[TW] Pyrophobia

Chapter Fourteen | "Extinguished"

DUH

Duh blinked open his eyes weakly to a dark room shaded by curtains, tiled with a marble floor and smooth painted-white brick walls.

He tried to move his head but was instantly greeted by pain, mainly on the right side of his face, so he just remained still. Where was he? Was he dead? He remembered the blazing fire, he remembered Elaine. He threw her in the fire, and then RED came... did he die?

"No, no... I can't be dead..." Duh sputtered weakly.

No one replied. Why did he expect a response? He was all alone. He remembered Doc mentioned Justin and Walton one time... maybe he could try to call out for them. "Walton, Justin, please, help..." His weakness caused him to let out a tired sigh and he just closed his eyes wearily. It's useless. If I'm not dead, then I was left to be. And if I'm not dead, then I'm stuck in the darkness with no hope to escape...

Duh shook his head in dismay and quickly laid down. He had no idea where he was, he wasn't in the right place of mind to think about it as of right now. He could only wait in the shadows, the unsettling dark.

Occasionally he thought he heard footsteps. But it was probably just his imagination.

The door slowly creaked open. But he thought it was only a trick of the light, a hallucination, possibly. He must've been going insane, who would want to see him?

A woman peered in, looking somber as she let out a sigh. However, she noticed Duh weakly glance at her and widened her eyes. "O-Oh. You're awake."

Duh stiffly nodded.

"That's good. How do you feel?" The woman stepped inside and quietly shut the door behind herself.

Well, I can't say I feel like I'm in Heaven... but at least this ain't Hell. Duh thought to himself. He weakly lifted a thumb. He was okay, he supposed. Not like he was dying. He could breathe. He was... alive. Probably.

"Good. Good. Do you want me to get Doc for you?"

Duh flinched. Doc was here... wasn't he? It clicked within him that he must've been inside of a hospital, inside of OneLife specifically. Why here of all places? Was he okay? He nodded weakly. Please.

"Okay. Stay here for me, okay? Don't move." She closed the door again.

I'll... stay. Duh didn't move an inch, not like he could. He was too weak; he could hardly do much as to even move his neck. He watched her leave, letting out a shaky sigh.

He could only stare at the door longingly for what seemed like several minutes before he heard the hopeful sound of approaching footsteps and slightly angled his head so he could see. The door creaked open and the doctor stepped inside. And behind her followed Doc, who peered in cautiously, his gaze meeting Duh's.

I'm sorry. Duh realized at that moment the horrible mistake he made. Why hadn't he run back to catch up with the others? No one else was in the cafeteria. If he just stayed with Sebastian after saving Lulu... Elaine wouldn't have done this to him. I'm sorry that I've done this to us.

Doc seemed to flinch at him as he caught his gaze and he pushed past the other nurse, crouching down at Duh's bed. "Duh."

"Doc." Duh let out a weak smile.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry." Doc teared up, forcing a smile. "I couldn't do anything. I-If only I'd been there sooner..."

"It was me." Duh weakly lifted his arm, resting it against Doc's chin. "Not you. I just had to make sure everyone was safe... Lulu's okay... everyone was okay except me. That's all I cared about." A darkness lingered in the back of his mind. Elaine wasn't okay. He... killed her.

"Sebastian told me everything." Doc rested his palm in Duh's own hand, a small fragile hand gently folding on another. "You were a hero, Duh. Like you've been mine."

Duh didn't even realize the other nurse had left until he glanced at the door to see that she had disappeared, only turning back to look at Doc. "I... was. I guess I was, wasn't I?"

"You'll always be a hero."

"...But what about Elaine?"

Doc slowly lowered both his and Duh's hand, raising his head slightly. His thankful and worried expression grew more concerned. "...Who?"

"Not... everyone was safe. She tried to kill me." Duh shivered beneath the grasp of Doc's hand, the petrifying scene of the fire replaying in his head like a never-ending paradox. "I had no choice. I-I had to. I had to... t-to... to kill her..."

Doc seemed to wince slightly but only held Duh's hand with both of his own, kissing it gently. "It's okay. It's going to be okay... we'll get through this. We always do..."

"You're not... scared of me?" Duh felt his heart shatter. "After everything I've done?"

"Why would I be scared?"

Duh felt like he had to reason with him, but something distracted him. A bandage on Doc's hand. That was new. Had it been recent? Or had he just never noticed the injury? He pointed at the injury with his available hand. "Where'd you get that?"

Doc glanced at his injured hand, as if registering the words for a moment, then seemed to force another smile and shook his head. "Don't worry about me, love."

"Doc..."

"W-What matters... is that you're okay..."

"Doc..."

"P-Please." Doc whispered. "Let's not talk about it."

Duh stopped, noticing the desperation in his look. Is it... me? "I'm sorry."

"You're okay. I'm just glad you're alive." Doc reached to the bed and gave a gentle hug.

"I'll always fight as long as you're here." Duh grinned mischievously.

"That doesn't mean you go picking fights, though."

"Picking fights? Me?" Duh playfully stuck out his tongue. "You're the one who loves to pick fights here. I wouldn't win a fight if I even tried to pick one. At least you'd win. You've done it before."

"You've won multiple fights. Including this one. Have more faith in yourself." Doc sighed. "Now, get some more rest, okay? The phone's right beside you, you can just call my number if you need anything." He slowly began to stand to walk out and paused to look out. "And Duh?"

Duh watched him leave. "Yeah?"

"I don't know what kind of crazy adventures you're going on without me, but I love the fuck out of you. Don't leave me out next time. I'd risk my life a million times as long as I'm right beside you."

He quietly closed the door, leaving Duh with a warm heart, at the same time wishing for him to come back. I won't leave you out anymore... I promise not to be too crazy. I love you too.

I love you, too.