Saving Calen

31.

Calen's POV

I am experiencing bliss for the first time.

The weightlessness that consumes my body is nothing short of what heaven must feel like. No responsibilities, no pain, no anguish.

Nothing.

Like swimming in an ocean and looking up at the sky while the gentle waves lap and lick at your body until you return from which you came.

I could stay here forever.

Caden's POV

I have failed him.

Again.

His ribs crunching and cracking under my constant pounding of his chest still lingers on my fingers as I sit back. I'm doing more harm than good.

I angrily swipe the tears away. Fucking pathetic. Crying when I did this. I should've known. His body was far too fragile to put him into such a deep sleep.

What a fuck up.

The scream that Aylah projects is probably the worst sound I've ever heard. She throws her body into his. I look up to see Ellie covering her mouth with her arm, looking at me in complete and utter shock as her own sadness is evident on her face.

Calen's one of those rare souls, you know? The ones that stay in tact no matter how many times they're beaten, torn and shredded. They stay selfless in hopes to mitigate anyone else's suffering.

They'll suffer ten fold just to spare someone else. To see his eyes shut for good has an excruciating effect on everyone that stands around his now lifeless body.

My hands go numb as an unfamiliar panic takes over.

I look in confusion as Archer wipes his eyes and mutters something before shoving me aside. He kneels down and slams his fist into Calen's chest. My anger flares as everything in me screams to pummel Archer for ever touching him like that.

But then something happens.

Calen sucks in air as his eyes spring to life. His chest heaves in air in huge sucking motions. Aylah scrambles to his face.

"Calen? Baby?"

He winces as his arms instinctively wrap around his chest. His breath comes out in sputtering gasps. I rush to his side and hello my little brother up.

"Fuck. Jesus, I feel like I was run over by a train."

Aylah let's out a relieved laugh as she smashes her lips to his. When they break apart, he tells her that he's okay and offers a smile that looks all too close to a wince.

"Good to have you back to the land of the living," I quip. He gives me a half smile and nod, attempting to look casual, but I know better. Silver lines his eyes as our eyes lock. I just nod back.

"Get him inside. Mom will help."

They all nod at me as they pick him up and guide him to the house.

I clench my hands into fists to hide the shaking until they're out of sight. As soon as they're bodies disappear behind the doors, I fall back to my knees and empty the contents of my stomach on the gravel.

My breathing resembles that of someone breathing through a straw as my vision forms into a pin point.

"Fuck." I mutter.

Then, small but steady hands slide over my back as she, Ellie, gently coaxes me into a sitting position.

"It's okay, baby. You're just panicking. You're okay." She coos. I let her lean me back into her lap as she continues to say words of comfort.

"I almost lost him, El." My voice comes out in a gravelly tone. So much emotion is laced in it that I have a hard time believing that it's mine.

"But you didn't. He's okay."

I stay silent as I start to spiral again. She notices and grabs my face.

"Uh uh, Riot. Don't make this your fault. Do you hear me?" I nod.

"Yes ma'am." She leans down and kisses my forehead.

"It's good to have you home, baby. Now come on. I haven't seen you in weeks and as soon as we make sure Calen's okay, we're going to set the world record for the number of orgasms someone can have." She springs up with a wink and drags me with her.

The only redeeming quality I have bounces off, golden hair swaying.

Calen's POV

"Mom, I'm fine." She swats my hand away as she forces me to lay down in my bed.

"Hush. You just died. Now rest. I'll get the doctors down here to give you the correct pain meds." She hurries away.

Aylah carefully sits next to me as though I might break if she moves to fast. She grabs my hand and looks into my eyes.

"You're not allowed to leave me, Calen. Ever. You are mine and I am yours until the end of time. Even then, I'll annoy whoever dares take us to the point of exhaustion so we can keep on loving each other.."

I smile at her. Her dark hair and light eyes look at me in a way that melts me on the spot.

I reach out and tuck one strand of jet black hair behind her ear.  "You are my heart in human form." Is all I say. She just stares. Her green eyes burning into mine in such a way that it's evident our souls are colliding. Twisting and writhing until there is no more me and her. Only us.

I bring her in and kiss her. Her lips single handedly breathing life back into my withered body.

"I love you, Calen." She whispers.

"I love you most." I reply.

A knock sounds and the doctors enter. Aylah steps out so they can correctly put me back together, tape and glue style. By the time she's back, the pain meds have me floating amongst the waves once again and I drift off.

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