Secrets Within - Carol x Mildred

Chapter 16

Mildred Ratched

"You can take the other half if you want to", Mildred offered Huck half of her bologna sandwich, when he joined her during her lunch break.

"No, thank you", he politely declined her offer, but still sat down across from her. "I already ate my lunch outside. I needed some fresh air." Huck was the only person in here who Mildred tolerated at her table. The others didn't even try, they just sat down somewhere else and she was more than pleased with that.

"Alright then, it's delicious though." Her stomach already felt full so she wanted to get rid of the other half. Maybe if she just left it in the icebox Nurse Bucket would simply take it, as she did with her peach a few weeks prior.
Incautiously, Mildred's mind wandered to Carol. Just the thought of the astonishing blonde woman let a small smile appear on her face. Talking to her about everything felt so liberating and she was immensely glad that Carol gave her another chance and didn't run away like she had expected. She had been willing to listen to her life-story and that was more than she could have ever wished for. She was already longing to hug her warm body and feel her soft lips, but she still had several hours ahead of her.
They sat at the table in silence for a few more minutes until Mildred got up put her sandwich into the icebox. "We need to get Mr. Parker to his therapy session", Mildred reminded the younger man and then waited for him at the door, ready to leave and get the patient.

"If I'm allowed to point something out Mildred, I have to say that you look very happy lately. It's good to see you like this." He said those words in a hesitant manner, not sure how Mildred would react. Relieve washed over him when he saw her smile slightly.

"Well, I am-", before she could say something else, suddenly there was an alarm ringing through the big building. They stopped walking but no one was near enough to tell them what was going on.
She looked up at Huck, hoping that he knew what was going on but he looked just equally clueless as she felt.

One of the older nurses rushed past them. Eyes widened and she looked around hectically. "Tolleson, broke out. He's still somewhere in the building", she informed them, her voice was filled with fear, trembling as she forced those words out.

Mildred froze in disbelieve. Why was he not following the plan? She was so close to find a solution and now he was risking everything. Anger rose inside her and she started walking, leaving Huck behind. She needed to find him before someone else did. In that moment, deep down she believed that maybe he deserved to be caught and even Innocent people were in danger just because of his reckless actions. "Mildred, wait", she heard Huck rushing towards her. "Where are you going."
She didn't answer his question nor cared to look at him. Rage was taking over every action and she barely took notice of his desperate attempt to stop her. "It's too dangerous."

She walked along the hallways without giving the people around her any attention, until she reached the common room, were Harold was sneaking around, gun in hand, ready to stop Edmund from leaving this building. "Do you have any idea where he might be?", she asked when she approached him. Upon seeing how scared he was, she immediately felt sick to her bones.

"According to the security log I have to demand you to hide", he educated her without answering her question. "Lock yourself into a room like the others."

"I think it's a little too late for that."
Mildred froze when she heard the familiar voice.

"Edmund", she started talking, but as soon as she saw the crazy look in his eyes, she knew that words wouldn't be enough this time, no matter how wisely she chose them. Blood sprinkles were covering his skin, creating an intense contrast to his white shirt, blood stained as well. He looked so out of his mind that he most likely wouldn't hesitate to get rid of her as well if she got in the way.

"On your knees", Harold demanded, no matter how hard he tried his voice was still shaking in fear.

What happened next went by so fast that she could barely comprehend it. A smirk crept onto Edmunds face and she lifted his eyebrows slightly. "I would prefer not to." With those words he pulled up a gun. A shot thundered through the air, followed by another one from Harold's gun. Harold went down right next to them, while Edmund still stood there, not even flinching when the security guard's head exploded. Mildred flinched violently, while she suddenly felt a pair of hands pushing her away. Huck moved her behind himself, in order to shield her from the psychopath.
"Sweet, but you shouldn't try to play the savior though."

"Don't", Mildred screamed in despair, but it was already too late. Edmund's finger twitched and he pulled to trigger. Mildred flung herself to the ground, holding onto Huck's torso to pull him with her to get him out of the firing line.
Too late.
When she hit the ground, all air was pressed out of her lungs at once. Without process her next actions, she grabbed Harold's gun, aiming at Edmund and pulled the trigger. She shot her brother not only once but three times.

Everything happened so fast, that when everything was done, others started storming into the room, looking at the scene in shock. Mildred didn't even notice the people entering, she only heard the echo of the gunshots ringing in her ear, while she pulled herself closer to Huck's limb body. Blood was flowing out of the wound in his chest that the bullet left.
She couldn't believe what Huck just did. Sacrificing himself in order to safe her from Edmund.
He was looking at her, eyes wide in panic. She pressed her hands on his chest, desperately trying to stop the blood from flowing. Within seconds, she saw how useless it was. The warm blood swelled out between her fingers and Huck's breathing became shallower with ever passing second.
"Stay with me, Huck. Do you hear me? Fight", she whispered while tears were rolling down her cheeks. "Don't you dare close your eyes."

"I- I'm scared", he breathed out, barely audible.

"I know, I know. It's okay", Mildred assured him and moved one hand to his face. With trembling fingers, she caressed his cheek, while she watched how the life was fading out of his body. "It's going to be okay. You will be okay. I'm here with you. You are safe."
She was pulled away from his body by strong hands, but her legs gave up and she fell back on the cold floor.

This wasn't happening.
It had to be a nightmare.

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sorry for that