Ascension - Book Eight - Man x Man

Chapter 26

Once more, we were crammed into an unusually small space for how many of us were injured by the latest attempt of destroying what hope of peace I'd had. Much as I liked to think we'd gained equality, I'd not seen humans subjected to this amount of overcrowding. Lotta, who didn't much care for it either, explained that the closer we kept our information the better. While I accepted that, it still felt subpar. 

The over head florressint lights flicker beyond the notice of our human friends for it only seems to bother me. Dull buzzing like a mosquito in a bog droning endlessly in my ears beyond the beeping of monitors and the distant clack of someone walking on their heels with a limp, by the sounds of the residual scuff. A symphony of life on full volume, I hear screaming beyond the walls and wonder who's bones were broken, who's loved one might be close to passing. The overwhelming stench of blood and antiseptic were enough to burn my nostrils beyond any desire to pursue the interest. 

Swallowing back the bile searing my throat, I wish there were something they could give me to dull my senses. I was painfully aware of how little I'd been allowed out of the house in my new phase of life. Lotta passes me an empathic look, I must appear to be in pain.

I appreciated the woman, for despite her coarse exterior, she never left us. In the trenches and wherever she was needed, she remained with very little compliant. She could have easily excused herself in favor of the civilian hospital. I would have to thank her for that. 

Regardless, it let me stay as close to Verando as I could manage and that was all I wanted at the moment. I remembered our conversation, we couldn't be responsible for fixing all the world's problems, yet some how those problems continued to find us. I couldn't help but wonder if it was punishment for escaping our true fate, one that an alternate reality had already suffered and we were treading on fleetingly borrowed time. 

Landon had had a theory that there were separate planes, a version of us had died, atoning for the versions of us that lived. It coincided with my father predicting only one version of us would be successful in our attempt to save the planet, perhaps we were still in that race with Caspian hot on our heels.

"And you're okay with him walking around like this?" Lotta questions, flinching as the last few stitches are tied into the ebony skin. Much as she might have preferred stronger pain medicine, the woman continued to impress me with her grit.  

I hold the icepack to my forehead as the doctor slowly passes a flashlight back and forth in front of my eyes, holding up a single digit for me to focus on. "I think we don't have a choice." I murmur, trying not to recoil at the heavy scent of coffee wafting off the lips of the aged medic.

 "Follow my finger." He instructs, his voice heavy as if he hadn't signed up for our amount of oddities. Under new laws, otherwise human doctors had to treat all patients. We were no longer forced to go to government facilities, despite countless protests that the media squashed down. "You've appeared to have had some trauma, we should order a scan-"

"No scan." I tell him quickly. "I'm fine." I couldn't bear to be separated from Verando, the thought caused a near spike of panic.

It would seem the adjustment was difficult on both ends. Patrons flooded in from our wedding, they hadn't asked to be fodder in our war against Caspian. The nurse draws the curtain on the door, offering me an apologetic glance as I steady my eyes on my husband. I should be more upset, I should be crying or hysterical, I should be shaking and fearing for my life, but this was not new to me. They must find me quite odd.

The doctor's bedside manner had much to be desired, perhaps he was just tired or disturbed by me. The hospital was overflowing and we were obviously the cause, a small sigh leaves my lips. One more notch in the belt of attorcities committed by magic users against humanity. The press was going to have a field day.