Jao: OMG I'm sooo sorry this took so long to update. I had to rethink my plot line and try to update my Deviantart gallery and before I knew it, it was like a month later. I hope you guys enjoy this change of events and I swear the updates will only come faster now.

Paragon

Chapter 7 ~ Sleeping Beauty

            Once a person loses sight of hope, so does the light of reason fade.

It was so cold… Not the temperature in the small protective cell. It was cold inside. Ron was awake, aware but he dare not open his eyes in fear of what might await him. Scared if he did, another horrible day would begin. This…this world, the reality that awaited him felt much more like a nightmare. One he'd never escape.

            Memories of the night before returned, the images of all the mutilation flooding his mind. The smell, the horrors he had seen; but the thing that scared him the most was the knowledge that those images would never go away. Every place, everything he might see would be dipped in blood. The moans and calls of spirits would follow him, their dead gazes burning into his mind. They wouldn't go away. They'd never go away.

Ron's hands cupped his head, pressing his forehead as if to keep it together. If he opened his eyes, they were surly waiting for him. Everything was gone, no body cared. His mind raced, his heart pounding against the cage of his ribs. Shaking hands moved from forehead to closed eyes. Don't open them, don't open them. But even with his eyes closed their faces returned, the memory of the cold of their touch replaying itself across his skin. Make them go away.

"Go away!!"

Blood splashed against the white of the sanitarium walls. Frantic hands clawed at flesh. He was purging himself of the images, trying to scrape them forever from his mind. Never, never would he see those horrors again.

Not without eyes.

Two nurses came in, both scrambling to stop him. A third nurse entered, a sedative in hand. Ron didn't feel its pinch as the needle broke his skin and emptied the contentece. Arms now restrained the only thing he felt was the drip of blood that ran down his face like crimson tears. 

            "Are you sure this is the best idea, honey?" Mrs. Possible didn't hide her look of worry as she watched Kim unbuckle her seat belt. Kim only nodded before reaching for the door handle. She paused and without looking back to her mother she answered:

            "I have to know."

The walk to the Tri-city Sanitarium was slow; each step on the concrete seemed to echo off the massive walls ahead of her. Sadly she realized even tho the path was straight and laid in stone, she felt so lost. She was hoping…praying maybe if she could just see Ron; if she could talk to him she could find some answers.

            With a shiver Kim pulled up the coat around her and took a brief moment to look at the surrounding trees. Autumn was always so pretty. She counted as the leaves fell.

One, two, three… Senior year had come so quickly, but things weren't like how she had imagined. Things had changed faster than the trees.

Four, five, six, seven… Eight, nine, ten… Just…just a week ago everything was perfect. She had a boy friend, a girl friend she could count on and a partner she trusted with every once of her. Now everything was so unclear.

Eleven… And now…now she felt so alone. Kim couldn't help but sigh, taking note of the next leaf.

Twelve. She picked it up and placed it in her pocket. Call it tradition…

Inside it was strangely quiet. No one sat at the reception desk, no one walked the halls. True, it was still morning; Kim had expected to see someone. The sunrays that filtered thru thin white shades on the windows were the only source of light giving the whole facility a sleepy gray tone. It was strangely soothing and yet unnerving at the same time.

            "Hello? Anybody here?" Her voice carried down the halls and finally there was some movement. A nurse quickly made her way to the teenager.

            "What can I do for you, dear?" The plump lady took her spot behind the reception desk and handed Kim a sign in clipboard.

            "I…I came to visit a patient." The lady hardly heard her, sadness and disbelief in her quiet tone.

            "And who might that be, ma'am?"

            "Ron Stoppable." The nurse chuckled and shook her head.

"You might have to wait."

"Why? Is there something wrong?"

"Oh no, it's just the sedatives from last night haven't worn off on him yet. He might still be out of it." There was a pause that followed, the pain in Kim's eyes winning her over. "But if you want to see him, I'm sure it's safe."

"I'd like that."

The walk was even more solemn than the one outside. It was deathly quiet here…never a place she'd imagine for Ron. He was always so bright, happy and loud and it was hard to imagine him any other way. She couldn't help but a small sad smile as memories of their days at Bueno Nacho replayed in her mind. That was the Ron she knew, the one with a huge smile and shinning brown eyes. Another door soon approached and the door handle the nurse grabbed, her eyes catching the far off look in the teenager.

"Before you go in, there are some things you need to know."

Complete darkness, a total stillness had settled around Ron. His arms restrained, his sight lost there was a degree of venerability. But at least he was safe. A noise pulled his thoughts away, a new fear as he heard slow footsteps making their way toward him. He took a deep breath and called out:

"W-who's there?"

Kim bit her lip at the sight, soon falling to her knees in front of him. Bandages were wrapped around his eyes, his arms held in a lose straightjacket. It was surreal. This wasn't Ron, it couldn't be. She reached out a shaking hand to touch him but he jerked back.

"Ron, it's me. Kim."

"Kim? Wh-what are you doing here?" He tried to open his eyes, to take in her face, to look at her and burn her deep into his memory but he couldn't. With horror he realized he'd never see her, or Rufus, or anything he loved. Not his family or a sunset. He was safe at a horrible price. Worst of all, he thought as he fell into a slump, he couldn't even cry. He felt her arms wrap around him in an embrace, one he wished he could return. After a moment she returned him to an upright position and began to undo his bandages.

Under the white cloth was torn, red and bruised skin. Slowly Ron managed to open them revealing fogged over eyes. Under the glossed over gray you could almost make out that trademark light brown. She waved a hand in front of his face. When he didn't respond she clutched at the material of her shirt, eyes misting with tears.

"Oh god…it's true. Ron…what did they do to you?" She reached behind him and undid the straightjacket and cast it aside. Slowly a hand of his own groped the air till it found a way to her face. His eyes were open, almost as if they were trying to focus, to make her out from the blackness.

Ron gasped as his chest ached and his throat ran dry. He wanted to cry so badly; he wanted to just let it all go. Soon Kim's hand overlay his own, holding his hand to her cheek. He could feel her tears and hear her quietly sob. For the first time in what felt like forever he didn't feel so alone.

"I'm so sorry, Ron-I-I should have done something. I should have never let them take you here. I'll make them pay for what they've done to you."

"They didn't do anything to me."

"What?" Kim backed a bit away, Ron's hand falling back to his lap.

"I…I did this."

"What? Why?"

"I couldn't stand it any more. I-," His arms wrapped tightly around himself. "The things I've seen…it was too much, I didn't know what else to do. I-I didn't know." Kim wrapped her arms around him, taking him and cradling him almost. Her mom was right all along, Ron needed her help and she turned away from him, right when he needed her the most.

"This is my fault." She managed finally, a hand going to wipe her face clean of tears. Ron sat up from her arms.

"No, it's not."

"Then who's is it?" Her tone was confused and tear chocked. "I should have helped you with you being this sick."

"Sick?" That's right. He remembered now that she thought he was crazy…jealous and delusional. "I'm not sick. God, you still don't believe me? You probably still think I killed Monique and imagined all that stuff about Josh."

"Ron, you-you didn't know any better, you couldn't help it."

"I'm perfectly sane, Kim!"

"Ron, calm down." She glanced over at the straightjacket laying a few feet away and solemnly wondered if it was such a good idea taking it off of him. Ron stood and found the wall using it as a guide, taking him farther from Kim.

"Why did you even come here?" She turned around and saw his back facing her.

"I came to see you. I was worri-."

"No. What was the real reason? Obviously it wasn't to listen to me, it's not because you care about me." He shook his head. "I should have known better." Kim stood at this.

"How dare you judge me like that."

"Judge you? What about you? You've marked me off as crazy from the beginning, not once hearing me out. I had thought of all the people in the world you would have at least trusted me a little. Trusted me like I trusted you." Ron paused and to his surprise she was silent. No single-minded come back. No angry rant. That meant he must have hit a cord somewhere in her and his words must have stung. Ron was half thankful and half regretful of that fact. With a sigh he put his back to the wall and slid down it.

"I'm sorry." Ron hardly heard Kim whisper it. "I-I don't know what to think. I came here hoping to find some answers… Don't think for an instant I want to believe-." She swallowed hard, trying to keep herself from tears, so she took a deep breath and tried again. "I don't want to believe that it was you…or that you are anything besides the Ron I knew." It was hopeless. Thru more useless sobs she continued: "I want it to be like before."

A hand reached her shoulder and Kim looked up at Ron, his large gray eyes staring right thru her.

"You can't even cry, can you?" Kim reached up and touched his face, her own scrunching up with a new wave of tears. He knelt down and wrapped his arms around her. After a long moment's pause she pulled back and Ron sat next to her. "Why do you still…Do you hate me?"

Ron shook his head at her question and took her hand.

"No way, KP. I could never hate you."

"It's never going to be like before, is it?" It was stupid question, but she didn't care. It was more or less a realization she was telling herself than a question for Ron.

"No…it's not. I…I can't come with you on missions anymore…and you'll-you'll have to take care of Rufus since there's a no pet policy for patience here. I won't be able to see you graduate…or follow you to whatever college like I was planning on doing. But it doesn't really matter…"

"What do you mean?"

"We're both going to die anyway." Kim stared at him shocked. "You'll see. Josh will probably come and kill me soon since I'm blind and all, you know, get me outta the way. And then he'll-."

"Stop it, Ron." It wasn't as much his words that scared her but the calm look on his face and the smoothness of his tone. It was like it wasn't Ron that was saying it, but someone left behind. A shiver raced across her skin. It…it was like Ron had died and she was sitting next to something like a ghost. A ghost with his voice and his appearance but held none of his spirit.

"You never did like hearing things you didn't want to hear. I can only hope that when Josh does make his move that you'll be ready and you can stop him."

"Josh would never hurt me like he'd never hurt you."

"Why do you love him so much?" Kim took a moment to think about his question.

"Josh's loyal, caring, sweet, and gentle. He's got a great sense of humor and he'd do anything for me. I can't ask for anything more in a guy."

"You know," Ron placed Kim's hand back on her lap. "You just described me too, I mean, don't I fit those categories?" There was another long pause before the nurse walked in.

"Ms. Possible, it's time to go." Kim stood and walked to the door only to look back as the nurse refitted him with the straightjacket. He offered her a solemn expression before calling "I hope you found your answers, KP."

            "How'd it go?" Josh was waiting for her in the lobby. She looked at him and after a small hesitation took his arm. Her head swam with all the emotions and thoughts caused by her visit and Josh lead her to a nearby chair to sit, stroking her hair gently. "Next time we both will visit him together, ok?"

            She didn't answer him, settling for just resting a throbbing head against his chest. What…what if she had fallen for Ron instead? Not until now did she think to compare the two and finally she concluded it wouldn't be much different from how it was before. It was routine for them to eat out together and see movies and stuff, and they were the closest to each other. It would have been like before…and none of this would have happened. And honestly…truthfully it was with Ron she wanted to be with most right now. But enough was enough for one day and there was no point in getting mixed up in what-ifs. She let Josh lead her back to her mom's car.

            "You guys go ahead without me. I wanna stop in to say hi to Ron too."

            Ron was trying to get comfortable in his corner but it was hard to sleep in a straightjacket. The sound of the door opening made Ron sit up.

            "Kim?"

            "Nice try." Ron stood in a flash. "Oh, don't be scared. I see you didn't like my gift to you."

            "I knew you were the one behind this!"

"You remember our little discussion at your locker? I put the gift in your eyes myself and this is how you repay me?"

Josh stood but inches from Ron, hands held tightly behind his back as if to mock Ron and his restraints.

            "And don't tell me you didn't enjoy the company. The way you cling to Kim I figured you were lonely. If every spirit in the world isn't enough to keep you company I don't know what is, but just look at you now. Completely blind. So very helpless with your arms tied, your eyes sightless and no where to run."

            "What do you want from Kim?" Josh smirked at this and with a little shove sent Ron against the wall.

            "What else does every guy in that school want from Kim?" Ron couldn't hide his fear as Josh pinned him against the wall by pressing himself against the defenseless teenager. He could feel Mankey's hot breath on his neck. "Once I meet up with her tonight," he began, breathing the words into Ron's ear. "I'll take what I came for and there's nothing you can do about it." Josh stepped back letting Ron stumble and fall to his knees. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a rather large switchblade, slowly making his way to Ron.

            Outside in the hall, just beyond Ron's door sat a nurse on guard duty. She didn't even look up when she heard the screams, only shaking her head.

            "Poor insane kid. Hope he can finally rest tonight."

Jao: Mmmyep, it's really long for once, erm, long considering the normal length of my chapters that is. Anyways, if you're still confused as to how Ron got his gift as Josh refers to it, then re-read chapter 2.

Next chapter coming soon I swear. Give me like a week-no even less since Spring Break starts in a day.