memento mori [DNF]

Chapter 10

"He's not.. dead , right?" Levy was leaning over Clay's body.

"He can't be. If his false body died, he'd just wake back up." Nick was leaning against the wall. He was worried that something might've happened to his real body and that he was actually dead. The sedation lasted for twenty-four hours. It had been nearly twice that now.

"But he's been gone for almost two days. He should've woken back up by now."

"I know that." Nick was trying his best to be patient with Levy, but patience wasn't his strong suit. She was pointing out the obvious.

"If he dies, it's his own damn fault." He didn't mean what he said but he was angry. Clay broke their promise and now he was stuck with a potentially dead body and a disheveled girl. If Clay was dead, he was obviously going to take care of Levy, but life for them would become exponentially harder.

"Look!" Levy nearly made Nick jump from the sheer volume in her voice. She was pointing at the side of his face. Nick walked over and leaned in. The smallest drop of sweat was rolling down Clay's temple.

"This means that he's alive right? True bodies can sometimes have reactions from the false body!"

Nick looked at Levy and noticed that she was sweating profusely. Even though the sun had just rose, there was still an overpowering amount of heat circulating through the air. He figured the sweat on Clay was just a drop that had fallen from Levy's face, but looking at her, he couldn't tell her that. She had excitement written all over her face and he wasn't going to be the one who broke it.

"Yeah."

Nick was pondering the potential options. He couldn't fathom Clay still being alive. He had only ever been gone for the full twenty-four hours a handful of times. There was no way possible in his mind that he could still be alive in his false body. Unless..

"What if they increased the sedation time?" Nick looked at Levy, shocked. She pulled the words straight out of his mind.

"I was thinking that.. But wouldn't he have said something to you?"

"I would think so, but he was so out of it when he got back. He was barely forming complete sentences."

It was a possibility, Nick thought, but he still hadn't heard of anyone else being gone that long, or any rumors that there were longer sedation periods.

"Let's go with that." Levy looked down and smiled at Clay. "We have to believe that."

_____

Clay was fighting back tears and also the urge to scream. The raging infection mixed with the alcohol being poured into it was almost too much for him to handle while being conscious.

"You can scream if you need to. We're far enough underground so sound doesn't carry. Just do what you need to to stay awake." George held the bottle above his leg and was pouring a small steady stream onto the wound, occasionally wiping it with a rag.

Clay wanted more than anything to scream. He wanted to yell. He wanted to just kill himself and go back to his real body to escape this pain, but he knew he couldn't. He'd surely be killed, and he'd also be putting Nick and Levy in danger. He didn't even want to scream. Screaming in agony would show how vulnerable he was, and how much pain he was in. Effectively, he would be showing submission to George, and he couldn't bear to do that. He was starting to feel woozy again. He realized George was talking to him again but he didn't even try to listen. The pain was taking over his head and making his ears ring, he couldn't listen even if he tried.

_____

"I think that'll work for now." George had used a cut up rag to fashion a gauze wrap on Clay. Clay's body had finally relaxed, but it was obvious from his facial expressions that he was still in a lot of pain. "You can drink the rest of this alcohol if you want. I'm not sure it'll do any good for the wound but it'll help with the pain." Clay silently shook his head. George wondered why he was trying to act so tough. He already knew he was in a lot of pain, but he didn't understand why he didn't scream or drink the alcohol. Idiot. Does he really care that much about keeping up appearances and acting strong. It was beyond George. George was strong and he knew that, he didn't feel the need to show off, much less around strangers.

"Well, I suppose I'll investigate the light in the building. Miracles exist. Maybe they have medicine, or ointment."

"No." George turned around, surprised that Clay had spoken, "You'll die."

"Aw," George made a pouting face at Clay, despite Clay's eyes still being closed, "It's nice that you care about me, but I'll be fine." George walked over to Clay's scrunched up body, and placed a hand on Clay's head. Clay flinched and opened his eyes. "I'll be back soon. Promise" George offered and small smile which Clay actually got to see this time. George stood back up, grabbed some things, and without another word shared between them, walked out the door.

Clay was scared. He didn't even think earlier when he asked George not to go. He just didn't want him to leave. He didn't want to be alone in a basement, in a place he didn't know. George could just leave him to die of infection. George could also be killed by the people in the building, which would be the best thing for Clay, except for he would have no way of knowing if he had been killed or if he just left Clay to rot. The thoughts circling through his head were giving him a distraction from the pain in his leg, although the thoughts were almost as unpleasant as the pain.

But most of all, he couldn't help but worry, which was undoubtedly, the scariest thought. Why was he worried about George.

A/N 

sorry this chapter is kind of all over the place and short lol 

ALSO i have this story uploaded on my ao3 if you prefer to read it there