A Song of Ice, Fire & the Dead
Chapter 13: Broken Things
"So, Aegon, what brought you to Japan?"
Aegon looked at Rei who had struck up an attempt to make conversation with him while they made their way to Takashi's family home. Aegon debated on what to tell her before replying.
"It was more of an accident how I got here," he said slowly as he gazed at the road ahead. "I had not intended to come to Japan, but I've made the best of the situation," he added with a smile.
"Do you have any family?" Saya then asked.
"Of a sort," Aegon said. "My mother and elder sister died when I was a baby, and my father… he was killed," he added.
"You're an orphan?" Rei's eyes filled up with pity.
"I was taken in by a family friend who raised me from a bean and taught me everything I know," Aegon replied.
"That include swordsmanship?" Saya deadpanned.
"Well, where I come from, swordsmanship is kind of needed," Aegon said to the pinkette with a smile.
"What about you, Miss Ciri? Anything interesting to tell?" Rei asked the ashen haired Witcheress who smiled and replied, "Well that depends on whether you believe me or not."
"We're in a world where the dead have come back to life and are attacking and eating the living. Try us," Saya snarked.
"Well, I'm an heir to the largest empire of my world which is filled with monsters such as ghouls, hags, spectres, werewolves, dragons and the like, and I have the innate gift to teleport and travel to other worlds," Ciri said with as much honesty and sincerity as she could muster.
"Really?" Saya deadpanned, a look of scepticism evident on her face.
"You were the one who said about being in a world filled with the undead," Ciri told her.
"Do you have any family, Miss Ciri?" Alice asked her.
"My mother, grandmother and grandfather died when I was very young, and my father wasn't an ideal sort," Ciri said with a touch of bitterness in her voice. "It was Destiny that I was the Surprise Child of the witcher Geralt of Rivia, the White Wolf, who took me in when I found him," she added.
"Surprise Child? What does that mean?" Aegon asked.
"A Surprise Child is the result of invoking the Law of Surprise," Ciri replied. "The Law can be invoked when you have helped someone and it can be something they have but do not expect or the first thing that greets them when they return home," she said.
"And you were the first thing that someone saw when they returned home?" Rei asked.
"Actually, I was the something my father had but did not expect," Ciri said. "Geralt invoked the Law when he helped lift a curse placed on my father, but what my father did not know was that my mother was pregnant with me at the time," she explained.
"And so, you were taken by Geralt?" Saya asked in righteous anger. "What kind of Law would allow someone to take away another person's child?" she demanded.
"You forget, Lady Saya. Ciri said her mother, grandmother and grandfather died when she was young and her father wasn't an ideal one," Aegon reminded the pinkette and Saya winced as she now remembered that detail.
"So, when did Geralt take you away?" Rei asked Ciri.
"Well, it was more of an accident how he found me," the Witcheress said. "A war had broken out and my home was invaded, and I was forced to flee. It was when I had found shelter with a kindly farmwife that her husband was rescued by Geralt who invoked the Law of Surprise and the farmer found me at his home and it was there, I met Geralt," she added.
"Was Geralt your captor?" Aegon asked cautiously.
Ciri laughed at this and said, "Far from it. He was as good as a father to me. He taught me everything I know, and he would go to the ends of the world for me if meant I would be safe. Him and Yen both would go to such lengths."
"Yen?" Alice echoed that name.
"Yennefer of Vengerberg. A powerful sorceress and my adoptive mother, she too taught me everything she knew," Ciri said.
"Sorceress? So, there's magic in your world?" Aegon asked.
"Yes, there is. Quite a bit in fact, as well as monsters and other races," Ciri replied.
"What kind of races are you talking about?" Rei asked.
"Elves, dwarves, halflings and gnomes," Ciri answered.
"What about orcs?" Saya asked sarcastically.
"Wouldn't know what those are, but it might be worth looking into," Ciri mused thoughtfully.
"So, you said have the ability to travel to other worlds," Aegon said carefully and Ciri nodded in confirmation. "Any chance that you could take us all to another world? Where it's safe from Them?" he asked.
"Perhaps, but I need to be careful how I use my gift," Ciri said in hushed tones.
"It comes at a cost, does it?" Aegon asked.
"That, and there are those hunting me because of my gift," Ciri replied cryptically. The Witcheress refused to say anymore of the topic and everyone then continued on their way to Takashi's house.
…
Takashi leaned against a wire fence, panting in exhaustion. "You would think we'd run out of people at some point!" he exclaimed through intake of air.
"In a city this large, very unlikely." Saeko sidestepped a lunge from an undead, before taking off its head with her sword. Before she could turn around to deal with the next one, Kohta fired a shot and the zombie's head burst in a spray of blackened blood and brains as the bullet connected with its skull. Saeko nodded her thanks to Kohta before she circled back around to prevent the group from being flanked.
Shizuka hung at the back with Kohta while Takashi and Saeko held off the horde of Them that stood between them and Rei's house at the front. They had originally planned on sneaking past Them, but a rogue soda can had gotten under Shizuka's foot. The loud crunch of aluminium being crushed underfoot had brought in a few of the undead. While only a few had drawn near, it was when one nearly bit Takashi that Kohta fired a shot, saving Takashi's life, but the sound that ripped through the air had brought the rest of the undead to their location.
Takashi avoided the grab of what was once an overweight middle-aged man before slamming the stock of his shotgun into the thing's skull before aiming his weapon at the group of Them and pulled the trigger. There was simply no end and the sound they were making was not helping matters. Then Takashi saw an opening and he nodded at Saeko who quickly followed.
Their goal was the go down an alleyway and draw the flow of Them down into it then escape back around and continue their journey. So far, it seemed to be working. As the two teenagers sprinted down the alleyway, purposefully knocking over trashcans along the way, the horde changed direction after them. Takashi and Saeko then doubled back and panted for breath beside Kohta and Shizuka.
"Are you both alright?" the busty blonde nurse asked as she clutched her bag to her chest tightly.
Saeko and Takashi both nodded before they continued on their way to Rei's house again. Takashi knew the way and he was apprehensive of what he may find there. He hoped to God that Rei's parents were alright and had not been turned. He had already killed Hisashi and he wasn't sure if he could live with himself if he was to kill Rei's parents. He hoped for Rei's sake that he was wrong. Soon Rei's house came into view; taking an intake of air, Takashi braced himself for what he might find within before putting his hand to the door handle and opened the door.
….
Approaching the medium-sized house, Aegon led the group with his sword drawn and ready. Ciri was treading softly beside Aegon, her own sword held in a low-ready position. Aegon looked at Rei who nodded in confirmation; this was the place. Thankfully, they had avoided any confrontations from Them on the way here. The few instances they had seen Them, They were just wandering around mindlessly and the group was able to sneak past relatively unnoticed.
Saya held the Luger her mother had given her tightly. So tight, her knuckles were white, and her hands trembled with nervousness as she stood beside Rei and Alice while Aegon and Ciri leaned on either side of the door. Aegon flashed Saya a warm, comforting smile and Saya gave a small smile in return before setting her expression in a more serious one.
If she was being honest, Saya was terrified to the bone. The mere of dealing with Them was not at all appealing, but the thought of having to kill a childhood friend's parents had her sick to her stomach and it was not something she wanted to consider at all.
Standing at the door, Rei glanced at Ciri and Aegon before nodding at them. Nodding back in response, Aegon put his hand to the doorknob and gave it a gentle turn. To his and everyone else's surprise, the door was unlocked and opened quietly. Rei stood with her bayonet ready, but nothing rushed out to greet them. Breathing a quiet sigh of relief, Rei watched as Aegon and Ciri silently entered the building.
As he entered the foyer, Aegon's eyes swept over the room carefully from corner to corner, window to window as he silently treaded through the room. When he reached the far corner of the room, Aegon looked back at the group and waved to the others. The coast was clear.
Nodding at Rei, Saya stepped inside and looked around as well before stopping beside Aegon. "Nothing looks broken or disturbed," she whispered quietly.
"Which might mean they hadn't been here when the outbreak happened, or they simply barricaded themselves upstairs," Ciri remarked softly. "Either way, it looks like a good thing," she added.
When Rei and Alice entered the house, Aegon pointed over to the kitchen silently. Nodding at Aegon, Rei, Alice and Saya then made their way into the kitchen to scavenge for food and other supplies if there were any. Quietly telling Ciri that he would search upstairs, Aegon silently ascended the staircase while Ciri then began to look for clues to the whereabouts of Rei's parents.
"This house seems bigger on the inside than on the out," Aegon muttered to himself, now on the third and final floor of the house. Unlike the previous two floors, the third floor was a ruined mess. Furniture was ripped and shredded to pieces; it was as though wild animals had been through the place but neglected the lower floors of the house.
A trail of red caught Aegon's eyes and he felt a bead of sweat roll down his back and he gripped Blackfyre's hilt tighter before he followed the trail of blood. He wanted to alert the others, but a simple shout would draw Them, and he was two floors away from helping. And besides, he did not wish to alert whatever had made that trail of blood that may still be up here.
Following the blood trail, Aegon peered around the corner and let out a gasp when he saw what had made the blood trail. In a bedroom, spreadeagled on the bed was a body, or what was left of it. It was likely a male person given the girth of it, but parts of the body had been bitten, chewed, or torn off. Other parts of the body and limbs were strewn about the room, but it was not that which alarmed Aegon.
Four vaguely dog-like creatures with pinkish skin and warped human faces were gorging themselves on the entrails of the body, growling lowly through mouthfuls of human flesh.
Perking their heads up at the sound of the gasp, black eyes looked at the intruding human. Rising to stand up on four limbs from their meal, the creatures growled from gore covered mouths. Aegon did not know what manner of creatures these things were but he raised his sword just in time as the first of the monsters leapt towards him in a flash of bloodied teeth and jaws opening wide.
…
With a sigh, Takashi and the others exited Rei's house. There had been no signs of Rei's parents being at home, but the place looked untouched. "Rei's father must've been at the east police station when the outbreak happened and her mother may be staying with friends," Takashi said to the others. "There's no reason to think anything bad happened to them right now," he added.
Saeko nodded. "We should go and see if Rei's father is at the East Police Station. It isn't far from here and besides, the station may have some additional ammo you and Hirano can use," she said.
"We are running a little low, Komuro," Kohta agreed. "The station is only a short walk from here if I remember correctly," he said.
"Then that's where we'll go next," Takashi replied. "Hopefully the others are having better luck than we are," he said hopefully before he looked up at the midday sun. He made silent prayer that his parents were alright.
…
The sound of roaring alerted the girls on the first floor followed by the sound of steel slicing through flesh. Saya dropped a can of food before sharing a panicked look with Rei. "Was that Aegon?" Rei asked in worry as she hefted her bayonet as she and Saya exited out the kitchen. Ciri was already halfway up the stairs when the sound of wood snapping and glass shattering had the girls all running up the stairs faster.
At the top of the stairs, Saya and Rei gasped at the sight that lay before them. Two strange looking creatures that looked to be humans twisted into a doglike shape lay motionless on the floor, blood pooling around them. Saya wondered if these creatures were an evolution of Them that had mutated or evolved into what these things were. The nearby window had exploded outward with the frame being splintered.
Ciri knelt beside the dead creatures, her face hardening into understanding.
"Ghouls!" the Witcheress spat distastefully.
"Ghouls? You know what these things are?" Rei asked her and Ciri nodded and replied, "Aye. Necrophages. Monsters from my world. Post-Conjunction creatures and they travel in packs!"
"Aegon? Are you there?" Saya called out.
"I'm here!" Aegon hollered back in a tired voice from around the corner. "Be careful, there's still one up here."
Saya stepped around the Ghouls and looked out the window and saw the third Ghoul laying on the pavement below. "How the hell did these things get here?" she asked.
"I don't know," Aegon said as he leaned against the wall near Saya. "Perhaps they arrived when Ciri did?" he aired as he looked at Ciri who nodded her head slightly and said, "It's possible."
Rei then saw Aegon was in pain and she asked, "Are you hurt, Aegon?" Worry was in Rei's eyes and Saya snapped her gaze to Aegon who was supporting most of his weight against the wall.
"They put up quite a fight those things. I am mostly fine, I wasn't bitten. I just took a stumble when one of them leapt at me and knocked me through a table. It had a more interesting journey out the window."
As he spoke, Rei then noticed the blood on the wall behind Aegon. "Aegon, we should take a look at your-"
Rei's sentence was cut short when Aegon suddenly rushed over to Saya, pushing her out of the way violently. A fraction of a second later, Aegon was struck in his chest and pulled out the window by the snarling beast that tried to attack Saya. The resulting force sent them both out tumbling out the window and down to the ground below with a crunch.
Saya gaped as she tried to comprehend what had happened.
Rushing to the window, Rei gasped as she looked down below. Thankfully, Aegon and the creature had landed on the soft grass and not on the pavement like the previous creature, but it did not look good regardless. Ciri was already outside beside Aegon as neither he nor the beast were moving, blood pooling around them.
"Aegon!"
…
"Are you doing alright, Miss Shizuka?" Kohta asked the nurse who was carrying the spear they had found in Rei's house. The spear had belonged to Rei's father and Takashi knew that Rei would appreciate them bringing back to her.
"I'm okay, Kohta," Shizuka said before letting out a sigh and adding, "I just hate walking so much! I'm not built for this exercise!" she complained.
Kohta gallantly attempted to keep his eyes away from the nurse's large chest as she stretched and nearly split the already tight shirt she wore. "I'm not a big fan of it either," he said to the nurse comfortingly. "Let's just hope we find Rei's father and be back in time for dinner."
Saeko looked back at the two and smiled at them. "We'll be back well before then, Hirano. Just make sure to cover our six. I'd hate for any of Them to sneak up on us," she said.
"Yes, Ma'am!" Kohta declared with a grin before he scanned the surrounding area as they walked. Despite how horrible this apocalypse was, it had truly allowed Kohta to come out of his shell. He had never had many friends before the outbreak happened and now, he had great friends who valued his contributions and his input.
When they arrived at the East Police Station, the scene was less than optimistic. Police cars were still burning and the doors to the station were torn off their hinges. Despite this, the group made their way inside the desolated building.
Once they were inside, they split into groups of two. Shizuka and Kohta went down the left hallway, and Takashi and Saeko went down the right. As they looked around, they realised the station had been overrun at one point. Dozens of dead bodies littered the floors with bullet holes in their heads. Approaching a desk, Takashi found a picture. "Saeko, look! It's a picture of Rei and her father!"
Saeko looked over and spotted a note beside the keyboard of the computer. "A note from Rei's father," she said as she picked up the scrap of paper and read what was written on it. "It says here that Rei's father took a small group of police officers and made their way to the local elementary school to look for survivors." Looking at Takashi, Saeko asked, "Doesn't your mother work there?"
Takashi nodded and before he could say anything, a frightened scream from across the room alerted them.
"Please don't kill Asami!"
Kohta stumbled back and fell over a chair as the women under the desk screeched at him. "I'm not gonna kill anyone! And who's Asami?!"
Eyes wide with fear, a young woman with light brown hair cut short and wearing a simple police officer's uniform of a white button-up shirt with a black tie and a short navy blue skirt and matching jacket climbed out from under the desk. "Asami is an officer in the Tokonosu Higashi Police Station's traffic department. She is not a very good one however," she said as her eyes brimmed with tears.
Rounding the corner, Takashi saw Kohta with the young police officer. "Are you okay, Miss?" he asked.
Asami nodded, looking back between Kohta and Takashi. "Asami arrived a few minutes ago. She heard noise, was terrified and hid." Casting her eyes down, she added, "Asami lost her weapon when running from a group of those things."
Takashi looked from the officer to Kohta. "We need to get out of here. Rei's father left a note saying that he was heading to the elementary school with some officers to look for survivors there. We should meet with the others and head over to the School as a group tomorrow morning," he said.
Shizuka nodded at this and said, "I agree with Takashi. We have been out all day, and if we keep going as is, exhaustion will kick in. The school has a great fenced in location and it should be safe if the police got there in time."
Looking at the fidgeting officer, Kohta offered her a smile and said, "My name's Kohta Hirano. These are Takashi Komuro, Nurse Shizuka Marikawa and Saeko Busujima." He pointed at each of them as introduced them in turn.
"It is nice to meet you all. Asami is glad some citizens are still alive at least," Asami fidgeted with her skirt before timidly asking, "May she come with you?"
Kohta spoke for everyone. "Of course, you can, Miss Asami! Now let's get outta here and get something to eat," he said and at the mention of food, Asami's stomach rumbled and she blushed in embarrassment.
As they left the police station, Takashi looked in the direction of the school with a quiet sigh. 'Hang in there, Mom. Tomorrow morning, we'll come first thing in the Humvee and get you out of there.'
…
"Aegon! Aegon!" Rei cried out as she rushed out the front door to kneel beside Aegon with Saya close behind her. Alice remained the doorway, with Zero clutched to her chest tightly, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
Ciri was beside Aegon and she quickly checked Aegon's pulse. "He's alive!" she said in relief and true enough, Rei saw that Aegon's sword was buried in the chest of the Ghoul and his breathing was shallow.
"Help me get this thing off him!" Ciri said and Rei quickly helped in pushing off the corpse of the Ghoul. Rei nearly squealed in excitement as she saw Aegon's chest rising and falling. "Saya! He's still alive!"
Saya quickly knelt on the other side of the man, tearing off a piece of her shirt sleeve and began wiping off the copious amounts of blood off Aegon's face. To the pinkette's relief, much of the blood was from the ghoul and there was a lack of wounds on Aegon's front. It appeared Aegon had been unbitten in the fall from the window.
"Sa… ya…?" Aegon said weakly.
Saya blinked back tears and flinched as Aegon coughed as a small amount of blood ran down the side of his mouth that was turning into a smile. "Yes, Aegon?"
Aegon took in a deep breathe, wincing as he did before he said, "Sorry I pushed you so hard." He gave a chuckle before coughing again.
Orange eyes narrowed into slits as Saya screamed out, "You sunnuvabitch!" She slammed her fist down onto Aegon's chest as tears poured from her eyes. "You fucking idiot! What got into your head doing that?! What if you died?! What would happen to me and Miyamoto!? And Alice too?!" she screamed. Her rage was blinding as she screamed and wept uncontrollably.
"Saya! That's enough!" Ciri said harshly. "Aegon saved your life," she reminded her.
"Yeah, what's gotten into you, Saya?" Rei asked looking at the pinkette incredulously. She had seen Saya lose her cool only twice in the time knowing her; back at the school when she had killed one of Them with a drill and the second instance at her parent's house. It was disturbing to see Saya so emotionally distraught.
Letting a pained sigh and trying to sit up, Aegon locked eyes with Saya. "I'm sorry, Lady Saya. I did not have time to think about it. I saw something moving out of the corner of my eye and my first thought was to get you out of the way," he said.
Growling in frustration, Saya folded her arms under her chest and looked away from Aegon. "You really are an idiot!"
Managing to sit up, Aegon looked at his left arm which hung limply by his side. It didn't look to be broken, but it was definitely dislocated from his shoulder. "If I had time to think, I still would have done it," he said to Saya.
Alice ran out as Aegon sat up. "Uncle Egg! I was so worried!"
Aegon gave a chuckle and replied, "I wouldn't leave without saying farewell, Little Alice. I still have yet to spoil my favourite niece after all," he japed. Grunting in effort, Aegon stood to his feet, his left arm dangling by his side uselessly. "We should head back. There's nothing for us here," he said.
Saya huffed in annoyance as she headed back into the house to grab the supply bag with Alice while Ciri and Rei stayed with Aegon.
"Are you sure you're alright, Aegon?" Rei asked worriedly. "That was quite a fall you took," she pointed out.
"Aches and pains are as much a part of knighthood as swords and spurs," Aegon replied. "What good does it do me if I give in to such pain?" he said.
"Even so, there's no reason to act tough or be the big hero," Ciri chided him. "No-one will think less of you if you ask for help," she said.
"I'll keep that in mind," Aegon said as Saya and Alice exited the house. "My sword," Aegon then added and with a tug, he pulled Blackfyre free. "Let's go!" Aegon took a couple of steps before he fell to one knee, using his sword to prop himself up.
"Aegon!" Saya was beside him instantly. "You're too hurt to walk back!" she said.
Aegon shook his head in response and got to his feet again. "I'm fine," he said as he swayed on his feet, sweat beading on his forehead. Looking at Saya and Rei, he asked them "May I use you both for support?"
"Of course!" Rei said instantly as she and Saya got on either side of Aegon, looping their arms under his shoulders.
Ciri took the bag of supplies from Saya and said to them, "You all carry him as best you can. I'll make sure the way is clear." Drawing her sword, Ciri moved out ahead of the group as Rei and Saya held Aegon up while Alice tottered along after them.
…
The sun had already set beyond the horizon and the moon was doing its best to illuminate the darkened city. Takashi was pacing near the Humvee while the others sat in concerned silence. 'They should've been back hours ago. My house was closer, and we even stopped at the Police Station!' Takashi thought to himself.
Sitting behind the Humvee and fiddling with her earrings, Asami looked up as Kohta approached her and sat across from her. "Hello, Hirano," the young police officer greeted him.
"Please, call me Kohta, Miss Asami," Kohta grinned and Asami smiled and nodded.
"Okay, but only you just call me Asami."
Blushing slightly, Kohta nodded before he offered Asami a packet of crisps. "Here, I know Takashi wants to wait on the others for dinner, but I thought you should eat something at least," he said.
"Thank you, Kohta!" Asami's face lit up with a smile and accepted the offering. "Asami just wishes she were a better officer!" she said mournfully.
"I bet you're a great officer!" Kohta blurted out before he blushed harder and quickly said, "What I mean is, you've survived this far so that has to count for something."
Asami shook her head. "Asami did poorly in the academy, and since the outbreak she has only fled and hid from those things."
Kohta shrugged and replied, "You do what you gotta to survive. That's what matters in the end." He looked up as the door to the Garage closed loudly.
Kohta looked over at Takashi who then made his way over to the door and outside. When he got outside, Takashi found Saeko at the top of the stairs pacing back and forth. "Saeko?"
Saeko looked at Takashi briefly before she resumed her pacing. 'Where the hell are they?' she asked herself silently.
Climbing to the top of the stairs, Takashi watched Saeko for a moment before speaking. "Saeko, I'm sure they're alright. Maybe they had to hole up somewhere?" he suggested.
Saeko shook her head and replied, "No. Aegon wouldn't do that unless absolutely necessary. The threat between Them and crazed survivors is too high for that."
Takashi frowned in thought before saying, "There's something between you and Aegon, isn't there?" he asked.
Saeko snapped her gaze at Takashi. "What?"
"You've been acting differently ever since you went off alone with him, and you've been a bit out of sorts since he left with the others," Takashi said.
"He saved my life, Takashi," Saeko said flipping her hair over her head. "And not in a small way. So, of course I'm worried for him as I'm worried about the others." She looked away from Takashi indicating she did not want to discuss the matter any further.
Takashi nodded, accepting Saeko's answer but he knew there was more to it than what Saeko had told him. Looking down the road, Takashi gasped and pointed at the street corners. "Look!"
Saeko spun around and looked as well. Her heart jumped in her chest as she prepared to leap forward but she stopped herself, her expression darkening like the night sky as she saw Aegon with his arms around Rei and Saya and Ciri was leading from the front. What had happened?
Takashi was stumped at seeing the larger man's arms around Rei and Saya but as they neared, he and Saeko flinched as they saw Aegon's injured blood covered state. He was not holding them; they were holding him up to prevent him from collapsing.
Without a word, Saeko sprinted forward to the group with tears burning in her eyes.
Stopping before the group, followed shortly by Takashi. They stared at the blood-soaked people before them. Even Alice was covered in the crimson fluid. Saya glared at Saeko and Takashi.
"Don't help! It's not like we've been carrying him for the past few hours!" she hissed out angrily.
Jerking themselves into action, Saeko and Takashi swapped out for Rei and Saya, helping Aegon walk. Aegon hissed in pain as his injured shoulder was manipulated in the transfer from Rei to Saeko. When she looked up at Aegon, Saeko felt her heart begin to pound with mounting fear at seeing Aegon's current state.
He was sickly pale, and he looked as weak as he felt. As they walked back to the garage, Aegon could barely lift his feet with each step. Saya opened the door and let everyone inside before closing the door.
"Miss Shizuka!" Takashi cried out when the door closed. "Hurry! We need medical equipment!" he said urgently.
Stumbling from the Humvee and going into autopilot, Shizuka began grabbing medical equipment and supplies. Despite being something of an airhead regarding many things and being somewhat oblivious to her surroundings, Shizuka truly excelled at medicine.
As Rei and Saya laid out a blanket, Saeko and Takashi gently lay Aegon down onto it while making sure he did not hit his head.
"Saeko! Get some water! A lot of it! The tap outside should be working!" Shizuka said. "Get me as many buckets as you can!" Saeko nodded before rushing off to do what she was told. Looking at Takashi and Ciri, Shizuka said to them, "I need you two to hold Aegon down if necessary." Turning to Rei, "Rei, I need your help to take Aegon's shirt off and pass me what I need!" Turning to Saya at last, Shizuka said to her, "Saya, stay by Aegon's head and talk to him, keep him lucid. He's lost a lot of blood and he may slip into a coma."
Everyone nodded in understanding, but Saya was struggling internally. 'This is all my fault! If I had been paying more attention, Aegon would never have been injured like this. What if he never recovers or dies?' Tear pricked Saya's eyes and her thoughts were interrupted as a cry of pain emanated from Aegon as Shizuka touched his ribs.
"His ribs have been fractured, his shoulder has been dislocated and there are numerous wounds on his back," Shizuka rattled off the list of injuries. "What happened to him?" she asked.
"He was attacked by Ghouls," Ciri said immediately. "Monsters from my world that somehow found their way to this world," she explained. "One put Aegon through a glass table and the other knocked him out the third floor window."
Takashi froze in realisation. 'Third floor? So, they made it to my house at least,' he thought to himself as he swallowed hard and looked at Rei. Rei nodded at him and said, "We'll talk about it after all this." Takashi nodded as Rei cut away the shirt and help Aegon to sit up and remove the rest of the cloth.
"Hold him still, Takashi. I need to clean his wounds or else they'll get infected," Shizuka said as she moved behind Aegon as Saeko returned with a bucket of water. Frowning in annoyance, the nurse said, "One will have to do, I guess. Rei, hand me the bottle of rubbing alcohol and the forceps!" Receiving a blank look from Rei, the nurse clarified what she meant, "The tweezer looking things."
Getting the idea, Rei dug through the medical bag and brought out the bottle of rubbing alcohol and the forceps. Saeko watched helplessly, feeling unable to do anything useful but she did not want to leave. Aegon seemed to be fading in and out of consciousness and had not spoken a word since he was brought in.
Shizuka then looked at Takashi and Ciri. "I need you both to hold Aegon with all your might. He's strong but with as much blood as he's lost, you should be able to hold him down," she said to them. Looking at Saya, Shizuka told her, "Get Aegon talking, keep him lucid."
Takashi and Ciri nodded as they took a hold of Aegon's arms and braced their weight against him. Saya moved to face Aegon, kneeling before him.
"Aegon? Aegon?"
Aegon blinked a little before looking up at Saya, "Saya?"
"Yes. It's me," Saya said with a smile. "We're going to fix you up now, okay? It's going to hurt, but you'll be alright."
Aegon gave a chuckle and said, "Aches and pains are as much a part of knighthood as swords and spurs. I'm sorry to be such a burden on you."
"You saved my life. Twice now! You're not a burden to me!" Saya said. Blowing a hair out of her face, she added, "Even if you were, I wouldn't leave you behind!"
"Are you growing soft on me, Lady Saya?" Aegon japed. Even then, it was clear his wit had not been dulled by the situation.
Blushing crimson, Saya spat out, "I wasn't finished! I meant that I couldn't leave you and be stuck with these morons! I was trying to compliment your intelligence and you make me feel the opposite instead!"
Aegon gave a grin before he gave a gasp, closing his eyes tightly, his hands clenching into fists. Shizuka had begun dabbing his back with the rubbing alcohol and it felt like boiling oil was being poured onto his skin. Clenching his teeth together and tensing his core, Aegon refused to make a sound as the blonde nurse worked at cleaning his back.
Tears sprung up in Saya's eyes as she watched Aegon endure what was without doubt horrible pain. As Shizuka finished cleaning his back, she then spoke to Aegon, "I'm going to start removing the glass from your wounds. Try not to move too much, okay?"
"I won't," Aegon wheezed out before he looked at Saeko and said to her, "See, I told you I'd come back. Like I promised."
"You came awfully close to breaking it!" Saeko bit out.
"But I didn't," Aegon said with a weak and tired smile. "I'm alive and- AH!" he grunted in pain as a particularly large shard of glass was removed from his back. "-well," he finished weakly.
Saeko shook her head in disbelief before saying, "You're unbelievable, Egg. When you're feeling better, I'd like to talk to you." Her gaze then slid to Saya. "Alone," she said pointedly.
Saya felt a cold shiver run down her spine as those words left Saeko's mouth. Saeko then walked away as Shizuka finished removing the glass from Aegon's back. "There," the nurse exclaimed as she finished wrapping a gauze around Aegon's back. "Now lay back, Aegon. We need to get some fluid into you. You've lost a fair amount of blood," she said.
"You don't seem too confident," Aegon pointed out as he looked at Shizuka's eyes. "Is something wrong?" he asked.
"No. It's just I've never done an IV before!" Shizuka admitted. "Something about piercing a vein and forcing a catheter in is gross!"
Ciri hummed in though before she looked at Saya, "Saya, do you have steady hands?" she asked.
Saya gawped at the Witcheress. "You're joking, right?"
"No. Completely serious," Ciri replied.
"But I don't know to do it!" Saya protested.
"I'll walk you through it every step of the way," Ciri said to her.
Saya looked at Rei and Takashi for support and received none. "Fine. But if Aegon dies, I'm blaming you!"
Shizuka then brought out the necessary items. An eight-gauge needle with a catheter, a strip of rubber IV tubing and an IV bag of saline solution that Saya's mother had given them before the attack on the estate.
Ciri then walked Saya through on how to do an IV. Despite what she thought, Saya's hands were steady as she did what Ciri told her to do. Soon enough the saline bag was hooked up to Aegon.
"Well done, Saya, well… done," Aegon said tiredly as exertion finally caught up with him.
"Aegon? Aegon!" Saya said urgently.
"It's alright, Saya! He's just resting now," Shizuka told her. Looking at her blood covered gloves, she said, "I need to clean up. Stay with him in case he needs something."
Shizuka then went off to clean herself up. Saya nodded and she noticed Rei and Takashi were heading over to the Humvee, conversing quietly with each other. Ciri was seated nearby.
"You did very well, Saya. Like a trained medic," the Witcheress complimented her.
"I don't feel like I did," Saya said sadly. "This never would have happened if I had been paying more attention!" she added bitterly as tears began to pour down her face.
"It's going to be alright, Saya," Ciri said to her gently. "Aegon's still alive. He was incredibly lucky to survive falling out that window like that and he saved your life doing so," she reminded her.
Saya shook her head silently and she stared at Aegon. A blushed crawled up her cheeks as she looked at Aegon's shirtless torso. Now that the chaos was over, she could appreciate the view without the blood or fear of him dying. It was hard for Saya to deny that she was intrigued by the mystery that was Aegon Targaryen. She had never been so intrigued by such a person. She then promised herself that if or when Aegon recovered, she would endeavour to find out more about the man who had saved her life twice now.
…
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: There! This chapter is done and dusted! It was a bit touch and go for Aegon there, but he'll soon be on the mend but he'll have to take it easy for the time being, but I imagine he won't want to sit still for too long.
Anyways, not much more to say, but I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I look forward to your reviews.
Be kind to one another,
Angry lil' elf.
EDIT 22/11/20: Changed some words, fixed some typos and added tiny little pieces in.