Waveland

Chapter 22

[Xavier]

Anxiously Xavier tapped his knuckles repeatedly on the table next to his bedside. He hid himself in the corner of the room. Starring at copies of medical documents. His eyes starred right through the black shaped letters. His mind could't handle the information all of his warying thoughts lead back to Rose. The world had gone completely dark. The only dim light coming from his flashflight. He should get rest to prepare for his shift the next day, but he couldn't find peace not until he heard the familar sound of his window creaking open by his favoirte visitor.

Xavier tugged on his gray jacket. He held the delicate flower in his hands. Walking over he placed the flower on the window sill for Rose to find when she returns.

—-

The cold air beat against his pale face. Cold red burning his skin. He made his way to the infirmary to the only person who would talk to him about the politics in the game he never cared about before.

"Xavier." The doctor didn't even give a glance at the sudden movement in the tent. This tent was colored burgundy unlike David's camp that was black. The dark color hinting at all the secrets David kept in order to keep us all safe and alive. But no one cared about the secrets as long as our silence meant we could stay alive. What more could we ask for?

"How did you know it was me?" The infirmary was empty, all of the children from earlier stitched up and given band-aids from their minor injuries. Pills distributed to those with migranes or facing small body infections.

"I know you wouldn't be able to sleep with your princess gone."
"Princess?"

"It's a nickname going around for dear Rose." The doctor sat down the papers from his current task making his way toward Xavier. He sat down on one of the empty medical beds. Something a father does when they want to have a serious conversation with their son. But the doctor was always serious.

"I am pretty sure Rose wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone who calls her that." It was a stupid nickname. He wanted to laugh at the flesh of anger that would appear of her face. She was beautiful, but she was more than a pretty girl in a gown. The nickname princess didn't suit her. She needed something to identify her bravery and her courage. Her ability to never cower underneath any authority. In the olden days she would be described as knight. Someone loyal and willingly to shed blood for the right cause.

"I am sure she would." There was a slight grin on the doctor's face. It was as if he wanted to see it happen or he felt pride. Xavier rubbed a hand through his hair not able to understand the doctor's expression. No one knew a lot about his past, but David found him and if it wasn't for the doctor a lot of his friends wouldn't have made it. He helped heal the wounded when the camp first came together. He was always here and David trusts him. There wasn't a reason not to.

"When do you think they will be back?" Hesitation was in his voice. He wasn't sure what the doctor knew. Unsure whether or not the man was informed before or as soon as wounded soldiers showed up outside his tent. The only real case Xavier ever dealt with was when Rose returned with Tyler severely injured. Just thinking about it made his fists clenched, he hated Tyler everyday. He knew he was the only reason Rose got hurt.

"You need to rest. When they come back you are going to be busy." That creepy smile returned to the doctor's face. Chills went down his spine, he had the sudden urge to run.

"What are you talking about?" Xavier backed up a step, his heart pounded in his chest.

"I know you are not as stupid as you claim." Xavier wanted to react to the stab at his intelligence but the next words stilled him in his place. "This will be the most wounded soldiers you have seen in your lifetime."

The doctor rose, standing confidently on his two feet placing confident hands on both of Xaiver's shoulders.

"Now go rest, Doctor Xavier will be needed at sunrise."