from the mountain incident, I've been debating whether or not we should be continuing this race. I've always been sort of the protective cousin type despite my 'get back at you for messing with me and/or my friends' type of guy. But then I remembered, there are some risks I still have to take, and that Emma and Kitty were still in the race despite the accident.
That and I didn't want to give the Ice Dancers their satisfaction and REALLY wanted to wipe those smiles off their faces... which was right about now when me and Sky were walking toward the chill zone.
"Oh, look Jacq. Zane is ok. What a relief! It would've bad if he was knocked out of the competition." Josee taunted sarcastically as I neared them. That little ice witch and her spider pig.
"I know. It's amazing that after Kitty pushed him off the mountain he was between a rock and a- GAH!" I cut Jacq's insult off by kicking right where the sun don't shine, causing him to scream like a girl and bopped Josee right on top of her head putting both of them down to the ground.
"I have NEVER felt more satisfied than giving what you two deserve." I glaring at them, saying my statement calmly while holding up my fist.
"Preaching to the choir!" MacArthur replied.
"All beatdowns aside," Don intervened, "Zane, the doctors have spoken to us and will allow you to continue the competition IF you feel like you're able to take the risk. But you must make the choice now."
I hesitated for a moment seeing Kitty's somewhat still sorrowful smile, Emma's own, the Surfers giving a thumbs up, the Cadets shrugging, then back to Sky who gave a nod. "Eh, it seems risky. But Don, we're still in the race." I smiled in satisfaction. The Sisters and Surfers cheered. Sky hugged me back in appreciation. I looked back with a smirk to see Josee raising her head and rubbing her face, trying to regain her senses. "Just let me punch back in first." I jabbed her right in the face knocking her out again.
(Dual Confessional)
Zane: *Crossing arms* Is it a foolish decision to keep going in the race? *Shrugs* Maybe. *Smiles* But with only a few sores inside of me, it's just a flesh wound. I'm no quitter anyway.
Sky: *Grinning* That and there's gonna be MAJOR payback to Jacques and Josee for that incident.
Zane: *Devious smile* OH, most definitely.
A/N: And so the race still rages on. I named the chapter after the line Xur, Agent of the Nine (from Destiny) says when Guardians are done buying exotic gear from him. It felt appropriate to name it to this chapter for the aftermath of the incident. Oh and from here on out, Zane's gonna take the competition a little more seriously.
Which is probably an understatement anyway.
As a bonus, I'll try to release both chapters of the two-part Ridonculous Race semi-finals and finals if I work fast enough. 'Cause why stop and leave readers in suspense since the race won't slow down from here on out?
Don't forget to review on what ideas I can put on the prequel my ever so loyal readers. Open to any suggestions, humorous, and emotional references alike.
See ya!
;)