Vices and Maces

Chapter 78: She's Awake Again!

CW: near panic attack, self hatred and guilt

He didn't sleep, well, not exactly. The hours felt both long and so short. Like he had simply time traveled to the morning but still felt the effect of every second. Janus had moved to sleep on a separate chair instead of Virgil's lap. Anna had fallen back asleep because of the medication, but when morning came she woke up again, this time her mind clearer.

Even though Virgil seemed to be staring at her, he didn't realize that she was awake until her head turned to him. The movement made him tense up before he blinked, almost as if he was sleeping with his eyes open. While his mind was empty for most of the night, he certainly wasn't asleep.

"Virgil?" Anna asked.

"Hey Ann..." he replied, trying to blink away the fog. "Um... how are you feeling?"

"Heavy... and my stomach hurts... I wonder if this is what fire feels like." She tried to smile but it was weak.

"Can..." Virgil's heart pounded so hard it hurt. "Can you feel your legs?"

"What do... oh... oh gods." She reached down to put her hand on her thigh. "I can hardly feel it. I can't move my-my legs..." She started to breathe unsteady, and the heart monitor started to pick up her rapid heart beat.

Virgil took her hand, rubbing a circle on the back of it. "Anna, breath, it's gonna be okay."

Her hand wrapped around his and she shut her eyes tight, a tear slipping out. She let out a sob as she tried to take deep breaths, her free hand going to her stomach.

"What-what happened?"

"You... you were shot. The bullet hit your spine."

Anna let out a moan of pain, more tears slipping out. "What's... what's gonna happen to me?"

"You're... you're going to stay in the hospital for a while. After that..." What then? Virgil doesn't have a home, he lives with Roman right now! And after everything he's done, all the pain he's caused, can he expect him to be okay with taking in Anna? To help pay for medical bills? Mobility aids? "Well... I'll figure something out, I promise."

"Virgil... who were those people? What's going on?"

"They... they were from Wolfsbane. They were trying to kill you guys, and kidnap me."

"Why? What d-do they want?"

The guilt and self hatred burned in Virgil's chest. He glanced at Janus, who was awake and giving him a concerned look.

"They want me to make them weapons. That's what they've been doing, what I've been doing."

"The car crash?"

Virgil nodded. "I think they drugged me. Trying to get me addicted to Devil's Tongue. Ruin my reputation so no one would want to hire me and I go broke."

"But-but I..."

"I know, you helped me. It wouldn't have worked until... they threatened your life, Anna. They told me if I didn't join them, then they'll kill you." Virgil felt tears sting his eyes again. He didn't realize he even had any tears left to cry. "I-I wouldn't let that happen to you. So for two years I worked with them. Until they tried to kill someone else I cared about..."

"You... you made weapons for them?" Shame stabbed Virgil's heart, he couldn't even bear to look at her. "For me?"

"I couldn't let them hurt you... but I did. I should have protected you. I tried so hard to make sure you were safe." All for nothing. It was all for nothing. "I'm sorry."

"Virge, no... I should have... I should have known. Mom and dad didn't wanna look for you... Said you ran away. We fought a lot when you were gone. I hate them for all their lies... I'm sorry Virgil. I should have known. Are you okay?"