Cammy gripped Ken's arm tightly as the two walked down the long corridor of the military hospital's psychiatric ward. It was nearly 2:00 in the morning and the hall was totally empty. She was excited and afraid at the same time. Ken had come, just as he had promised. Before leaving Guile's home she took a blanket and placed it under her covers so it would look like she was there asleep. They stopped when they reached a door marked do not enter. Ken knelt and used two pins to pick the lock. When they heard it click, Ken turned and smiled at his accomplishment. Cammy froze.
"Ken? What if he is hooked up to all kinds of machines? I don't think I can see him like that."
Ken stood and placed his hand on Cammy's shoulder.
"He's still your father no matter what they have him hooked to. I know you love him. It won't matter."
Cammy took a deep breath and, wrapping her arms around Ken, hugged him tightly.
"Thank you so much."
She released him and put her hand on the handle of the door. She mouthed the words 'I love you' to Ken before entering and shutting the door behind her. It took all of her strength to turn her head and look towards the bed she knew her father would be lying in. He was there. It made Cammy's heart feel whole again. He looked peaceful lying there asleep, stomach rising and falling with his breathing. Not at all like the last time she saw him. Cammy thanked God when she saw only one small IV needle sticking out from his arm. Then she noticed his wrists had leather cuffs wrapped around them, which were connected to the bedrail with metal tubing. The skin above and below the cuffs was bruised and scratched, but she could tell it was kept sterile. She walked slowly towards him and touched his hair. It was soft against her fingers. She then placed fingertips against his closed eyelids. How could Guile think he was dangerous? Cammy lifted her fingers when she felt his eyes begin to flutter open. Then she saw his green eyes looking back at her. They were confused at first but soon filled with love.
"Cammy."
He tried to lift his arms to touch her but was stopped by the cuffs. He let his arms drop slowly, seeming to remember where he was.
"Dad, it's okay."
Cammy reached down to unbuckle the cuffs but was stopped by her father's voice.
"Don't."
"What?"
"Don't take those off. Here, just hold my hand."
Cammy placed her hand in his open fingers. He squeezed her hand tightly as he spoke.
"Cammy, I'm still not okay."
"What do you mean? You're going to be fine."
"No, I'm not. They did something to me. Shadowlaw. I wish I could remember, but I can't. They made sure of that."
"Don't talk like that."
"Cammy I'm so glad you came. I thought I wasn't going to get to see you before-"
"Dad, please don't say stuff like that. You're scaring me."
He clenched his eyes closed and gripped Cammy's hand more tightly. All the muscles in his body seemed to flex. He was whispering something Cammy couldn't make out to himself. When his eyes popped open again he was breathing heavily.
"It's getting worse every time. Pretty soon I won't be able to control it. At time now I can't. But don't worry right now, just tell me something good."
"Good?"
"Just talk to me. Like we always do."
"I-I can't Dad. I can't pretend like nothing's wrong. Like I'm not scared. I just want you to be better. I can't live without you."
She let go of his hand and climbed over the railing of the bed to lie beside him. She placed her body alongside his and put her head on his shoulder. He was able to stroke her arm with his cuffed hand.
"Cammy, you need to be brave."
"I can't Dad, there is too much to be afraid of."
"Having courage is not being without fear. It's still going on in the presence of fear."
Cammy was crying softly now.
"But I don't want to be brave if it means I lose you."
"You're going to go on after I'm gone. Get married, have babies, raise them to be as beautiful as you are. That what I was here for; to make sure you grew up okay."
Cammy broke into sobs.
"It's alright babygirl. I'm not gone yet. Let's use this time we have to be together."
He stroked her hair. They layed together until Cammy's crying ceased.
"You will still be able to talk to me whenever you want. Of course I won't be able to answer you, but I'll be listening. I'll live on through you."
Cammy heard movement behind her then. Ken? She looked up and saw a tall, lean man standing behind her. He was quite handsome with long golden hair loose around his shoulders. However she didn't like his eyes. Too cold. The man spoke haughtily.
"Ha! You want to test that theory Mr. Nash?"
"Cammy, get out of here!"
"Dad? What's he talking about? Who is he?"
"Cammy run!"
She started to get up to run but then the man wrapped his strong arm around her waist and pulled her off the bed, towards him. She screamed
"DAD!"
Her father's body reared upwards, pushing against the restraints, trying to break them. The man laughed.
"Those were meant to hold you in your incensed state. What makes you think you can break them now?"
He still struggled, hatred flowing from his eyes. Cammy saw blood dripping from where the cuffs were digging into her father's flesh. That pissed her off. She began to beat at the arm that held her. The man laughed again. Cammy felt her fingernails break his skin. The man cried out so she dug at his arm again.
"You bitch!"
He threw her body to the ground. Cammy cried out when she felt the stitches in her side rip. He leaned over her and slapped her face hard with the back of his hand. She saw stars, then felt the cold floor against her face. She heard her father's voice.
"Cammy! Oh God! Leave her alone. Take me, that's what you want."
"Yes, but I want her too. I told you I was going to take care of her. And I never break a promise."
"Please let her go. I'll do whatever you want."
"All you have to do, Mr. Nash, is die."
Cammy used all her strength to stand and run towards the man. She threw a punch directly at the back of his head, just like Ken had showed her. But he moved so quickly she had no time to react before he held both of her small wrists in one of his hands. She couldn't break his hold.
"I think you need to watch this. It will teach you what will happen if you ever even try to break my beautiful skin again."
The man pulled a knife out of a sheath he had positioned at his spine. He placed it at her father's throat. She screamed and struggled against him.
"Oh God please don't hurt him."
Her father spoke frantically as he still struggled against the restraints.
"Do all you can to get away from him. Remember what I said. I love y—"
The man ran the blade along her father's skin, cutting off his voice as well as his life. She felt it slice her heart. Her eyes grew wide with disbelief as she watched blood flow from her father's throat. The man released her wrists and she fell upon her father's body, sobbing.
"NO! NO! NOOOOOOOO!"
The man's voice spoke behind her.
"That is enough, it is time to go. You are coming with me."
He used the palm of his hand to deliver a swift, hard blow to the back of Cammy's head, which was buried in her father's chest. Then everything went black.
Ken sat on the floor next to the room Cammy had entered. He was trying to meditate. Nothing better to do right now. His mind was floating when suddenly he saw a flash and his eyes popped open. He had felt it. Something bad. He stood and opened the door to the hospital room.
"Cammy?"
He couldn't see her. Then he saw Charlie on the bed, covered in blood. Oh God!
"CAMMY?!"
He looked frantically about but still there was no sign of her. He ran to the bed and carefully removed a leather cuff from Charlie's wrist to feel for a pulse. Nothing. What the hell happened? Ken looked at the ceiling, there was a tile missing from the roof. Ken jumped up and caught the edge. Before he could pull himself up he felt many hands pulling at his legs. They pulled his body down and face first onto the floor. Handcuffs were placed on his wrists.
"What the hell is going on? I have to find Cammy!"
A voice spoke to him as he was lifted from the ground and led out from the carnage.
"You have the right to remain silent…"
I'm sorry, but it had to be done. =( Tell me what you think.