25: Hanging By a Thread
Jay Kamiya: Agreed. but exactly what was that bad feeling? ^_~
the tigris: Like reviews, hm? Well before I start posting a story here, I make sure it's finished, so only not having access to my computer or the net will stop me from updating... or sickness... or... there's lots of things actually. -_-;;
Imari: Yeah. Poor, poor Kai. And who says Kevin can't die? :p
If you can't remember the last chapter, both Lee and Ray had a bad feeling at the same time, and Lee announced that it had something to do with Kevin…
Disclaimer: I wouldn't be able to have the 'disclaimer' story then, would I? ^_~
Mariah's eyes flew open as a sense of unease washed over her. She stared up at the steel plate that was the roof of their cage, trying to work out what the feeling was. She blinked, frowning as she felt Kevin's weight against her chest, the young neko-jin feeling lighter then she remembered. She tightened her arm around him, careful not to touch the brush the wound, pressing her hand against his chest…
"KEVIN!"
She shot up, gazing down at the green-haired teen in utter terror, bringing her ear down against his chest as the others jerked awake with her outburst. She let out a strangled sob as she discovered her original thoughts had been correct: no heartbeat, no breathing. Kevin was…
"Oh god, Kevin. Don't do this to me. Please don't do this to me."
"Mariah?" Gary looked up at her. "Mariah? What-"
"He's not breathing," Mariah answered, the others waking in a flash. "I can't… his hearts not beating."
"Oh my." Mr Dickenson pushed himself to his feet, hurrying to Kevin's side and searching for a pulse. "You're right. There is no pulse. How long has he been like this?"
"I don't… I don't know." Mariah was sobbing. "He was… he was like it when I woke up."
"We may still have a chance. Mariah, I'm going to need you to help me. Do as I say, understand?"
Mariah nodded as she brushed away her tears, time becoming a haze as Mr Dickenson rattled off a string of directions. Mariah recognised them as CPR, something she had only ever seen done on the television or on the chart that seemed to be pinned up all over the bey stadium and recreation centres. Mr Dickenson had been trained in basic first aid, and would perform the heart massage while Mariah would do mouth-to-mouth.
The others hung back, Kenny squeezing his eyes closed and preying as Gary sat down heavily, watching in shock. Kevin was his little buddy, rarely were they seen apart. Gary would let Kevin ride around perched on his shoulder so that the little monkey wouldn't be trod on, the two sharing a wry smile when people teased them about Kevin being Gary's pet. In a way, it was true, as Kevin had always been Gary's favourite.
And now he might lose him forever.
"Wake up, Kevin," Gary said softly. "Don't leave us, little buddy. We need you."
Max whimpered, curling up into a tight ball. "This is wrong. This can't be happening."
"I agree," Tyson said, kneeling beside him and pulling the American to him, his voice wavering. "It's… it's just not right."
"Please come back Kevin," Mariah whispered between breaths, tears running down her face. "I love you. I love you."
"I do believe it is working," Mr Dickenson said, checking Kevin's pulse after he completed another set. "His heart is beating."
"But he's still not breathing."
"Keep at it, my girl." Mr Dickenson frowned, picking up one of Kevin's arms and pressing two fingers against his wrist, counting the beats. "A little slower then I would like, but it's better then nothing. Check him again, Mariah."
She sat back, watching Kevin's chest, a grin spreading across her lips. "He took a breath on his own!"
"Good good." Mr Dickenson nodded, pushing his glasses back up his nose. "We're going to have to keep an eye on him. I'm afraid that this episode will probably repeat itself, so we must stay on guard."
Mariah nodded as the others slowly began to creep away, Kenny joining Tyson and Max as Mr Dickenson returned to the corner he had claimed. Mariah felt a hand on her shoulder and leant back into Gary's hug, choking back the sobs as he patted her head.
"It's okay, Mariah," he said. "Kev's okay now. He won't do that again."
"I'm so scared, Gary," she whispered. "I'm so scared."
"Me too." Gary reached down, smoothing Kevin's hair. "Kevin's a fighter. He'll fight this battle, and he'll win. Lee will come."
"I hope you're right, Gary." Mariah reached down, pulling Kevin's limp form into her arms and cradling him against her, gently caressing his face. "I just don't know what I would do if… if we lost him."
Gary tightened his arm around her, looking from Mariah, to Kevin, then back. "You care about him."
She nodded, wiping the tears from her face with the back of her hand. "I do."
"What about Ray?"
Mariah shook her head, tracing her fingers over Kevin's face as she thought. "I… I don't know anymore. I guess I like Kevin more, and it took this happening to make me realise."
Gary nodded. "You would have never gotten Ray."
Mariah frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Not my place to tell."
"Does Lee know?"
"Lee knows everything." Gary looked down at her. "Don't be scared, Mariah. If anything happens, I'll protect you. I'm here for you."
Mariah smiled, closing her eyes and nestling herself in the crook of his arm, pulling Kevin tighter against her. "Thank you, Gary."
See. Gary does talk. ^_^;;
Watch out for my new story featuring the Demolition Boys: Out of the Darkness!