So for the first maybe 4/5 chapters (?) Will focus on Chrono's healing process.
Chapter 3 - Time
And you say that it's alright
And I know that it's a lie
From the black in your eyes.
Birdy - All About You.
Rosette gasped aloud, springing her back up from the bed she was laying in. She looked around noticing that it was daylight. Then she remembered the image from last night. Panic crossed her face and without a second thought, Rosette jumped out of bed and ran out and along the dorm corridor towards the last room where Chrono had be sleeping before for the past few days, not caring that she was still in her nightwear. She didn't even bother to knock this time.
Rosette barged into the door and entered the room. The curtains were closed, the bedside lamp on. And Chrono lay on the bed. Not moving. She walked up towards his bed, looking at his chest for a sign of life.
He was breathing. But slower than usual. His forehead was heavily bandaged, blood was soaking through already, blood staining the pillow case. And parts of his hair was clotted red.
Rosette let out a sigh of relief. "You're such an idiot. I thought you had died." She placed his bangs away from his bandaged forehead.
Chrono heaved out a long and ragged breath. "...sorry." He muttered, his voice croaky. Eyes remaining closed. Rosette shook her head with a soft smile. "I'm just glad you're okay. How are you feeling?"
He winced in pain before replying. "Terrible. My head..is pounding." Rosette couldn't imagine the pain he was in. Or what he had to endure.
"Here let me change the bandages." Rosette placed her fingers on the side of Chrono head. He cried out in pain, a shocking wave pulsed through his body. He pulled his head away to the side. "No. It's fine. Really, Rosette." He smiled with reasurance.
The cry caused Rosette to step back in surprise, hands trembling. "I'm sorry." She said, and meant it. Now this was the waiting game. To see how long it will take Chrono to heal. If he ever did.
A drop of the blood from the pillow fell to the floor. Chrono's usual sun kissed skin was pale, golden eyes heavy. This was only day one of the healing process. Rosette didn't know if she could survive seeing him this way for any longer, knowing she can do nothing but wait. Rosette hated waiting..
So she ran. Tears blinding her vision. She didn't know where to run to, didn't even care. But she was caught of guard when she had bumped into someone. "Rosette? What on earth is the matter?" Said Sister Kate with a worrying expression, placing her hands on the blonde nun's shoulders. Rosette looked up and wiped away her tears.
"Go and get dressed dear. Then let's sit down in my office. I'll order up some tea." Sister Kate insisted. Rosette could only nod in response and walked towards her room to get changed.
Rosette sat in the chair at Sister Kate's desk holding a cup of warm tea in her palms. Sister Kate sat back, taking a sip.
"It's Chrono isn't it?" Sister Kate asked.
"It's just so hard..seeing him that way." Rosette finally said, tilting her head down looking into the tea. "There's nothing I can do to help. He hasn't told me the risks of what he's done, neither has the Elder or Father Remington. But I know there's a chance this won't work." She gritted her teeth in frustration, fists clenched around the tea cup.
Sister Kate let out a sigh before replying. "Give it time. You're not helping yourself by running away from the issues." It wasn't like Rosette to run away from anything. Despite the emotions she felt towards the demon, she couldn't imagine the amount of pain Rosette would feel if her companion died. A part of Sister Kate felt that maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea if Chrono didn't survive. She'd be free to fall in love with a human man and live out a normal life. A part of her cursed herself for thinking that way too. "You've been through hell and back for these past few years, Rosette. Take it easy, it's all over now." Sister Kate offered her a comforting smile.
It's all over now. Rosette didn't think it was. She couldn't rest until she knew Chrono was going to be fine.
Rosette smiled back. "I guess I've never really known how to take things easy, right?" Rosette awkwardly laughed, placing a hand behind her head.
"You'll learn in time." Was Sister Kate's reply.
Rosette proceeded to finish off her tea then stood up ready to leave. "Thank you, Sister Kate." She nodded as Rosette turned away to walk out the door, passing by Father Remington as she left, closing the door behind her.
"Ah. It's good to see you, Father. I would of liked this turn of events to have been run by me first." She said, talking about what they did with Chrono that night.
"To my defence, Sister, it was his decision. Chrono wanted it done as soon as possible to preserve Sister Rosette's life, regardless of the risks."
"The risks that Rosette has not been informed of, correct?" Asked Sister Kate. Remington nodded.
"Chrono wished for her not to know. She is already worrying enough as it is." He had recommended that Chrono tell Rosette of the risks, the truth would come out eventually and Rosette would not have liked being kept in the dark.
Sister Kate looked out of the large window, overlooking the order's garden. "I'm just worried."
"Worried about what?"
"Worried for that girl's future." Sister Kate said in deep thought. When was she ever going to stop worrying for that boisterous nun? It seemed bad luck had a habit of following her around. Or perhaps it was that devil to blame.
"Well whatever may happen, I have no doubt both of them will overcome the odds. They always do." Remington said with a smile. He could never help but root for the usual pair. But maybe this time it wouldn't be that easy.
But Father Remington's words brought little comfort to Sister Kate's ever worrying mind.
Rosette spent the rest of the day in bed trying to clear her head. It was strange having so much time to simply relax rather than worry what Aion's next plans where or how Joshua was doing. Thankfully, Joshua settled into the order quite nicely. Sister Kate had asked whether or not he wanted to join the order though Rosette was against that idea of putting Joshua into the dangers of demons considering he is an Apostle. To Rosette relief, Joshua's decision was undecided. Rosette's whole future was undecided, she never thought she'd still be alive once they killed Aion and retrieved her brother. The result of Rosette continuing to live on was the price of Chrono's suffering. Stupid idiot...Always trying to make things right.
Sighing, Rosette stood up and pushed the sheets off her. "Give it time. Take it easy.' Sister Kate said and maybe for once in her life, Rosette would actually take her advice and listen to her. Well that would be a first.
Rosette wasn't going to give up yet, when did Rosette ever give up? Her mind was made up.
Getting out of bed, Rosette swiftly made her way down the hallway and into the bedroom Chrono was currently staying in. She didn't bother to knock. She opened the door and walked inside. Chrono lay awake in bed, head turned towards the large window as he watched the sun beginning to set behind the buildings. Most of the blood had been cleared away, someone must of replaced his bandages from his forehead though fresh blood was already seeping through. He still looked pale.
"Hey." She said, almost coming out as a whisper. Chrono turned away from the lowering sun rays.
"Hey." He replied, a sorrowful smile on his pained face. He tried to pull himself up but couldn't. Neither of them didn't know what to say next.
"I'm sorry if I made you run away like that.. I know this is a lot for you to handle."
Rosette said on the chair next to Chrono's bed, hands resting on her lap. She shook her head. "You.. don't have to be sorry. I don't know what came over me. It's just I can't do anything to help you. I hate being so helpless." She confessed.
"You're never helpless. Don't ever think that. You being by my side is all I ask of you." He locked eyes with Rosette in a tender expression. He always had a way with words at making her feel better.
"Thanks, Chrono." She breathed out to gather her strength to what she was going to say next.
"If we're going to get through this together then I don't want you to hide anything from me." She slid of the chair to bend down against the bed, eyes level with Chrono.
"Promise me." She said.
"I promise, Rosette." He said.
"Then I want to know the truth." Rosette said sternly.