Glitch

Eleven! Rock-Paper-Scissors

"More clothes!" Peyton yells at Kyle beside her who scrambles to his feet and rushes into a nearby room.

I run towards them, the shop is closed so there are no costumers in the motel right now. I survey Keanu's body on the table crucially, his state is very unsteady. "Can you move him?" I ask worriedly. "Why don't you just use a healing potion? He's bleeding so much!" I yell to no one in particular.

"I already tried that, it didn't work." Peyton replies without even lifting her head to look at me. "His wound is too deep and I can only do so much. I'm not a healer." Her tone is harsh, reminding me of how pissed off she was doing our argument earlier.

"More clothes!" Kyle arrives with folds of white linen in his hand. He wraps them around Keanu and presses down on the wound. "Why won't he stop bleeding?"

"It's an internal bleeding. Some of his organs are damaged." I comment and they stare at me. I don't have enough knowledge to perform a surgery or to even close the wound. As long as an organ is damaged, we'd have to open him up and repair the injuries he'd obtain. And the process is too complicated. "Isn't there a doctor around or something?"

"They are called healers, but yes there is one ten cycles away." Peyton says and this time she's looking at me, but only for a brief moment.

"That's going to be enough trouble for our friend here who is an SSS-rated fugitive." Kyle says and Keanu groans. I know he wishes to punch Kyle but he can't exactly do anything in this state... and it's my fault. "Anyone who sees him would gladly turn him in." He adds even though we both know the quest is gone.

"I'll pay her so she'll come here. If she tries to inform anybody at least we can pay her to shut up about it." Peyton says as she pulls down the elastic ribbon off her hand and ties it around her hair. "Meanwhile, you guys stay here and keep the bleeding to a minimum. I'll be right back." She rushes out of the motel, clutching a bag in her right hand. The door shuts loudly.

I grab my head and try to think straight. Keanu got injured while saving me even though his life motto is literally for me to die. Why would he save me? Again, as some sort of misunderstood hero? I don't understand. But if he dies, it'd be as a result of him trying to protect me. That makes it my fault. Darn it! I never should have gone into that Dungeon, now Keanu's going to die because of me. A tear drops and I quickly wipe it off when Kyle casts me a concerned look.

"He'll be fine, Carmine. Don't worry." Kyle flashes a little smile that doesn't reach his eyes but he's doing a good job at trying to comfort me. I doubt Black Hood will be fine.

"I know." I say, wiping my damp face. It takes so much to not just let the dam flow out, watching his lifeless body on the table. I get reminded that I won't be able to kick him in the nuts. That makes me want to cry even more.

The door pries open as Peyton comes running in with an odd-looking woman. "Where is my patient?" She asks. I point at Keanu's lifeless body and she immediately bolts to the table. "We'll need to move him. You," She points at Kyle. "You're the man in this place, help me carry his body."

Kyle's face almost makes me snort but he does as he's told anyways. Even though he has a strong hatred towards Black Hood, I doubt he'd just let him die. "There's a spare room at the back." Peyton says and ushers them to the back of the building. I stop dead in my track when I realise where they are headed to... my room??

I catch up to them and try to drag Peyton to the side. She shuns me immediately, opening no space for conversation. I can't believe I'd be in a room with... him. I hope the changes aren't permanent though, now I suddenly wish Black Hood would just die on the spot. But him saving my life changes my mind.