Chapter Nine
After leaving Shadow's room, Sky soon found himself pacing the floor of his own room. Bridge was still hanging out with Jack, Syd, and Z, leaving the dorm empty and quiet for Sky to think.
He sat on his bed, his elbows balanced on his knees and his chin resting on his right fist. Shadow may not be able to see it, but Sky could. She needed help and she needed it badly. It was one thing for her to risk her own life, but the lives of her teammates and fellow Rangers was not something Sky would let Shadow gamble with. No, he was going to make sure that she got the help she needed whether she liked it or not.
It was just past midnight. The sky was dark, blanketed with clouds. All around him Sky could hear the crickets and the nightlife of Newtech City. Glancing back at the dark windows of Headquarters, he straightened his jacket and headed out into the night.
Sweat drenched her body, soaking the sheets that were wrapped around her like a cocoon. Shadow lay in bed, unable to sleep, tossing and turning to find a position that didn't make her either hot or uncomfortable.
Looking at the clock that shone green beside her bed, Shadow groaned when she saw it was only twelve thirty. Would the night never end?
She unwrapped herself from the blanket prison and pushed the covers to the bottom of the bed with her feet. She rolled onto her side, placing her head on one arm and stuffing the other under the pillow. Minute after minute passed, and still sleep eluded her. Sweat continued to roll off her body in sheets until, finally, the bed was saturated with her sweat.
"I told you, you needed help." Sky stood above her, arms behind his back and legs akimbo.
"Leave me alone." Shadow cried, nearly in tears as she closed her eye and tried to sleep. It was useless, and she opened her eyes once more.
"Sorry," Sky shook his head, the moonlight that slipped through her covered windows catching in his hair, "can't do that. At least not until you admit that you need help."
"I…don't…need…help." She said, trying desperately to control her rising emotions. "And I don't need you constantly looking over my shoulder." Sky shrugged.
"Have it your way then." And with that, his image disappeared. Shadow bit her trembling lip and closed her eyes one last time, hoping and praying that this time she could sleep.
Sky traveled the back streets and alleyways, careful to remain hidden in the gloom of night until he reached his destination. He knocked on the rusted metal door twice before it slid open. Glancing around quickly, to make sure nobody had followed him, or would see him enter the building, Sky ducked inside.
The laboratory was owned by an old friend, a business associate of his father's, one that Sky knew he could trust to keep everything quiet.
"What sort of trouble have you gotten' yourself into this time Sky?" The older man asked once the door had slid shut behind the Ranger.
"It's not me Dr. McCloud," Sky said, following the scientist through the maze of hallways and corridors, "it's for a…" he stopped himself before he let the word friend slip from his tongue, "for an acquaintance of mine."
"Ah, and who might this 'acquaintance' be?" Dr. Harvey McCloud asked as he opened a door with a swipe of his keycard.
"A fellow cadet," Sky replied, "I don't feel comfortable telling you much more than that. Besides, I don't really know much about her condition other than the fact that she's got a bad addiction to Mage Flower."
"Mage Flower?" The older, graying man looked at Sky in shock. "That's serious indeed. How long has she been going through withdraw?"
"Almost five days now."
McCloud shook his head.
"That's not good," he said, "any more than six days without a fix could kill a person. It's a good thing you came to me about this Sky, I have just what your friend needs."
Two o'clock. Shadow sighed and rolled over onto her back. The black spaghetti-strapped tank that she wore clung to her torso, glued to her skin by the sweat that covered her. All through the night hallucinations and visions had plagued her, keeping her from the sleep that she desperately needed.
A tear slid down the side of her cheek and into her ear. Shadow let out a frustrated cry and beat the mattress with her fists. She wanted this to end right now, she was sick and tired of it all. If only she could have one little hit, one fix, she would be able to sleep. But, unfortunately, she didn't have any drugs with her. She bit her lip to keep back another scream. The warm, coppery taste of blood pooled on her tongue as she forced the scream back down her throat.
Her hands began to tremble where they rested on the mattress and fresh waves of sweat rolled off her as the trembles moved up her arms and throughout her body. The withdraw was worsening. If Shadow didn't get a fix soon, she knew she could very well be dead by morning.
Sky thanked Dr. McCloud and hurried back to Headquarters. Once there, he made his way towards Shadow's dorm. If what Dr. McCloud said was true, Shadow didn't have much longer. The door to her room slid open with a gentle whoosh and Sky slid inside.
"Not you again," he heard Shadow mutter. He couldn't make her out as she lay on her bed, hidden in the gloom, but he could hear the pain and fear mingling in her voice.
"Yes, me again." Sky said, walking over to stand beside the bed. He looked down at Shadow in her pitiful state and, unwillingly, he felt his heart go out to her.
She was a mess, her hair tosseled from sleep and constant movement, her body drenched, and her clothing stuck to every inch of her.
"I brought you something." He said, reaching inside his jacket.
"Well this is a first," she muttered, glaring at him, "a hallucination bringing a present."
"You've been having more hallucinations?" He asked worriedly.
"Uh." Shadow smacked a hand against her forehead. "You're not a hallucination, just great. At least when you weren't real I could ignore you." She rolled onto her side, facing away from Sky. "I've already told you, Sky, I don't want, or need, your help."
"I think you do." Sky hesitated a moment before sitting on the bed. He reached out slowly, not sure why he was even doing this, and placed a hand on her shoulder, turning Shadow to face him. Her skin was cold and clammy beneath his hand. Once he was certain she was looking at him, Sky showed her the vial he held in his hands.
"This is the antidote," he said, "you need to take this." Shadow tried to turn away from him again, but Sky held her fast.
"I'm not taking it." She snapped, her eyes blazing in the pale light that filtered through the window, "I don't need it."
"Yes you do," Sky replied firmly, "you're going to die, Shadow."
"So what? At least it would be my decision." Sky let his hand drop from her arm in surprise.
"You'd rather die?" He asked, confused. She stayed silent for a moment, not answering his question. Her eyes closed, but when they opened again, Sky could see the tears shining in them.
"No," she whispered, shaking her head, "but I could die if I take that." She nodded her head towards the light pink liquid in the vial.
"You don't know that for certain. At least with this you have a chance at a normal life." Shadow bit her lip, and Sky could see the thoughts running through her mind.
"Will you stay with me?" She asked after a long silence. She sounded so helpless, like a little child. How could Sky tell her no?
"Alright." he said. Shadow reached with a trembling hand to take the vial. Sky helped her to sit up and, with a look of determination, she swallowed the liquid antidote.
It tasted sweet on her tongue, like honeysuckle, but going down her throat it burned as badly as fire. Shadow coughed violently, almost ready to throw up everything she had just swallowed. She looked at Sky.
"I don't feel anything." She said.
"Give it some time," he replied, "it takes awhile to take affect." Shadow nodded slowly and pulled her pillow up so that she could lean against it. Now the waiting started.
Three-thirty. Shadow's sweating and trembling had ceased only moments before. She looked at Sky hopefully.
"Maybe there won't be any side effects." She said.
"Perhaps." he replied, but Shadow could see the doubtful look in his eyes.
"I wasn't always like this you know." She said. Right then Shadow would have poured out her whole life story to him just to break the uncomfortable silence that had been hanging over them for the past hour.
"Always like what?"
"An…an addict." It took nearly all her strength to make that statement. "I only got mixed up with drugs two years ago." Sky looked at her blankly and Shadow forged on. "My parents weren't always around, and, when they were, they kept a close eye on everything I did. I wanted to rebel, you know, try and break the leash they had on me. So I started hanging out with people that I shouldn't have. It started out innocently enough, just a cigarette or two at the mall, sneaking beer into school dances. Then Tomis, he was my boyfriend at the time, decided that we needed to liven things up a bit…
"Come on Shadow," Tomis held the joint out, "just one little puff, that's all you need, and then you're soaring in the clouds." Shadow eyed the joint, unsure of whether or not she should take it.
"C'mon baby," he sidled up to her, dropping his arm around her shoulder and kissing her neck, "just one hit." She looked around the circle at her friends. All of them were high on either marijuana or some other type of narcotic.
"It can't hurt you." Tomis insisted as he brushed a stray strand of shaggy black hair out of his creamy hazel eyes. She took the joint from him and held it between two of her fingers, looking at it closely. Tomis elbowed her, prompting her to take a hit. Drawing in a resigned breath, Shadow lifted the joint to her lips and drew in a slow breath. Immediately, she felt the ground slip out from underneath her and her spirit soar higher than the heavens.
"I knew I shouldn't take it, but I didn't want them all to think I wasn't cool." She finished. Sky shook his head.
"Why do people always think they have to do what everyone else is doing jus so they-" Shadow didn't hear the rest of his statement, her body began to convulse and she couldn't control herself. Scared, her breathing increased and her heart felt as if it would burst from her chest.
"Shadow," she felt Sky's hands on her arms, trying to hold her steady. "It's going to be okay." She could see his face above her, and her eyes locked with his. He was talking to her, but the words never reached her ears.
Her shaking increased as the antidote took hold of her, fighting the addiction inside her body. A thin sheen of sweat formed on her face. Shadow struggled to breathe, gulping in air that never quite seemed to enter her lungs. Darkness swarmed around her, its fingers licking at her skin, ready to cover her when the time was right.
Sky's fingers dug into her arms, his touch cool against her fiery skin. Shadow tried to keep focused on his face, but as her body jerked and trembled violently, her concentration was continually broken.
The shaking grew uncontrollably violent, and Shadow's heart felt as if it would burst at any moment. She was lightheaded from lack of oxygen, and the darkness was inching closer and closer. Then it all stopped.
I love cliffhangers, they're so pretty. Lol. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and will review. Ideas are flooding my brain right now so look for another update in only a few short days. Don't forget to vote for who you want Shadow to end up with in the end. The count is currently at:
Sky-16
Jack- 26
