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Ch.18: K.O*
I wrenched open my eyes as the sickening smell of anesthetics hit me like a slap in the face. I jacked upright, only to have someone's hand grab my shoulder and push me back down again. I blinked a few times, adjusting my eyes to the blinding lights. Elliot's worried face was above me, "C.J, are you Ok?" I nodded, finally getting to where I could speak. :"Y-yeah. I'm alright." He sighed, "The doctor said that your wound just opened up again and that you'd be fine if you got some rest. Oh, so I am in a hospital…. "PUN!" Patch hopped up next to my and curled up at the base of my neck.
"Elliot, did you tell Black and White about this?" He shook his head, "No. After I carried you here, I was too worried to leave you. As far as I know, Joker hasn't heard anything." I nodded again, "Good. Let's keep it that way. They're already pissed at me for getting up when I wasn't fully healed, no need to give them a reason to say I told you so." Though it is kind of embarrassing having Elliot carry me all the way here…even if I was unconscious. I tenderly sat up, throwing Patch back down to the bed and Elliot having a hold on my good arm as a failsafe. I looked down at the wound. A scarlet flower blossomed across the crisp white bandage. I made a hissing sound. It didn't hurt as much now, but it still stung like hell.
I took a look around us. It wasn't exactly a hospital; more like a medical tent. Wounded faceless filtered in and out like a tide. I leaded a bit, trying to get a better view, and my arm flared a warning sting to my brain. I winced. "Easy, you don't want to open it up anymore." I nodded and let him help me lay down again. Damn, I've gotten hurt a lot, but it's not like it ever gets any easier! My head sunk into the soft pillow. Patch curled up against me again. The two of us were quiet for a little while. The silence was bugging the crap out of me.
"Elliot, do you remember when we first met?" He gave me a small look of surprise and nodded. "Yeah…I am sorry for putting a gun to your head." I laughed a bit, "I know. You were just doing your job. I meant how sarcastic I was. I'm sorry." His eyes widened and he waved his hands, blushing. "No! You don't have to be sorry! I'm the one who got so mad so easily…." I gave him a guilty look, "Yes, I do. And I need to apologize for you having to carry me here. I guess lately I've been nothing but a burden to everyone…." He shook his head fiercely, "I helped you because I wanted to, and so you don't need to apologize. And you're not a burden. I'm sure even Joker doesn't think so!" I blinked in surprise. I honestly hadn't expected him to argue about it.
I smiled, "Thanks Elliot…. It's just that I haven't had to have someone take care of me for so long." He perked a bit, "Really? Who was the last?" I snuggled back down into me pillows, "It's nothing. Forget I said anything." I don't know why, but I was really sleepy. I turned to lie on my good arm's side and closed my eyes. "C.J?" I mumbled, "Tired…."
Ni-san stepped lightly from the hallway, me right on his heels, and stopped dead. Horror seeped through my very bones as I peeked from behind Ni-san's leg. There, in front of our escape route, they stood. She scowled at Ni-san, tossing me a scalding glance, and curled her lips in rage. He leaned casually against the door, amusement shimmering in his shark-like eyes despite his blank face. Ni-san and that woman spat bitter comments for a short time, the animosity and hatred so thick in the air you could cut it with a knife.
She screeched in rage when one of Ni-san's jibes struck a nerve. She hissed an order to that man .Time slowed to a crawl, despite that it only took a few instances. That man grinned with sadistic glee as he raised his gun to his mark. The bang sounded as he pulled the trigger, my brothers shout of desperation sounding in my ears.
I felt myself being shoved through the darkness. I hit the wall and gained my balance on it before I turned to look behind me. Time stopped once more, an image burning itself into my young mind as I stared helplessly at the scene. Ni-san was slumped against the wall, clutching his stomach. He looked up to me, the light already leaving his deep blue eyes. He opened his mouth, an attempt to warn me to run. Instead of words, blood, bright and vivid despite the gloom of the room, poured from his mouth. The scarlet liquid slid down his throat, joining the gush that was also pouring from the hole in his stomach. He slid down to the floor and lay there, motionless. The blood started to pool on the hard wood, staining it, as Ni-san's breathing stopped and his eyes went glassy. I screamed hopelessness and grief for my dead brother; the only one who had stood between me and the harsh reality of our lives; the one who had protected me from our mother's rampages; flooded forth. THEY stood there, laughing as though they had just thrown fire crackers at a cat, as my big brother's life blood spilt across the hardwood floors of the A-frame's* living room, stains forming that would forever be a reminder of what took place in that small country town that hot summers night.
"C.J! C.J, wake up!" I started awake to see that Elliot had been shaking my shoulder, trying to arouse me from my sleep. My face was hot and sticky. I gently put my hand to my cheek to find it was wet. Elliot's face was creased with worry, his log and floppy bunny ears pinned to his head. "C.J, are you alright? You were crying in your sleep!" I rubbed at the remainder of my tears, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bad dream…." He didn't look convinced, "Bad enough to make you cry? What was it about?" I opened my mouth to tell him, then closed it again. "I…don't remember." He still looked pretty upset. Patch gave me a cock-headed look. I lie back down and put the cooler flesh of my arm against my still hot face. Damn, it's just not my day, is it?
I look over at my arm. The bandage is fresh and, despite my shaken awakening, was still white and crisp. I sat up. "Ok, I think it's time I went back to the Jokers. My arms not bleeding every time I move it, and I wouldn't want them to get even more pissed at me." My half-hearted attempt at humor didn't lighten Elliot's mood. He was still giving me this carful look, like I would fall apart at any moment. "Ok. I'll walk you back." I let him help me up out of the tent. The two of us walked toward White's house in silence. I was looking down at my feet when he broke the silence, "C.J…while you were crying, you said some things…." I nearly fell. Crap!
I tried to act nonchalant, "Really? Like what?" He looked at me, "I couldn't understand most of it, but I did catch some things. Mostly 'Ni-san'. …Who's Ni-san?" CRAP! I opened my mouth to make something up when a voice rang out; "Elliot, there you are!" we turned to see Blood and the twins coming towards us. Damn, did I luck out this time!
Blood stopped in front of us. "…Oh, hello C.J." I smiled pleasantly, "Sup, Blood?" He ignored me and turned to Elliot, "I've been looking for you! We have other business to attend to, so you can socialize with Miss. C.J another time." Dum poked out from behind Blood, "Yeah, stupid hare! We've got stuff to do!" Dee poked out on the opposite side, "You can flirt with the pretty lady later!" Both of us flushed at their comments; me in embarrassment, Elliot in both embarrassment and anger. "I wasn't flirting, you brats!" He turned to me, "I have to go. Can you make it back on your own?" I smiled and nodded, "Yup!"
The Hatter's all bade their farewells, even Blood, and then disappeared into the crowd. I turned around and continued walking in the direction of White's house, dreading the big swear out I was sure to be getting from Black.
I opened the door and walked in as quietly as possible. I spotted White from one of the open doorways with his head on a table. Was he asleep? I tip-toed past the door, trying not to wake him. "C.J, please come here." What, did he have eyes in the back of his head? He sat up and turned to look at me, gesturing to the chair on the other side of the table. I mentally groaned and shuffled to the table. I didn't like it when my boss scolded me, much less my host! A thought occurred to me, oh crap, what if he found out about my black-out?
I sat down and looked him in the eye. "C.J, did you see anything at all out of the ordinary? Someone you haven't seen before?" I hid my surprise, for that was not the question I'd been expecting. "Well, unless you mean faceless, not really. Why?" He shook his head, "It's nothing." Hmm…curious and curiouser…could it have something to do with the convict?
White looked up, "You look well enough to sit at a table. Would you like to join us for dinner?" I grinned, "Yeah!" He snapped his fingers and the room around us evaporated, replaced by the prison walls. I spun my head to him, "How the hell did you do that? I thought you said you were a ring master, not a magician!" He chuckled and turned to walk down the hallway, "This way." I trotted along behind him.
We came to a small table at which Black sat. His wine red eye came up to meet us. "You. What the hell are you doing up?" I smiled pleasantly. I guess I was used to Black's foul mouth by now. "I was feeling good, so I went on a walk." He scowled, but didn't say anything. I padded over to the table and sat in the middle seat. White took the last seat. The table already had three patters of food, so I started to chow down. Damn, I was even hungrier than usual! The three of us talked a bit, but mostly ate. Guess they were hungry to. Of course, I shared my meal with my little moocher. My chewing slowed a bit. Ever since I came here, I haven't really been alone. It wasn't like this back home. I ate alone, worked alone, and I never once felt lonely. But now that I think back on it, it WAS lonely….
"C.J, are you alright?" I looked up to see the red-heads looking at me. "You got quite. Is something wrong?" I grinned and shook my head, "No, I was just thinking that maybe I should be going back to the tower soon." White blinked, "Go back? You're not fully healed yet." I smiled again, "Yeah, but it's not all that bad. And I really don't want to bother you two much longer." White smiled kindly, "It's really no trouble. You can stay as long as you like." I noticed that Black had hardly said anything. He wasn't eating very much either…. At that thought, he stood up, "I'm done. Good night." He walked off.
I looked over to White, "What was that about?" He shrugged, "Who knows?" The two of us finished eating and said night. I somehow found my way to the room I was staying in. I changed and plopped down on the bed. I stared at the ceiling for a while. Thoughts spun around through my mind.
How long has it been since I came to this world? I wondered if Leftover was O.k. Has anyone reported me missing yet? I reached over to my hat and pulled the vial out of the inner lining. I held it up to the light and stared at it for a little while. It was a little more than a quarter full. I clutched it and let my hand fall back to the bed. I replaced the slender bottle in my hat. I rolled over to my side.
How much longer was this going to take? Would I ever get home? …Did I really want to go home? I've made so many friends and met so many people here. And unlike Alice, I had no family to go back to. I tugged the blankets over my head as Patch tucked his tail under his head beside me. I guess I'll make that decision when the time comes.
SOME MORE TIME WITH ELLIOT, SOME TWINS ANTICS, AND A BIT MORE ON C.J'S PAST! PLEASE WAIT TILL NEXT TIME!
K.O- IN THIS CASE, A KNOCK OUT.
A-FRAME- A SMALL VACATION HOME SHAPED LIKE A TRIANGLE.