Once again, I am sick...(grumble) Just to let you all know, the last chapter was hard to write because I kept thinking about this kid in our area who is going through a similar thing. There's a teacher at my brother's school whose son had a freak accident where he scraped his elbow and a freak infection set in. His limbs are deteriorating and he just woke up from a coma. But now they are planning amputations on I believe a foot, part of his left arm, and fingers from his right hand...but I could be wrong. This kid is only 9 years old. So if everyone could please pray for him, that would be so great. It's just so strange...I planned on that last chapter before the accident happened. But anyways, if you could all please just keep this kid in mind and pray for him. Thanks.
igbogal: Heheh, can you imagine the look on Knives's face if you did that? I'm imagining the look of an angry little toddler. Quite funny. (grins mischievously)
Aine of Knockaine: Thanks! I am feeling much better now, actually! And just in time for Cinco de Mayo tomorrow! Can't miss out on Cinco de Mayo, especially with a spanish teacher like mine! (just think of the tacos...buhuhuh...oh yeah)
Knives slowly came to. He opened his heavy eyelids and the room gradually focused. He was in a white room and a soft beep rang out in a steady beat. He tried to sit up but as soon as he moved his stomach flipped and he nearly threw up. Dots swarmed in front of his eyes so he shut them tightly. Hislegs felt terribly strange. There was a wierd tingling sensation that did not want to stop. The door creaked open but Knives kept his eyes closed. Footsteps thudded dully toward him and stopped just before his bed.
"Knives?" someone whispered very softly.
"Vash."
"How-how are you?" Knives opened his eyes. Vash's face hovered a foot away from him. Knives didn't answer and turned his head the other direction. He did not want to talk to anybody right now. He didn't know why, but he just didn't.
"Knives," Vash said and held Knives hand. Knives snatched it back. Vash sighed. "Knives, I-I'm really sorry. You know I am. I never wanted you to go through this. You understand, don't you?"
Oh, I understand all right...it's only natural to shoot your brother, right?"
...only natural to shoot your maniacal brother...
Knives faced Vash. His brother kept glancing down to the edge of the bed. He had a look in his eyes that told Knives that he was holding back tears. Vash bit his lip and asked, "Are youin a lot of pain, Knives?"
"My feet feel numb. I can't move them."
Vash stood up so suddenly that Knivesstarted.
"Vash?"
Vash backed up, his face horribly pale, and he ran out of the room. Milly was fast asleep in a chair and Meryl was curled up beside her in another chair with her eyes wide open. She sat up as Vash rushed to her and grabbed her shoulders.
"Vash, what's wrong?"
"Meryl, I can't tell him. I can't, Meryl. It's one thing to lose a limb and know about it as it happens," he said holding his prosthetic arm in front of her. "But he still thinks they're attached to him. He's feeling phantom pain. If I told him, the shock might get to him. He-he can't handle it. He didn't even know that he would be handicapped before, but now...now he's lost both of his legs, and...God, Meryl, what am I supposed to do!"
But before Meryl could reply, a bloodcurling cry came from the next room.
"NOOOOOOO!"
It can't be true. No, I can still heal. I can be perfect again. I can, I can, I can!
Knives had been listening to Vash's thoughts as they echoed through his head and poured out his mouth to the small woman. Any other time Vash would have noticed his mind being entered, but his emotions numbed him and so Knives heard every word. He shakily pushed himself up against the metal bars, fought against the wave of nausea, and ripped back the white sheets.
Vash ran into the room followed by an ashen Meryl and a sleepy-eyed yet worried Milly. Knives paid no attention to them but stared at the bloody bandages. Instead of thighs, knees, calves, feet, toes...there were just two small stumps. Knives gagged and threw up the little contents in his stomach onto the floor beside his bed. Meryl clapped her hands over her own mouth and Vash rushed to Knives's side.
"Wh-where are my legs!" Knives said in a quivering voice.
"Knives, we had to. You must under-"
"WHY ARE MY LEGS GONE!"
"The infection didn't go aw-"
"WHERE THE HELL ARE MY LEGS!"
"They had gangr-"
"I-I, no, I, no, NO, NO!"
"Knives, get a hold of yourself!" Vash yelled, pinning down his brother's arms. Knives was shaking and he clenched his teeth. No one spoke a word. In the silence, a cloud formed from all of the fear, pain, grief, regret, and disbelief of the high running emotions filled the room and suffocated them all.
