Rain pattered against the window panel. My eyes stayed glued to it, regardless of the door opening. I'm fine. I don't know why I have to stay here. I'd rather be sitting with Owen, Achilles, Annalise, and Ben. No word on Ellie or Melrose. There is nothing wrong with me. They need to be focusing all their attention on the people who actually need it. "Well Ms. Minami, you have three bruised ribs. Nothing to serious but they can be a bit of a pain. We will give you some pain killers and you will be good to go." The doctor said, filling out a paper.
I didn't bother to look at her, keeping my eyes focused on the window. "Ellie.. Melrose.. how are they?" I asked, barely above a whisper.
A few seconds passed. "They are both in critical care. The gash on Ms. Cotter's collarbone to her back nicked an artery in her neck. If the paramedics hadn't gotten there when they did, she would have died. The artery has been closed but she will need intensive surgery to close the gash. As for Ms. Adley, the Venasaur broke her right leg, along with fracturing one of her ribs. She is in a coma. I'm sorry to tell you this news but hopefully the other doctors will be able to pull off a miracle. This is your prescription. Get dressed when you feel ready. Your friends are waiting outside of Ms. Cotter and Ms. Adley's room. Good day to you." SHe said sadly, walking out of the room, leaving me to my thoughts.
If I had gotten there sooner, I could have saved Ellie. Then she wouldn't be in here. Gods.. I'm so useless. A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. My eyes stayed trained on the window. The door creaked open, footsteps approaching my bed. I felt the side of the bed go down, as weight was applied. "Are you okay?" It's Ben.. My eyes wandered to his chest. Then to his neck and chin. Up past his mouth and nose, until I reached his eyes. I've definitely done this before. He seems to be the only one whagcan get , me out of these trances. I tried to sit up in the bed, yet a sharp pain shot through my chest area. He placed one hand on my back and the other on my shoulder, easing me up to a sitting position. "Everyone is pretty depressed out there. Owen hasn't left Melrose's bed side. Same with Achilles and Ellie. Emmett and Annalise are exhausted. They are sleeping right now. This whole atmosphere is bringing me down. I just want Mel and Ellie to be okay. They didn't deserve this."
"If I had gotten to her earlier, she wouldn't be laying in that hospital bed, nearly dead. Achilles wouldn't have to go through this type of pain again. I wasted time getting a flying Pokemon because I can't swim. If I just sucked up my fear, Ellie would be fine. She is hurt cause I'm a screw up." Ben tried to interject. "No.. you didn't see it. Her body was sinking.. blood was pooled around her body. And to see the look of pain and worry in Achilles' eyes.." My voice cracked. I could have prevented it.. Ben took hold of one of my hands, letting me lean into his shoulder.
He sighed. "I froze up." What? "When you left, Venasaur threw Owen into a tree. I didn't know what to do and I froze up. My body wouldn't move. Venasaur used razor leaf, and cut me. That's when I snapped out of it but.. it was pretty much worthless after that. Owen was hurt, Mel was near dead, Annalise and Emmett had free fell into the wood. Once I befriended Venasaur, I heard another scream.. I thought it was you. It was such a sinister scream, filled with pure pain. But you still were hurt. If I hadn't of froze up, I could have befriended Venasaur sooner, and helped Owen and Mel sooner. Then I could have gotten to you before Gyarados attacked you." His voice was hardly above a whisper.
My hands made their way to his back, gripping onto his shirt tightly. "We are supposed to protect them. But we can't even protect ourselves." I cried into his shoulder. Ellie.. Melrose.. Both of them took care of me when Charizard hurt me. But I couldn't help them. I couldn't protect them. How can you make up for something like that?
"W-what? She.. I'm on my way." Owen slammed the phone down. Ben and I dropped our bags, running out the door with him. Gods, please don't be what I think it is. We ran all the way to the hospital, straight to Melrose's room. Owen burst through the door, breathing heavily. He stared down at Melrose, his eyes lighting up. "Mel.. you're awake." His voice cracked, near tears. Ben and I backed out of the room along with Achilles, wanting to give them some alone time.
We went into Ellie's room, sitting down around her bed. Her body was still a sickly pale. Guilt ached through my body. I'm so sorry Ellie. "You alright, Summer?" Achilles asked, looking down at the ground.
I sighed heavily. Is it that obvious? "I'm not sure.. If I had gotten to the two of you sooner, Ellie wouldn't be laying here. She wouldn't be in pain or hurt almost beyond repair."
Achilles looked up to me, a look of shock etched on his face. "Summer, this is not your fault. You couldn't have prevented this. No one could have. Ellie is going to be fine. The artery was closed and the gash is stitched up. It'll take some time, but she will get better. Along with Melrose. It's all part of the job, and they know that. This job isn't easy. It can be dangerous at times, no doubt. Yet.. we continue to take those risks to save the people and Pokemon we love. And if you ask me, it's a risk worth taking." He smiled slightly, looking down at Ellie. "But, you guys should head back. The school will start to wonder where you are. I'll call the school and have them relay a message if anything happens." We both tried to protest, yet he held up his hand. "I promise, you two will be the first to know. Now get over here and gimme a hug." After we said our goodbyes to Achilles, We did the same with Owen, Emmett and Annalise.
Ben and I walked back to the Ranger Union in town, collecting our things and began walking back to the school. "I guess we are pretty lucky that guy lent us his umbrella." Ben said softly, as rain began to patter to the ground. I didn't respond, keeping my eyes trained on the ground as we walked. He held the umbrella over both our heads sighing. We continued to walk in silence, listening to the rain. The smell of wet grass calmed my nerves. I just want Ellie and Melrose to get better. If that had been Ben in either of those situations, I don't know what I would do.. How I would react.. "What are you thinking about?"
"I'm glad you're safe." I whispered. "If you had gotten hurt.. I don't know what I would have done." I see no point in not telling him the truth.
His arm went around my shoulders. "Same here, Summer. You mean a lot more to me than you think." My stomach fluttered at his words. What is this feeling? "It's going to get better. I promise."
We walked in silence until we arrived at the Ranger School. As we got closer, I noticed Candice and Archie standing in front of the main entrance. Goosebumps littered my arms, going unnoticed. It is actually really cold with all this rain. But I wonder what Candice and Archie want? Ben and I walked up to them, shivering slightly. "You two are to report to the principle's office at once." They said emotionless. I gulped slightly. Are we in trouble? I really don't need this right now. I've got enough on my mind.
Regardless, we walked to the principle's office, an eerie silence looming over us. The Principle sat in his chair, invested in one of his books. Ben cleared his throat. The principle looked up. "Ahh, just the two people I wanted to see. You two must be wondering why I called you down here upon your return." We nodded our heads, wanting him to continue. "Well, I was watching the news yesterday morning and they were covering a surfing competition down in Water's Edge." Oh gods. "The cameraman caught sight of the lead Ranger, Achilles, who is a pro surfer, if you didn't know. So, out of interest, he recorded Achilles. A scream was heard in the background and then another from Achilles. The entire scenario that unfolded was broadcasted for the entire region to see." He flipped on the t.v..
Achilles was surfing, a news reporter talking in the background. "It is an excellent treat to see pro surfer and lead ranger, Achilles Montario, in action! He is a seven time winning-" She was cut off by a scream in the distance. "What was-" Another shout cut her off. The camera flipped to Achilles caught in Gyarados' tail.
"Achilles!" Ellie screamed. The reporter stood there in shock, not knowing what to do. The cameraman turned the camera to us. "Go find out what the commotion is in town. I'll be fine." She instructed.
We all nodded our heads, turning to run to the town. "Go follow them! Get this on camera! You, bring that camera over here." The reporter ordered. The cameraman began to follow us. The broadcast split in two, one side showing what we were doing, the other showing Ellie and Achilles. We re-watched the fiasco with Melrose. My eyes adverted to Ellie's side of the screen. I watched in horror as Gyarados lashed out at her, mid-capture, somehow tearing her skin. A hellish scream escaped her mouth. She lay floating in the water, half unconscious. That's when I went back. I looked back to the other half of the screen. Annalise and Emmett were thrown into the woods. Ben hugged me and whispered in my ear before I ran off. The cameraman kept filming Ben, the screen going back to one picture. The Venasaur roared at Ben, trying to catch him in it's vine. Ben's body suddenly tensed. His eyes looked fixated on something off in the distance. Owen gasped, before getting thrown into a tree. Ben didn't move. My heart thumped in my chest, almost painfully. I grabbed onto Ben's hand, needing reassurance that he was still alive and near. Venasaur used razor leaf, slashing at Ben's body and face. It seemed to knock him back to reality. He began a capture on the angry Pokemon. Just as he finished the capture, two people in the distance ran off into the woods. Did I see that right?
The screen cut off from the town, the beach back as the focus. The cameraman filmed Chikorita and I on Pidgeot. We swooped down, saving Ellie from sinking. Pidgeot used Air Slash, allowing Achilles to be freed. A sigh of relief could be heard from the reporter and cameraman. The camera was pointed on Achilles as he swam to the beach. A grunt was heard. Just as the camera was directed up, all that was seen was a splash in the water and Pidgeot flying away. A few second passed. Suddenly, Gyarados jumped out of the water, taking me with him. My chest ached, remembering the pain of the impact. I watched myself float up in the air. I look like a rag doll. Just some lifeless piece of flesh. Ben's grip tightened slightly. The others approached the beach as I fell back in the ocean. Nearly two minutes passed before Gyarados swam to the top again. I held my breath for that long?
Our principle switched the T.V. off. He looked at us almost emotionless. Archie and Candice blocked our exit, grinning slightly. Are we in trouble or something. "What you two experienced was one of the most traumatizing situations any ranger has ever been through. You both handled it maturely and professionally. I had my doubts about this decision previously, but you two have proved to be more than what meets the eye. Summer, Ben, I am happy to tell you both that the two of you will be promoted to Top Rangers as soon as you Graduate ranger school." He smiled.
Ben looked to me, his face holding shock. Is this really happening? Most people don't get promoted to Top Ranger unless they have at least five years of experience along with a diploma from high school and Ranger School. This is too amazing to be true. We are going to be okay. It is going to work out. He wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me to his chest. My arms went around his neck. "We are going to be okay." I whispered, smiling against his neck.
Alright, kinda short but hopefully you enjoyed. -A
