Ray staggered back on his nimble paws drunkily. Tyson's screams-uh, squeaks, -Fell on deaf ears. The feline could hardly believe what he'd just seen. Right now, so many things were running through his head.
What else has she been hiding?
Why didn't she tell them this?
Will she survive.....?
Dammit Ray, Now's not the time to be spacing out! He mentally cursed himself. With fire glowing in his golden eyes, Ray lashed out.
TYSON! I'm going to get Mariam! Stay with her, stop the bleeding! Ray yelled as he turned and bolted up the street back towards the SaintShields' place. No way was Hilary gonna bite it on his shift.
Ray could feel sweat matting in his fur. He could've sworn that he was running even faster than when the pooch brigade had chased him onto the freeway the other day. His sharp claws made clicking sounds on the rough pavement as Ray darted in and out between car tires. The pavement was hot, so hot it was actually burning the fleshy pads on the bottom of Ray's paws. But now was certainly no time to go shoe shopping. Not that he'd find any that would fit him anyway.
'Almost there...'
Mariam yawned as she stretched and forced herself to sit up in bed. Mariam's eyes had lost most of the bloodshot, but it still wouldn't take a genius to figure out that she'd been crying some time earlier. Kai and Max had also awoken from they're slumber, upon not feeling Mariam's soft hands running through their fur anymore. Max looked up sadly. Mariam smiled warmly down at him, and forced her still-tired legs out of bed. She wasn't woken up for training today either. But you know what? She doubted she cared. Mariam stretched again, and plodded over to her dresser. After piling on bracelets, she roughly ran a brush through her straight hair and put it into it's usual ponytail. Mariam pulled open the shutter blinds shielding her room from the harsh sunlight. Mariam groaned and covered her eyes, squinting against the bright light. That's the bad thing about mornings; and afternoon movies. You get temporary blindness. Which, of course, meant you couldn't see.
And as fate would have it, it was time for a little bad luck. Mariam swung around to get the rest of her clothes and change, but as she did, she rudely stubbed her toe against her bedside table.
"OW!" Mariam screamed, not ceasing to hop around on one foot while holding the injured toe in one hand. Kai and Max couldn't hold back the laughter. Mariam groaned again. Sending the boys a glare, she walked over to her bedroom door, and slowly opened it, listening for signs that her team weren't at home.
Ray sucked in his breath as he struggled to fit through the small opening left in the patio screen door. Thank the lord that Dunga was too damn stupid to close the thing all the way. With one last tail swing and hind leg power thrust, Ray shot into the living room, and collided with Mariam as she stepped out into the hallway.
Mariam shrieked and fell backward with a thud. Max and Kai's ears pricked, and the two jumped off the bed, running to Mariam and Ray's aid. Ray was too ecstatic to explain properly, and Mariam couldn't understand anyway. But Kai and Max caught a few words.
Hilary...... Father...... Drinking..... Dying......HELP! The battered cat screamed as he eyed Mariam picking herself up off the floor.
"Ray! What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be over at Hilary's!?" Mariam said, rubbing her now even-sorer toe. Her head didn't feel exactly great either. But Ray didn't give her time to acknowledge the pain. The feline latched into Mariam's pj pants leg, and began to roughly pull her towards the door. Max and Kai, now understanding the severity of the situation, too began to forcefully tug at Mariam's leg.
Struggling to keep herself on her own clumsy two feet, Mariam waved her arm wildly while trying to grasp a small understanding of what was going on. Max kept barking, Ray was somewhere in between hissing and mewing, and Kai was just pulling.
"WHAT is going on?! Do you guys have rabies or something?!" Mariam screamed in protest as the combined strength of the three pets pulled her out to the padio door. Max suddenly let go of her, and ran for Mariam's shoes. He brought them over one at a time, but still with incredible speed.
Mariam, by now, was slowly getting the point. Something had happened; Something bad. Mariam grunted and dropped to her knees, pulling on her converse in a rush. She quickly pulled open the door.
"Where to? Hilary's?!" She said, breathing hard. Ray, Max and Kai let out anxious cries, and Mariam bounded out the door. The boys sweatdropped.
"Oh, yeah." She said, running back up the steps and gathering the stunned trio in her arms.
Tyson paced the floor in a frantic state. Stop the bleeding? How the hell was he supposed to stop the bleeding?! He was a frickin' guinea pig! Not a god damn nurse! Tyson's head was in turmoil, and he looked around scared. The father was seemingly out on the couch, and the foul stench of beer and coagulated blood filled his nostrils.
Ray... Where ARE you? Tyson thought. He had no choice; Tyson ran into the living room, climbed up Hilary's dad, and scuttled over to the telephone on the table beside the couch. What was the number people called for the ambulance? 911? Wasn't that the police? Oh well, they'd have to do! Tyson knocked the receiver off hook, and began to jump onto the assigned numbers. 9... 1... No! Dial tone already! The rodent would have to do it faster this time around. Tyson pulled the receiver back to it's place, then knocked it off again. 9... 1... DAMMIT! Third times a charm right? Tyson repeated the process.
"Hello 911, please state your emergency." A woman's voice answered. Tyson began frantically screaming into the phone.
HELP! MY FRIEND'S HURT, I NEED AN AMBULANCE!
Too bad the only thing the woman on the phone heard was squeak, squeak, and squeak.
"Sorry, could you repeat that?" Tyson went wide eyed. Then screamed it even louder. The rodent thought he had taken in so much air that he would pop like a furry balloon, sending corn and seeds flying. But Tyson's cries were still overshadowed.
"Is this some kind of joke? The use of the 911 number is not for playing around. I say good day to you, and don't let it happen again."
Tyson couldn't believe his feathery little ears. All because of Kenny's damn potions! Why? Why had he been so god damn stupid to mess around with them?! The world champion could feel the tender drops of his tears bounce off his whiskers and onto the coffee table. All because of him,
Hilary, his one true love, would die! All faith that Tyson had stored within him leaked away with the tears he had shed. Slowly, and pitifully, Tyson slunk back into the living room. To a startling sight.
It was Hilary! Her body had changed position on the floor! She was coming to! With a quick scurry, Tyson hurried over to the fallen brunette. He didn't get a chance to utter before Mariam, Ray, Max and Kai burst through the door. Mariam let out a shriek of surprise.
"Hilary! Ohhhh......" Mariam fell backward slightly, and had to grab the doorframe for support. The blunette could almost feel tears behind her eye lids, but this wasn't the time to sit and cry! Mariam threw herself forward, and she grabbed Hilary's hand, relieved to find a pulse. It looked as if the wound on her temple had dried blood, so it must've stopped running. Mariam sighed in relief, and then took a deep breath. With a quick motion, Mariam whipped out her cell and dialed 911 rapidly. Tyson scoffed.
Now why didn't I think of that?
Mariam paced the cool tiled floor of the hospital. After seeing what she'd seen at that house, the place felt, and smelt sickly. With the stench of death. Mariam sighed, and sat down in the waiting room chair. Twiddling her fingers in her lap, she glanced over at the 4 animals crammed into one medium sized doggie carrier. They were crammed up so tight that Max's long snout was starting to look a lot... Less long. Mariam couldn't find a good parisisim to finish that metaphor. Either way, they were really squished. And really sad.
Ray looked like he'd just gotten back from World War One. The feline's fur was matted, and his eyes were filled with concern. How did he feel? Was he thinking that maybe, just maybe, he didn't reach Mariam fast enough to obtain help for Hilary? She didn't know; But Mariam didn't exactly think Ray was in the mood to discuss his feelings either. Mariam looked away before any of the boys noticed her burdened gaze on them. The other people in the emergency room all looked the same way. Not very distressed, but if Mariam strained her ears, the voices of a doctor and a worried wife were heard clearly.
Miss, you have to calm down. We're unable to release any information until we know you are mentally stable to handle it. Mariam heard more sobs. But finally, the woman's shaky voice cleared the crying.
I'm calm. Please, just tell me! Please...? Mariam heard the nurse sigh. A loud one too. That couldn't be good news...
Miss Patterson, your husband has sustained critical, life threatening injuries that our professionals are trying their hardest to refine and prepare. We don't know if he will make it or not. That was all it took for the woman in question, Patterson, to break down into uncontrollable tears. Mariam winced.
That person was about to lose the person she loved most. Hilary was just a friend to Mariam, and they'd only been friends for a short while. Mariam wasn't crying, but tears could be felt, just like the moment when she first saw Hilary's mangled body lying on the floor, surrounded in pools of her own blood. The most blood Mariam had ever seen in her life, from a little head injury! Mariam sighed and groaned. Then her mind wandered to the other people in the waiting room, sitting around her. Did they hear that woman's strangled cries of fear and sadness? Were they all losing someone they knew and loved too?... Did they even care? Mariam swallowed hard. Finally, her mind wandered down to the small resident in the cage.
Tyson... What was he feeling right now? It didn't take a friggen smart ass to know that Tyson had loved Hilary. Back when they were escaping Gideon's battle tower, just as they were about to breach the exit, Mariam could hear Hilary's distressed cries for Tyson. And Mariam also saw the glint in Tyson's eye when Hilary said she was worried. Mariam shook her head and gnawed her top lip. Another quick look into the cage made Mariam almost gasp.
A crying Tyson. Mariam wondered... How did it feel to lose someone you love?
A door handle from the hallway down from the waiting room creaked. Kai's ears pricked, and he bolted upright, forgetting he was in a low-rise carrier. The stubborn thing wacked his head square in the ceiling of the confinement. Mariam, by this time, had also heard the steady footsteps proceeding down the glowing white hallway. Another nurse. It was the same one that had attended to Mariam when she first came through the door along with the paramedics with Hilary on the stretcher.
Mariam stood abruptly, and briskly walked over to the woman clad in light, faded green.
"How is she?" The blunette asked quickly. The nurse raised her hands as if to calm her down. Mariam took a deep breath, and prepared herself for the answer.
The boys at this time were all up and this it? Was Hilary okay? Tyson felt like his heart was about to beat through his tiny chest. Max blinked. Once. Twice. Kai looked like Kai; But you still sense small tension in him. Ray cringed. Especially when Mariam began to walk back to them with her head down.
"They said she's gonna be alright. We can go in and visit her now." The boys got so excited that they rocked the carrier. It tipped, of course, and fell to the floor. The puppy, rabbit, cat and guinea pig inside hit the patterned front harshly. The whole lot had waffle-like imprints on their faces. Mariam smiled at this. With a sweet motion, Mariam grasped the kennel and proceeded down the same hallway the nurse had just emerged from. Nurse said room 123, which was surprisingly close. Mariam opened the steel door.
Hilary looked up at them with a weak smile on her pale face. Mariam smiled back and knelt to the floor, then opened the carrier door. The Pet Brigade filed out and made their way onto Hilary's high hospital bed, surprisingly with great ease. Mariam herself walked over and took a seat on the chair next to Hilary's bedside table. The room was pretty big, a great window with long white curtains, a few lamps, a TV system and a few other small knickknacks that made it feel as homely as humanly possible for patients.
"Hey you." Mariam said to Hilary, who still had a weak look in her eyes. But her grin widened when Tyson crawled into her balled up hands in her lap. Hilary looked down at Tyson with the bright face and then back to Mariam.
"Hi. The doctor says I'm gonna be okay really soon, but I have to stay overnight twice to make sure. My head still hurts." Mariam nodded solemnly.
"You wanna tell me what happened?" The boys all looked away from the brunette, as if they were disappointed. And Hilary noticed too. But clearly rejected the offer. Though it seemed more like a demand.
"No." Mariam couldn't force it out of her; She knew that. Mariam nodded again, and crossed her arms, leaning back into the frame of the chair.
"Is there anything you want me to, well bring you or something? You know, from home?" The SaintShield saw the girl flinch; Not a good sign.
"No. I don't want anyone going in my house while I'm away." Hilary said, stroking Ray sweetly. Max whimpered. Hilary forced another weak smile, and blew a kiss to the chocolate dog. Max whimpered a short answer. Kai was at ease, on Hilary's side farthest away from Mariam. He appeared to be listening intently. Mariam persisted on.
"Visiting hours last for another hour. There has to be something at that house you want. Just tell me. I'll be careful, of whatever your afraid of in that house." Mariam said, looking up at Hilary with kind eyes. But they still held some fire of bravery, and the BladeBreaker knew she was serious. Hilary sighed.
"If you wouldn't mind, there are some song lyrics in my closet in my bedroom on the second floor. Dad will probably be asleep, so don't wake him. Could you bring me those with some pens?" Hilary asked, giving Mariam a pleading look. Mariam nodded.
"Keep the guys till I get back." Hilary nodded back and watched Mariam's retreating form as she strolled out of the room. Hilary looked down at 4 of her closest friends.
"Thanks for everything. You make life worth living, my friends." Hilary said as she pulled them all close. Tyson squeaked. Ray mewed. Max barked. Kai did absolutely nothing.
About twenty minutes later, Mariam returned. She hadn't bothered to read any of what she was bringing; Those were Hilary's special collections .It would be practically a crime for her to do that. Mariam smiled warmly at what she saw. There was Hilary, nestled warmly in the bed with Tyson, Ray, Max and Kai curled around her warmly. Mariam tiptoed into the room and lifted the boys into her arms, each waking. Laying the documents on the table, Mariam hushed the questioning boys then headed out of the room. But before Mariam closed the door, Tyson blew his sleeping sweetheart a small kiss. Mariam tiptoed out, lightly closing the door behind her.
Hilary awoke a couple hours later, and it was around two in the morning. But Hilary was brimming with energy. Creative energy. Hilary looked around the room thoughtfully. Mariam had done as she said, and the lyrics to Hilary's song were on the table along with a pencil and pen and some liquid paper. Hilary smiled as she reached across her chest and drew the sheets close, reading over what she had so far. It bothered Hilary that she had no one to sing them; perhaps she could mail them to a celebrity? Oh well. The song wasn't even finished, so Hilary had a lot to think about. The brunette sat up in bed, and put pen to paper. This would be the chorus, she decided.
An hour later, and Hilary was finished. Took a while to write a single chorus of eight lines.
'Enh', she thought, 'long enough.' And with that Hilary drifted off to another peaceful sleep to await the surprises morning would bring.