Day 22:
Alex rushes through the double doors, bucket in hand.
"I thought vampires couldn't get sick," she frets, as she has every time Hal has gotten sick in the past 18 days. She gives the bucket to Tom, who then holds it under a heaving Hal. Hal looks up at Alex giving her a nod of thanks, and then keels over and vomits something red, black, and putrid into the bucket. He coughs a few more times before motioning with his head for them to take away the bucket. Alex retreats into the kitchen to clean it out, as Tom wipes off Hal's face.
Hal's body is drenched in sweat, his eyes are watering. He can't take much more of this torture. "Please," he begs to Tom, "Can I please get out of this godforsaken chair?" He has been pleading to be let out of the chair for days now. I began with yelling and threatening, but today it is shear begging. He feels as though he will implode if he has to spend another day in this chair.
Tom backs a few feet away from Hal. A small grin is forms on his face. Alex appears beside him. She is grinning too. Their smiles infuriate Hal, but he doesn't have the energy to actually get angry.
"What are you two smirking like that for?" Hal says, with a slight tinge of annoyance.
"Okay!" Tom says as his grin grows larger.
"Okay, what?" Hal groans, very confused and slightly irritated.
"Okay you can get out of the chair!" Alex replies, far more chipper than normal.
"What?" Hal asks as tiny teardrops touch his eyes.
"We've talked it over, and we decided it is about time you got out of that chair," Tom explains
"Thank you so much!" Hal meekly chokes out between sobs.
"After three weeks of containment, I think you have served your time," Alex jokes, trying to lighten the mood. "But we aren't completely letting you off. I mean you did drink my blood—" she is cut off by a pained sorry from Hal. She knows how sorry he is, and she instantly feels bad for bringing it up. "Sorry, I know you couldn't help it." Their glances speak more than their apologies.
Tom undoes the last of the straps holding Hal in "But you are not completely off-the-hook."
Tom helps Hal out of the chair. Hal barely takes a step before collapsing on the floor. He hasn't been this weak since he was human. Even when it got to this point last time, it wasn't this bad. After taking a second to gain some composure, he tries to stand again. Tom and Alex help him up, this time with both of them carrying him. They make it to the stairs before they have to stop and rest. They pause every few steps, making sure that everyone is ready for the next climb. Eventually they make it to Hal's room. They lay him on his bed and he quietly chokes out a mumbled "Thank you." Tom attaches straps, connected to the bed, to each of Hal's wrists. The trio silently exchange looks of gratitude and kindness as Hal quietly goes unconscious.