The Survivor (Book 2)

Chapter 17

Treble, darling, I don’t know if you can hear me–

“I can,” I sighed.

But I miss you, and I love you. And I hope you wake up soon.

“Me, too,” I rubbed my forehead, digging my elbows into the white table of the big room. Gen was gone. I didn’t know how long ago he left, only knew that I’d been alone for what felt like forever. Being comatose sucked.

No sleeping. Don’t need sleep. You’re already sleeping, duh. No food. Just your brain. Don’t need to feed it. No need for a shower. Still inside your head. It was lonely.

Doctors say I shouldn’t talk about how much I miss you. They say it could be distressing, but when have I ever listened to anyone that wasn’t you, right? I miss your smile and your laugh. And your gentle kisses. And, obviously, your not-so-gentle kisses. I miss when you talk in your sleep because you don’t do that when you’re comatose. I miss when you curl up on my chest and kiss my neck, and I miss your snuggles.

“I miss you, too,” I rested my forehead on my arms. The only way to escape the voices was to go in the rooms, and you were taking risks by doing that. The nice ones were nice, and the bad ones were awful. I understood why Gen stayed out in the room. I was getting better at controlling them, but it was hard. And I liked staying out in the room to hear Zack’s voice. His real voice, not his imagination voice. The real deal.

I miss when you’d give me that smug little grin of yours. Damn it drives me crazy, and I love it. I love you, T. We got Gen back yesterday. Said he talked to you. He said to tell you to wake up soon so we can go see the thing. That’s all he called it, and I assume you know what that means.

“I do,” I chuckled.

Anyway, I, um, I haven’t really eaten since you went under. I’ve been so worried about you. Scares the shit out of me that you won’t wake up.

Wait. What?! “Dammit, Zack. I’ll be fine. You have to eat,” I said into my arms to no one.

Zack, Eros entered the conversation. C’mon, we’re gonna go clean up and stuff. They’ll get us if she wakes up.

No, I’m fine.

Eros huffed. You’re not going to just give up, are you? Just throw your life away until she wakes up? Not like she can die, sweetheart. She’s a tough cookie. She’s been through death, Zack, death!

Don’t yell at me.

I’m sorry, but you know I’m right. She’ll wake up when she wakes up. You being here or you being out with us is not going to change when that happens. And Gen said she was fine, and Gen was with her.

I don’t care, Zack sighed. She’s my baby. I’m not leaving until she wakes up.

“Sometimes I wish you weren’t so damned stubborn,” I shook my head and got up to go find a room. “Just go out with them, dammit.”

I’m not above begging, Wells. You know I’m not, and you know I’ve done it before.

Beg all you want. I’m still staying.

This is going to make you depressed again, dumbass. Just staring at her and waiting for her to wake up…Zack it isn’t healthy for your mental state.

What? And pretending everything is fine and dandy is totally healthy? No. None of it is. I’ll be fine, Eros. Really. You know I’m terrified of being depressed again. If I start going down that path, I’ll pull back. You know I’ve got self-control.