AppleHeart

Chapter Twenty-six

1 hour...

Apple Poison paced back and forth between the large space of the waiting room. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles began to feel sore. His heart beating against his ribcage so hard it could jump out of his chest and run away. The first to arrive was Mr. Dalmatia. He looked look terrified at first. His eyes landed on Apple, he runs up to him, his arms open wide to pull him into an embrace. Poison returned the hug then breaks it without saying a word. Dalmatia sits down, but only for a few minutes before going back outside to make a phone call. Once he finished, Dal came back inside as sits down in one of the chairs. Minutes later, Mr. V and Ms. Scatter arrive.

4 hours...

Jill runs straight into the waiting room wearing her nightgown, a black coat, and a pair of dark boots. Her brown hair was down and slightly messy, her eyes were a bit red with a few bags under them. She approached Apple first and placed a hand on his shoulder. He glanced at her then turned away. Jill squeezed his shoulder before sitting down next to Ms. Scatter. Not a minute later, Farja entered the waiting room with Veil and Miss Hades. Considering it's the middle of the night, everyone was in their pajamas. Farja walked over to her girlfriend. She sat in the chair next to her then examined Apple. She mouthed 'is he okay?'. Jill shook her head. Veil and Miss Hades approached the women with worried looks on their faces.

5 hours...

Malfie walks in with Eightfoot Joe with their fingers intertwined. They noticed the intense atmosphere, it felt like déjà vu. Soon after, Scar-chan arrives in a brown, fuzzy robe and a pair of slippers.

8 hours...

Sit down, get up, pace. Sit down, get up, pace. Apple couldn't help it, his heart, his stomach, his head kept throbbing, he could taste the stinging sourness of vile reaching from the back of his throat. Apple brushed his fingers over his throat, the gruesome taste spread throughout his mouth. He leaped out of the waiting room towards the nearest restroom, he barged in and threw himself into the first stall. His body hunched over the toilet and immediately the vile came up. Apple gagged and coughed as he vomited. Once he finished, he slowly stood up and flushed. He walked towards one of the sinks then gripped the sides, he stared into his reflection, his blue eyes bloodshot, dark circles were forming under them. Poison turned the water on and cupped his hands under the faucet before splashing it on his face.

"Jack..." Apple whispered.

8 hours...

Nothing. No sign of Jack, no doctors, not even a nurse coming up and calling Apple's name. He bit at the nail of his thumb, sweat droplets appearing on his forehead.

"This is too nerve-wracking," Apple muttered. He glanced at Farja and Dalmatia, who were the only two waiting with him while the others went to the hospital cafeteria. He noticed they were already sound asleep, Dal has his head resting on Farja's lap muttering about coats in his sleep. Farja's head was leaning against the wall behind her with one of her hands in Dalmatia's hair.

"Hey, " Apple heard a voice. He turned his head to see Jill approach him with a brown paper bag, "take this." She held the bag in front of her. Poison took the bag and opened it, inside, there was a sandwich, a carton of apple juice, and a bag of whole-grain crackers.

"Thank you," he picks out the sandwich then peeled the plastic wrap off.

10 hours...

Poison felt his heart pump faster and harder by the minute. With each pump, his head throbbed with it. More sweat droplets slithered down his face and some from his hair. His body leaned forward with his elbows propped up on his legs allowing his hands to cover his mouth and nose. He peered at the clock above the entrance to the main hall of the hospital by the nurse's desk.