Hope you guys had a great weekend!
The hospital is dark. There is only the dim emergency lighting on the walls, giving out a dim glow. I shiver as a draft blows across me from an unknown source.
What strikes me is the silence, the entire floor is empty. All I hear is the sound of my shoes on the cement as I slowly make my way towards the main entrance of the pediatric unit.
A sharp crack and a flash of light makes me jump. I look behind me to find that one of the lighting fixtures on the wall had fallen off the ceiling and short-circuited, causing a sudden zap of light.
I breath and swiftly make my way forward. I see a sliver of light beyond the doors to the unit. I begin to panic as there is still complete silence.
I slowly push open the heavy doors. I squint in the bright light. "Prim?"
No response.
I wonder how the pediatric unit has all this electricity. Was it power stored up for emergencies? For health emergencies?
"Prim!" I shout, and I hear a clacking of footsteps in a room down the hallway. I make my way over quickly.
Before I can reach the door, it bursts open to reveal a wild-eyed Libby. She is dressed in white, sterile scrubs with a mask over her mouth. I look past her get a glimpse of large hospital equipment and a heart monitor surrounding a small bed. I hear beeping.
"Katniss," huffs Libby, pulling down her face mask, trying to keep her voice calm, "I need you to go back."
"What's wrong with Aiden?"
"He'll be fine," says Libby hurredly, "I need you to find Haymitch."
"Let me see Aiden."
"Katniss, he's okay, go find Haymitch. He -" Libby's insistence is getting on my nerves, why can't I see Aiden.
"Aiden, is my goddamned son," I say, trying to push Libby out of the way, "I have a right to see him."
"Katniss, I know, but you need to find - he has to tell you something."
"What does Haymitch have to tell me?" I splutter, crossing my arms over my chest.
Libby seems to relax a little as my attention is diverged from Aiden, "I don't know but -"
My hunting instincts snap back into place, the predator is distracted and the prey can make its move. In a split second, I had pushed past her and pulled open the door.
. . .
I almost don't recognize Prim in her hospital get-up, her back is turned towards me as she hovers over the bed. It's only when she looks up to see who has entered to I recognize my little sister.
She doesn't talk, and just goes back to tending to Aiden but I know my sister well enough. I've seen that look in her eyes when a patient brought from District Twelve to my mother was not doing well. I walk along the walls of the room and peer over at Aiden, wondering to myself why he wasn't crying.
My breath catches. Aiden's face is red as he struggles against Prim's hands trying to take his blood pressure. Tubes are connected to his body again. Many of them. One IV snakes from his arm connected to a bag of fluids. Little sensors are connected to his tiny chest, monitoring his heartbeat.
But worst of all, is the one connected to his face. It explains why I couldn't hear his cries. All I can describe it as is a miniature oxygen mask, covering most of Aiden's mouth and nose. I can see the walls of the mask mist up and clear with every one of Aiden's breaths. It is connected to a whirring machine that I guess provides him with oxygen.
My shaking hands cover my mouth.
"Aiden . . ." I find myself whispering.
What was wrong with him? What was wrong with, with my son?"
I jump suddenly as the doors slam open and a disheveled Haymitch barges in, Libby at his heels, "This is a sterile environment Mr. Abernathy, please do not -"
"Shut up." snaps Haymitch, "I ain't going anywhere near the baby." In three strides he reaches me and grabs my arm. "Come on sweetheart, we need to get you on the right page."
He leads me firmly out of the room, shooting a dirty look in Libby's general direction.
Any feedback is appreciated very much! Stay awesome guys!
aypproductions