It has been hours since I passed out. It might as well have days for what I know. At this very moment the only certain thing for me is pain. I am hyper aware of it spreading through my body, reaching the most distant places, causing every nerve to tremble.
However, that is not the only thing making me feel uncomfortable. The ringing in my ears as well as the sounds around me that I cannot wrap my mind around is rather exhausting.
I dream of my father and mother. I remember the day we found Paige on the floor, the day I woke up from my accident even if anything before is still pretty much left in the fog. I rethink all the choices I have made before and since the first attacks, the decisions that brought me to this state.
I keep wandering in my thoughts and get lost in the memories of the past. I continue to do this until I start hearing other voices. I secretly hope these are the voices of the dead, the voices of people I loved when they were still with me.
This fantasy comes to an end when I realize that I hear Doc. He talks to the nurse when she fixes the pillow my head lays on. I open my eyes or at least I try to do so because it feels so heavy and the light is so bright it starts hurting my eyes immediately. Okay, it must have been more than days of me laying here.
The first thing I notice is them wearing masks and medical costumes I did not thing was still available for us humans. I feel pleasantly surprised until I start thinking about why are they wearing that much protection. I get scared for a second that my wound may be open and in danger. I do not want to feel that pain again.
I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, anxiety creeping through my bones.
Doc picked up on it. He came closer.
"Relax, you are going to be fine now." He tries to calm me down.
Then he lifts his eyes to the nurse and tells her to bring something I could not understand.
"What…" I try to ask of what is happening to me but nothing comes out. My mouth is drier than the cat food I had for lunch for a few days not so long ago. The memory of it makes me more nauseous than I already was and I instantly throw up.
Before I can even react, I see Doc handing me a bottle of water. I consume it at once like one would on a hot day near the point of complete dehydration.
"I am so very sorry, for this mess." I manage to apologize. I can feel my whole body shake as I get these words out of my mouth.
"You do not have to worry, Penryn." He says as he starts cleaning my mess.
I sit down on the bed and start observing my surroundings. For the first time I notice the amount of equipment in this room. I realize that we are no longer in the camp and I start to wonder what happened that night.
As if reading my mind Doc looks at me and sights.
"We did it," he says, "we did."
As soon as he says it, the doors open and I see the nurse walk in with Layla and Raffe following. He looks straight into my eyes and I can see his muscles easing as a sing of relief.
"Did we really?" I as without taking my gaze from him. I can feel myself sounding too bitter but we all know there is a good reason for it.
It is not bold to say that neither of us in this room is comfortable. Doc does not answer and exchanges looks with both of our intruders. Instead, he stands taller and says that he should be going now.
"You can take her with you, both of them preferably." I breath out not trying to cover my disgust. I can feel Raffe rolling his eyes at my comment but when I raise my own eyes I do not see it, he looks rather worried. And it makes me feel like I should be feeling this way as well.
Layla, on the other hand, looks pissed as she takes steps towards me like she is dealing with a child.
"Do not come any closer." I grith my teeth and move my way up the bed.
"You would be surprised." She smiles as she stops few feet away from me.
Good for me she leaves it like that and Raffe tells her to join Doc. I tell myself that I want him gone too but really his presence only makes me feel better, happy that he is alright and did not get shot or infected.
After the two leave the room we stay silent for a few minutes.
"How are you feeling?" Raffe breaks the silence and I cannot help but smile at his gentle voice that the source of comfort when I was out. Shortly after I can feel tears forming and running down my cheeks. This feels like a lot. Too much
I must look stupid now smiling with watering eyes. Great.
I shake this sensation of a feeling and look at him.
"I am not sure," I admit and try a joke, "must have been a hell of a shot for me to lay for so long. Wait, how long has it been?".
"It will be four years in a few weeks." He sighs and I can do nothing but stare. It does not last long, however, as he giggles at his silly attempt to be funny once again. If I doubted before, now I am sure his humor is truly broken.
He soon gets serious and says that it has been only a month. It does not get easier. It is a long time to be out and I think about Paige and my mom. Where are they? I get on the edge to panic but before I can Raffe sights heavily.
"He did not tell you, did he?" He lowers his eyes to look at his hands that I have not noticed he has been rubbing the entire time.
My confusion must be obviously splayed on my face like all of the feelings as he looks at me, takes one of my hand and makes it clear to me.
"There was no wound."
Hello, this one is a little shorter but I still wanted to upload. I hope you enjoy this little piece.
