The distant beeps of monitors float in and out of Ali's head, not fully registering. The stiff back of the waiting room chair doesn't bother her. She's staring at the scuffed linoleum, feeling less alive than ever. People walk by, knowing not to ask if she's okay. The smell of harsh chemicals wafts through the halls, adding to the foreign surrounding. Ali hadn't slept in three days, as long as she'd been in the hospital waiting room. Kai and Keaton were both unresponsive, with major brain damage. Inklings and octolings don't have bones, so their bodies were bruised, but intact. Their heads, however, had suffered from intense trauma. Ali had walked in to see both of them, and had talked, cried and begged for them to wake up, but neither had come to, yet. She'd donated ink to Kai, who shared the same pigment. Keaton had required an anonymous donor.
"Excuse me, can I offer you something to drink, or eat? You've been here for a while. Maybe some nourishment would do you good." An inkling with long tentacles and warm, brown eyes smiles kindly down at her. Ali Slowly looks up and stares. Her throat is dry and she croaks out, "No, thank you." The nurse looks around and then sighs. Your friends are both still unresponsive. We're doing everything we can, but you're going to have to consider the options if we can't... bring them to." Ali slowly processes this and then stands, towering over the nurse. "No." She says monotonously. "I won't kill them." The nurse bites her lip and looks around again, "I know this a hard decision, you can take all the time you need. Just consider their quality of life-" "They'll wake up." Her voice cracks, "They have to." The nurse nods and turns away, "I'm sorry for upsetting you. If you'd like a bed, just ask one of the staff members." She walks away, the tap of her shoes fading. Ali looks down at her feet, not knowing what to do.
The octoling walks down the hall and stops in front of room 168. She focuses on breathing and walks in. Two occupied beds are separated by a curtain. Ali sits in the seat by the bed and reaches out to take his hand. Kai's eyes are closed, his face pale and peaceful. He looks angelic, like the paintings of old religious icons. Wrapped around the top of his head are bandages. Ali rubs her thumb over the back of his hands, cooler than usual. In his arm is a needle, and a tube leading to an IV drip. Ali's ink is being transfused into his system. "Hey... Kai. It's me, Ali." She feels the tears well up and she swallows them. "You know, after you wake up, I'm not letting you out of my sight. Please come back to me." Ali looks at him a moment more before standing and walking around the curtain. She peeks over at the inkling on the bed. Keaton lays on the bed, breathing lightly. Ali walks closer and peers down at him. Her mind is conflicted, and still in disbelief. A nurse walks in and tells her she has to check vitals. Ali walks out of the room and leans against the wall. Pinching the bridge of her nose and closing her eyes, she feels a wave of fatigue wash over. She opens her eyes and walks up to the nearest desk, "Excuse me, I'd like a bed, please."
Under paper thin sheets, Ali lies on her side with heavy eyes. She thought she'd have fallen asleep quickly, but her core is unsettled, still. Every time she starts to drift, the image of Kai and Keaton lying on the sidewalk flashes through her mind. Ali relaxes her tense muscles and imagines the past month: Seeing Kai every day and doing turf wars together. They'd made it a goal to try every restaurant in Inkopolis together. They'd walk together and go shopping, picking out matching shirts. Ali remembers a night after a long day when Kai had surprised her with a room full of roses and lit candles. She'd been overwhelmed with emotions. They'd made fiery love, and reached peak passion. Ali holds herself together in the hospital bed, remembering the feeling of skin on skin. They'd both been heated and soft. Ali feels errant tears on her face and doesn't bother to wipe them away. She weeps softly until the darkness overcomes her, leaving her in a restless sleep.
She wakes up to the sounds of yelling and running footsteps. Bolting upright, Ali jumps out of bed and flings open the door. Doctors are dashing down the hall towards room 168. Ali pushes past the squids until she's at the door frame. She stares, wide eyed at the scene. The bandages on Kai's head are ink soaked and being unraveled by a doctor. Nurses are reading charts off and rushing around the small room. Ali feels two hands pulling her back and she wrenches herself free. More hands grab at her, taking her from the scene. She hears herself yelling and struggles against the hands, but there are too many. She feels a needle in her arm and bats it away. Looking down she sees a pink stream from where the needle had been pulled. She feels dizzy and suddenly so tired. Her legs buckle and she hits the floor.
Ali wakes up in a hospital bed, with a pounding headache. She rubs her temple and then breathes in sharply, remembering the events that had taken place. "Please, sit up slowly. You were given a sedative." A nurse is standing by the door, and Ali recognizes her as the nurse from before. Her brown eyes look heavy and Ali feels words leak from her mouth, "K- Kai. Is he okay? What happened? He was hurt..." Ali looks helplessly at the nurse as she looks down, avoiding her gaze. "His stitches ripped. The pressure on his brain was too much. I'm sorry." The nurse looks at her, somberly. "We lost him." Ali feels panic strike her body all over. Her heart jolts and she grabs at her head, unable to accept it, "NO, let me see him. Where is he? He's fine, he has to be." The nurse presses the call button on the wall and says levelly, "He's gone. His body liquefied already. I'm so sorry." Ali stares at the sheets, unable to move. "No, no no." A male inkling walks into the room and speaks in a low voice as he slips an IV needle into her arm. Ali doesn't even fight it, she welcomes the wave of calm that takes over. She doesn't fight the sedation as it numbs her. The nurse and the doctor talk in the background as she lays back and stares at the ceiling.
Waking up, Ali sits up and pulls the needle out. The machines beep loudly as she stands and walks over to the bathroom. She looks in the mirror, and doesn't recognize herself. The girl in the mirror is pale, and sickly looking. Her cheeks are sunken in and her arms look thinner. Her tee hangs off her body loosely. How long had it been since she'd eaten? Did she care? Nothing mattered. He was gone. Ali hears a knock on the door, "Ali? It's nurse Jess, can you come out and talk to us?" Ali opens the door and looks at the brown eyed nurse. She takes Ali's hand and leads her back to the bed. Ali sits robotically and looks at Jess. "Are you in a state to talk?" Ali nods. Jess pulls out a small jar, it fits in her palm. Inside is hot pink liquid. "We thought you'd like this." Ali reaches out and takes the jar and holds it to her chest, not feeling anything. The nurse stands there, silently as Ali holds the jar. "I'll give you some time." She walks out, leaving Ally with nothing but a jar of ink.
Sorry it took so long to update! Thank you for reading. I appreciate feedback!