Best Dead Friends Forever

14. The H.I.V.E Mind

RYAN CLAWED AND tried to get out of Mr. Smiley's grasp. Suddenly, he was dropped onto the ground and Jayden was already standing by Ashur, Ashur looked like hell. A blood bag injected into his palm, Ashur just sat next to Noah, both of them holding hands. Noah sat silently, holding Ashur's hand tightly. Jayden didn't look at Ryan, and Ryan searched the room for Mason. "Mason...?" Ryan said quietly, opening the pool door. Ryan saw Mason, his body floating face down in a pool of dark crimson. Ryan rushed over, his eyes stinging with tears. Jumping into the pool, he gently pulled Mason out, not to mess with his wounds. "C-C'mon b-buddy, w-well g-get you outta here." Ryan says, a few tears running down his face as he sees the state Mason's in. He had lost his right arm, and left leg. But he was still alive, Ryan knew. 

Gently and slowly Ryan sat Mason on his lap and rested Mason's head on Ryan's shoulder.

Mason didn't move. Not even breathe. 

Ryan felt his breathing quicken, and he sobbed into Mason's body. 

Mason wasn't dead, he can't be dead. Not after everything they've been through. Not after this hell, they promised to leave together. Mason can't leave him now, how was he supposed to move on. Keep going? Mason was warm, really warm. And when someones dead, they are cold, right? So, he wasn't dead. He was just going to have to wait, wait for his best friend to wake up. Then they can go home together, Mason can talk to his girlfriend again, his family. Hugging and crying into his body, Ryan felt Mason's warmth slightly dim. But that didn't stop Ryan, Ryan angled Mason's body into a position where even if he moved his shoulder, the older man wouldn't fall from the younger mans lap. Gently putting pressure on the wound, he saw Mason's mouth move. He wasn't dead! He wasn't!

Ryan was overjoyed and he slightly put pressure on his left leg. Ryan saw Mason's lips tremble, his jaw slowly moving downwards. Ryan still felt tears run down his face, but for a different reason. Then, Ryan saw the black guck crawl up his skin and into his mouth, and ears. Ryan tried to move quickly enough to get the stuff off of him, but he was too slow, and as he removed pressure on Mason's left leg. 

Mason's lips slowly parted. 

Ryan would accept Mason in any condition, as long as he was alive. 

He could be covered in burn scars, and scare everyone away, but to Ryan? It was Mason Gray, you always knew it was by his interest in the stars, his mentions of wanting to be a astrologer He could be so disfigured that people wouldn't even see his face anymore. He could forget everything, even his name. But Ryan knew. That was Mason Gray. His best friend since elementary school, his shoulder to cry on, to talk to if he needed to. The Mason Gray who made jokes, the same Mason Gray who always made him laugh. The same Mason Gray who's smile and laugh was contagious. The same Mason Gray who always knew how to keep the group together, even after all their falling outs. 

It was still Mason Gray. 

Mason's left hand shook slightly, and Ryan took Mason's hand in his, giving it a soft and reassuring squeeze. The police were going to be here soon, and hopefully a few ambulances. Ryan saw Mason's mouth slowly rise upwards and Ryan took a deep breath. Ryan knew if he just waited for a little longer, he would wake up. 

Ryan had stopped crying, and he had a blank expression on it but slight hope bubbled inside him. "C'mon Mason, open your eyes, talk, say something...anything!" Ryan said, gently hugging Mason's body tighter as he pleaded. Mason seemed to slowly breath, his body stood still. Ryan needed to get help. 

Ryan opened the pool door, setting a shivering Mason down gently, giving him a few words of reassurance that he was going to get help. 

Ryan looked at Jayden, and Ashur had stood up, the blood bag still pumping into his body.