In the Sky, Underground

Chapter 5

I followed after Mrs. She took me back to the infirmary which always made me uncomfortable. I realized that I'd have to face it all the more if I wanted to be able to open my mouth again. She took me to a room where she had me put on a gown and to lay on a bed. She then hooked me up to a bunch of machines, put in an IV and then put me to sleep.

Next thing I know, I'm waking up, laying with a bandage over my mouth and Ant at my side. He smiled,

"Hey there, bud…"

I blinked and waved,

"How do you feel?"

I shrugged and slowly sat up. 

"We have some soup for you, you can't eat just yet since your lips need to heal first, but you can at least sip on some soup and water."

I nodded and he slipped a straw into the soup and held the bowl up for me, I slowly moved the straw under my bandages and slipped it into my mouth. My heart skipped a beat, I could really eat now! I could open my mouth! Tears came to my eyes and slowly slipped past my eyelids. Ant reached up and wiped the tears away, chuckling gently. 

"Excited?"

I nodded, before slowly sipping on the soup, it was an odd sensation, but a welcomed one. I'd been fed through a tube for most of my life, flavor wasn't something I remembered. I couldn't tell if it was delicious, but it certainly was nice. 

When I'd finished the soup I started on the water, I hadn't felt so satisfied in so very long, if ever. 

By the time I'd finished, Ant had his head on the bed and his eyes were closed. Winter slowly walked up to the bed and sat next to Ant. 

"He's been worried about you."

I hummed and looked at them,

"They want to know where you came from, what kind of magic was at play, and if your intentions are malicious."

I looked at him, confused,

"It's not normal for a building to explode and then disappear into thin air. If Earth is in danger, then we need to know."

I looked down, I wanted to tell him, I wanted to tell him so badly. I slowly removed the bandages from my face and then opened my mouth to speak,

"I'm not- ack!"

I started coughing and blood poured out of my mouth and onto the white sheets. 

Winter gasped. 

"Maze! One second, I'll get Mrs. Lydia,"

Ant was awake again, groggy, but awake. 

"Wha-"

He saw the blood,

"Fuck! Maze, are you okay?!"

I nodded,

"Where'd all this blood come from,"

I pointed to my mouth,

"What the actual fuck! You're throwing up blood!?"

"More like coughing-ngh"

I said as more blood flooded my mouth and poured out of it,

"You can talk?! Wait… it's from talking? Does it hurt?"

I nodded,

"Then don't do it! Well figure out a different way for you to communicate, don't try and speak."

I nodded, soon Winter and Mrs. came back up and over to me,

"Oh dear, I'll have to check for possible injuries internally,"

"No need, it's from talking."

"What do you mean, Ant?"

Winter asked,

"He's coughing up blood because he's talking."

"That doesn't make sense, you realize."

"Neither does anything about this entire situation, but here we are!"

"Hey.. Ant, no need to yell.."

Ant looked away and sighed gently. I watched them both with careful eyes, I couldn't tell if Ant was mad at me or something else.

"I realize, I'm just stressed, Jay made it sound like.. they were going to lock Maze up again."

I looked up at the mention of my name, only to grimace and look away. If I just got out of the Penitentiary, out from being locked up my entire life, would being locked up here be any better?
I sighed gently and messed with the blood on my fingers. Mrs. spoke up,

"Excuse me boys, I'm sure Mr. Maze here would like to get cleaned up and I can't do that with you two in my way."

"Ah- sorry Mrs. Lydia,"

Winter said gently and took Ant's hand and lead him away while Mrs. Took the blankets off me and I stood, as I did, my head went light and I swayed, before my vision went black. Just for a couple moments, before I could see again, I was in Ant's arms, or rather on his chest, we were both on the ground and there was grass beneath him and moss on his clothes and flowers scattered across the ground. I lifted myself up with my arms and looked down at Ant.

"I saw you fall, and I didn't want you to hit your head, so I tried to catch you... I didn't have time, so I threw myself under you instead."

I blinked and then smiled, making I noise that was foreign to me.

"Did you just... laugh?"

Is that what that was, a laugh? I shrugged and he smiled,

"Oh that was worth the headache, you should do that more often!"

He stood up and picked me up all in one motion. I made a soft squeaky noise and Winter came over smiling,

"I think the grass would've caught him just fine, Lovebug~"

Ant looked at the ground,

"Ah! Well extra cushion then!"

I smiled gently and laid my head on his shoulder. I was exhausted, today was exhausting. I yawned. I yawned! Oh my goodness it felt amazing to be able to open my mouth and stretch my face. My eyes drooped and my body weakened.

"You should sleep dear,"

Winter spoke softly, touching my face with a cold hand. I chewed my cheek, I didn't like sleeping, but I hadn't slept in  three days, seventeen hours, four minutes and 37 seconds, 38, 39, 40....
My eyes closed, the feeling of someone holding me again lulled me. I felt safe, so maybe a little sleep wouldn't hurt.