Labeled (A The Selection Fanfiction)

Chapter Seven

"-should we do?" I heard part of a question whispered around me. I stayed silent.

"Take her to the hospital, Doctor can clean and stitch the wound." Wound? I leaned over to see who was talking and why they are in my containment. How did they get in?

"Ah!" I let out a gasp. A pain that could challenge fire and win shot through my arm. I looked down and saw a hole with blood pouring from it. I gasped again. "What is that?" I asked with a trembling voice. But I knew the answer.

Someone sitting on a bench looked over at me. I must not be in my containment.

"Clarissa, you were shot. Don't you remember?" A careful voice said. Oh, great! That's the Prince! Right...

I let out a groan, "Yeah, I remember all right, Your Highness."

From across the room someone approached me. My gaze unfocused for a second, and then I saw her.

"Cora! You're okay!" Relief surged through me, momentarily numbing the pain.

"How does your arm feel?" She asked tentatively.

"Absolutely horrid. Where are we?"

"In a safe room. We've been in here for about five hours now. You passed out." Woah. Five hours?

The Prince clenched and unclenched his hands by his side. "I suppose I should thank you, Your Highness."

He looked surprised. "Oh-well, your very welcome Lady Clarissa."

"Just Clarissa, please, Sir."

"Well then, Clarissa, you will have to call me Alexander." He said with a lopsided grin and a gleam in his eyes.

"Fine, Alexander." I smirked.

"But, L- Clarissa, you're quite sure you are fine?"

"Yes!" I replied. And it really was much better now, Cora had given me a piece of bread that helped settle my stomach.

He ignored my answer and came over to me. He paused for a second, and then gracefully crouched next to the bed.

"Tell me if this hurts," He whispered, "I just want to see it."

"Okay." I said in an equally soft tone.

He gently placed his fingers on my arm as if he was afraid I would break. He brought my arm closer to him, and gently ran his fingers near the wound, deep in concentration.

"It doesn't look-"

I giggled, "That tickles!" The wound had gone numb, so a tickling feeling was all I felt.

Alexander laughed, "Oh, you're ticklish?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Don't get any ideas..." I warned menacingly, shaking my finger at him.

He devilishly laughed before lunging at me from his close distance. He tickled my stomach, my neck, my hands, my feet, anywhere he could reach, and I burst out laughing.

"Wait-Alexander-stop!" I said between breaths.

"Never!"

I shrieked, he had found my most ticklish spot. I jumped, and the force of my jump slid me off the bed and onto Alexander, who was still crouched below. The pain in my arm had returned to a low ache.

"Here, let me help you up." Alexander said after a charged moment in which we stared into each other's eyes. He grabbed my arm and started pulling me up.

"Ahhhhhh," I half-screamed, "wrong arm!". The pain had shot through me greater than I had ever felt it before.

He looked mortified. "I am so sorry Clarissa! I never meant to...to..." I smiled at him through the haze of pain. He looked so adorable, scared because of my pain.

"I know you didn't."

He picked me up bridal style, and I winced when he touched my back. Alexander didn't notice.

He looked at me with a look of utmost concern in his eyes. He didn't set me down, but instead held me tighter as if his life depended on it. The air around us was cracking with electricity. He pulled me so close I could feel his breaths on my neck, coming in short, hot, pulses. "Darling, are you sure you're okay?" He breathed.

"Of course," I'm here now I finished in my head.

"Clarissa," he began. His forehead touched mine with the slightest bit of pressure. I supported it just as he supported me. I noticed how close he was, and that he had full control of the moment. Also, how much I trusted him after only knowing him for little more than five hours.

Just as his lips where coming closer and my eyes were closing, the door banged open.

The guard took in the scene in front of him with wide eyes. Me locked in Alexander's arms, our faces centimeters apart. Cora looking at us with the sweetest expression on her face.

"Your Highness," he said, blinking, "I'm sorry to interrupt. The rebels have been subdued and your family is fine."

Alexander looked up in annoyance, showing just how much he had wanted that moment. "Alright, thank you." He nodded at the man in dismissal.

He looked at me with regret and ... many other emotions in his eyes, "We will finish this moment." And I had no doubt we would as he whisked me away to the hospital.

The floors where covered in evidence of what just happened. Bodies everywhere, with dark red stains still growing after their owner has gone. Vases smashed and artwork slashed, it seemed as if death himself had walked through these hallways with glee. I was stricken with grief for these people I didn't know.

As we neared the hospital entrance, the debris had already been cleaned up here. It was like a small haven away from the disaster. Alexander kept me in his arms, but slowed down, eventually coming to a full stop.

"Clarissa," he tried to begin again, but I silenced him, kissing him lightly on the cheek. He took a deep breath, and returned the kiss to my chin.

As we let go of each other, he walked me into the hospital, where doctors where already helping other people. I saw some of the selected, as well as an abundance of maids and butlers. He didn't bother to create an acceptable distance between us before being in the presence of others.  I looked up at him as he liked down at me, and the impish smile on his face grew.

He sat me down on an unused bed, and brought up a chair to sit next to me, clasping my hand.

"You're strong, you'll get through it."

"So are you, Alexander." He smiled, and stayed holding me throughout the whole procedure.  As the medication took over my mind, I heard him insisting that he needed to stay with me to the nurses. That he promised he wouldn't leave my side.

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