Warmth. I feel...warmth.
Where is it coming from?
I sub-consciously moved towards the source of the heat. It's almost like there's a gravitational pull, I couldn't resist it dragging me along.
I didn't want to resist. It was so warm...so comforting...
A flurry of whispers suddenly surrounded me; some understandable, some completely foreign.
There was one sweet voice in particular that caught my attention. I strained myself to listen closely, hoping I could decipher what it was trying to tell me.
...You...
The whispering was faint, hidden behind a wall I couldn't pass. What is it saying?
...Let go...
...You...let go...
Me? Let go? I didn't understand...how do I get to you? Show me the way...
The blanket of darkness suddenly lifted, exposing me to a blinding light. I was in a...room? White surrounded me from all angles.
There were no walls, floors or ceiling. It was just...white, and empty. I glanced beneath my feet, wondering what was holding me up. I knew I should have been scared seeing the large, gaping hole below me.
But strangely enough I was calm, at peace even. I felt like nothing could harm me, like nothing bad would happen in this open space.
When I returned my gaze upwards I was surprised to find a tall, rectangle box encircling me. It stretched as high as the eye could see and the sides were made of thick, clear glass.
I reached out to inspect the object holding me hostage, my fingers sliding easily down the smooth, cool surface.
Then the sweet, young voice returned. It was louder, but still muffled. Trapped behind the wall.
...Your fault...
My fault..? What's my fault? Did I do something wrong? I glanced around but there's no one here except me.
...I...
...Blame you...
You blame me? For what..? I don't- I didn't do anything!
What's going on? I don't understand...what is this voice? Where is it coming from?
...Why does it sound so familiar?
My eyes caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure off to my right. I spun around and pressed my hands against the wall, enjoying the cool, calming effect the feeling of the glass gave me.
The figure glided forward, thick gloops of...liquid? drooping from the edges of the figure and falling off into the bottomless pit below us.
I couldn't make out a face, but I could tell it was the silhouette of a child. A boy, perhaps?
I knelt down so I was face-to-face with whoever was on the other side of my box.
"...Hey, are you the voice? What are you talking about?"
The little boy stood silently, his head down and his arms dangling by his sides. He lingered there completely motionless, the black, oozing droplets continuing to roll down his body.
"Hello..? Little boy?"
The child before me moved for the first time in minutes, one of his limp arms rising up, his little fingers stretching out as his palm was laid flush against the glass.
I automatically moved to place my hand near his, completely dwarfing his own with my much larger adult sized hand.
A wave of emotions suddenly hit me all at once, the calm, peaceful feeling evaporating and quickly being replaced by ones I'd rather not have.
My skin crawled as uneasiness settled in my stomach. My legs began to shake and my heart was pounding fiercely within my chest, the blood rushing to my ears.
A felt dizzy and nauseous as I was hit with a flurry of moving pictures, all playing inside my head.
Water. It's dark.
There's noise. It's loud.
A flash of light. A deafening crackle of sound.
The world's dark again...
I can feel a wet substance coating my face...my body...
My head is under something. I can't breathe. My lungs, they're burning. My eyes, they sting.
The sound's disappeared. It's quiet, and I'm all alone.
I reach out, but there's nothing in front of me. Just a large, vast blanket of darkness covering me again.
A cold, salty stream suddenly runs into my mouth, gushing down my throat and clogging my windpipe.
I'm choking, gasping for air. But there isn't any.
I'm drowning...
Someone, please...save me...save...
Wait. I can see something. There's something else down here with me. A person. They came to save me. I'm saved!
They're coming closer. Closer...
It's a boy. A little boy is here, he's with me. I'm not alone anymore.
He's floating over. I reach out to him, ignoring the burning pain inside me.
I call out to the boy, but he doesn't respond. Why isn't he responding? Can't he hear me? Can't he see me?
He's not moving. The current is the only thing pulling him towards me. Is he okay?
Are you alright...little boy?
I entwine my fingers with his, dragging him to me. I've got you! We're safe now.
But no, you're still not responding.
His eyes are closed, his mouth relaxed and lightly agape. His mousy brown hair is waving gracefully around his pale face.
Is he sleeping? Why are you asleep?
I grip the boys shoulders and shake him as best I can in the space we're floating. His eyes finally snap open.
You're awake!
But...something is wrong. His forest green eyes are dull and lifeless, holding no shine within them.
...Why? Why won't you wake up?
I place my hand against his chest, my movements sluggish in this thick veil we're encased in.
No heartbeat. I can't find it...
Perhaps it moved to the other side? No...it's not there either. Where is it? Where did it go?
Why are you...
Please, wake up...
Wake up, little boy...I need you. So please, come back to me...
...Wake up...
"Wake-...Han-..."
What's this? Another voice? Who's there..?
"...Up. Wake up..."
Where are you? I can't see you...
"Han...Hanako...Wake up!"
I felt myself suddenly being thrown back, the body I'd been clinging to torn from my grip as I pulled back into the land of the living.
A gasp rose from my chest as the world spun wildly around me. I tightened my grip on whatever my hand was holding, squeezing my eyes shut and biting my lip to try and hold back the bile looking to make it's way out.
"Hanako?! You're finally awake!"
I placed a hand to my forehead, the intense heat pouring from it burning my cold, clammy fingers. Where am I..? Am I still at the hospital?
"W-who..." I cleared my throat before trying to speak again. "Who's there?"
"It's me, Makoto. Are you okay? Don't push yourself, you have a fever!" My head hit the pillow once more as my cousin pushed me back down, restricting me of anymore attempts to get up.
"Wh-...What time is it? Is this...still the hospital?"
"No, you're back at the hotel." Makoto's voice was a welcome reassurance. I sighed with relief, glad to be rid of that horrible place.
"But...how am I in my bed? I don't remember making it to the room..."
"Actually, you've been sleeping in the boy's room. Haru let you borrow his bed."
"What?!" I sprung up at those words, instantly regretting it when my vision began to spin again. I clutched my head with the one hand available and tried to climb onto the floor, but Makoto was having none of it.
"Hanako, calm down!"
"Please, I-I need to go rest in my own room, in my own b-bed. I-... I shouldn't be in here!" I can't believe I've been napping in the boy's room. In Haru's bed no less! Oh he's going to kill me. What would he think of the person he hates the most sleeping in his bed?!
I can just imagine his response, and the way he'll treat me now. I thought his death stares were unbearable, now he's probably going to hiss with rage as well at me whenever I'm near too!
Just when I thought I was starting to get used to Haruka's clear distaste of me, I've gone and made it ten times worse. This is just great...
"Stop, Hanako, it's alright! Haru was the one that brought you here after all."
"...What?" I can't believe what I'm hearing. Haru? He's the one who...wow. And here I thought the blue-eyed swimmer avoided me like the plague because he was afraid he'd dry up like a prune just by being near me.
"So...Nanase helped me?" I guess I shouldn't be that surprised. I mean, he did try to help back on that old bridge as well. If it hadn't been for him, I would've... I shivered at just the thought. Push it away, Hanako.
Push it away to that little black box and forget all about it. Yeah...there's no reason to bring up bad memories.
Makoto gave gentle nod, a relieved smile appearing once he was sure I'd settled down.
"I...where is he? I have to thank him for-" I cut off mid-sentence when I suddenly felt my head spiral out of control. I fell back onto the bed, the springs squeaking from the impact.
"Hanako...! What's wrong?" Makoto was quick to jump up from the edge of the bed and lean over me, pressing the back of his hand to my forehead while the other held my cheek. The warmth that'd enveloped my hand suddenly disappeared.
I must've been holding Makoto's hand in my sleep. Was that where the warmth in my dream was also coming from..?
"Your fever's rising again." Makoto's lips pulled into a concerned frown, his eyebrows knitting together. It's a facial thing he's always done even as a kid whenever he got really worried about something. I always found it useful to tell how my cousin was really feeling in situations.
Makoto's a natural liar, at least when it comes to how he's feeling; so it's nice to know that I can at least tell when something's obviously bothering him.
"I'll go wet the cloth again since it's dried out."
"Wait!" I grabbed Makoto's sleeve before he could escape me like back at the hospital. "Where's Nanase? I...want to talk to him."
Makoto smiled at her after a brief pause. "He's asleep at the moment," I followed my cousin's finger as he pointed to the single bed beside the one I was on. I clapped a hand over my mouth, just now realising how loud I'd been since waking up. "Don't worry. Haru's usually a light sleeper, but I don't think he's been sleeping too well the last few days."
I glanced at Makoto, seeing the worry hidden behind his smiling face. He caught my stare and beamed back at me, pushing up his false pretense. "I'm sure he's fine though. It's probably just the training sessions that are exhausting him."
I gave a small nod. I knew that wasn't the reason why, and deep down Makoto did too. But I also knew he wasn't going to say anything about it, or question the swimmer either.
Now that I knew Haruka was actually in the same room, I found it incredibly hard to focus on anything but him. Makoto had gone into the bathroom joined to this room, so I was left all alone in the company of a sleeping teen.
I carefully rolled onto my side, letting out a sharp hiss as pain spread across my rib cage. Taking my mind off the ache, I stared at the hoodie clad back in front of me. His side was rising slowly and evenly, indicating Haru was in a deep sleep.
Has he really not been getting enough sleep ever since the accident? I felt like I could relate a little, as I also haven't been sleeping too well. It might just be because I'm still a little shaken up over it, but why is Haru also suffering?
Is there a reason that he hasn't told anyone about?
Makoto returned with the cloth, placing it on my forehead once more. The cool temperature was an uncomfortable surprise at first, but as the seconds ticked by the feeling became more and more pleasant.
The growing headache was being pushed back already as my temperature slowly dropped down to normal.
My cousin explained that I needed to rest more – much to my reluctance – and promised to be back in time to wake me for dinner. I agreed after much convincing on Makoto's part and got comfy once again.
I watched Makoto close the door behind him, uttering a quick "have a good sleep" before it clicked shut.
Once again, I was alone in a room with none other than the sleeping Haruka. I stared at him for a moment or two, wondering when – if – I'd ever get the chance to ask if he's okay from the accident.
I guess it was kind of obvious that he is though. I mean, he wasn't kept back at the hospital and all the swimmers had a session to go to today.
He seems perfectly fine. I'm flooded by relief at that thought. I'd been so worried and guilt ridden last night for not even once thinking to ask Haru if he'd made it out okay without any scrapes or bruises; or worse...
But it seems my concern wasn't needed. I rolled over, extremely slowly this time, to my other side so I was facing the wall. I took a deep breath, the smell of feint chlorine and something else I couldn't quiet place invading my nostrils.
I buried my face into the pillow, finding the smell rather enticing. Even though I'd just woken up I was already feeling drained just from that little conversation with Makoto.
My eyelids were beginning to droop and I could feel my heartbeat slowing down to a more evened out pace.
The sound of rustling sheets behind me was barely a distraction for even a second before my mind went back to being hazy. Probably just Haru rolling over in his sleep...
I let out a long yawn before finally falling into the clutches of sleep, embracing the warm, comforting sheets around me before slowly drifting off.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
So this one's a little shorter than the last, mostly because I felt the next scenes after this didn't really fit into the...atmosphere? of this chapter I guess.
But I hope it's still worth the read regardless of it's small size. Lot's of sleeping in this chapter and not too much going on, but I can say that the next one will be more lively and introducing another Free! Character (finally) into the mix.
I'm excited to start it honestly because a lot of...stuff and back story is going to be revealed in the next chapter, which will then lead to (again, finally) some more story progression! Yay, we all want that, don't we?