Maledictus Ignis

Chapter 2: Adrian Nero

It was a dreary day outside, perfectly replicating his mood, he was on his way to school but he couldn't stop thinking about what happened that night. It'd been 2 weeks since he's woken up, he was only in a coma so surely.. he'll.. no, he will wake up, he has to.

-2 weeks ago-

He busts down the door frantically and there he sees Cole lying on the roof next to something burnt completely black, he was barely holding onto his consciousness when he saw Adrian running up to him.

"Cole! COLE! I heard screaming and I saw flames, are you okay?! Hey, answer me!" His panicked voice hardly reached him.

"I.... What are you.. Adrian? Why are you... so far away?" 

Cole reached out to touch his face but he could barely move, he looked at him with such an intimate look in his eyes. 

Adrian began tearing up, he could barely make out the words he said but he heard enough.

"What? I'm right in front you!... W-We need to get you out of here, someone must've called the police, w-we have to leave!" Adrian stumbles over his words a little but gets the message out. 

As he says this he looks to his right and sees some nasty burnt thing. 

What is that? He quickly pushed that thought out of his head, it didn't matter right now he had to take care of Cole.

He picked him up and put him into the water construct that Dustin was in.

"Dus..tin..." Cole muttered quietly before passing out.

My mom! I need to get back home, she can help these two, definitely.

He looked at the two of them and winced at their injuries, I need to get them out of here, I have to try at least.

Sirens began to ring from the street, they're only a few blocks away now, the stairs are too slow, and there's no ladder down so..

After psyching himself up a little Adrian had a brilliant plan, he was unsure if it'd work but he didn't have time to think it over so he jumped off the roof.

Using the water vapor in the air he's able to construct platforms to walk on to brake his fall, luckily it was raining so making constructs was easy. Adrian ran all the way home, avoiding contact with anyone as to not draw attention to himself. 

Finally he makes it home, he slams the door behind him, as his parents come out to greet him.

"Adrian? I thought you were staying at Cole's tonight." His father says.

"Mom, dad I need your help, my friends they..." he's suddenly hit with a wave of sleepiness, why was he so tired all of a sudden?

"Heh, someone stay up too late huh?" His father chuckles.

"Henrick! Now isn't the time for jokes, he looks like he's in distress, what the matter?" Olivia says walking to him.

"Man why does this feel so familiar?" Henrick said

He shows her his friends who he laid on the couch.

"They're... very injured, can you help them, mom?" Adrian says drowsily.

"Oh my goodness, honey, get my medical equipment out of my room." Oliva says distressed

"Yeah you guys are gonna need some serious help" Henrick states broadly.

Henrick uses a water construct and gathers the materials from their room.

"Ok, we need more room lets go to the basement." Olivia said.

Henrick brings the 3 teens with him to the basement. Once Olivia flips the switch it's revealed that there is a hospital-esc aesthetic in the basement complete with medical equipment and 2 hospital beds.

Henrick puts Dustin and Cole on the beds and Olivia gets to work. 

-Inspection-

Dustin Fulgur: Patient is heavily injured in the right pectoralis major, injury seemingly due to a gunshot passing directly through the body, bullet missed the heart by 3 centimeters. Several arteries appear are damaged but they seem to be regenerating already, noted for later.

Removal of bullet shards is complete. Recovery should be relatively swift.

Cole M: Patient has multiple fractures including greenstick, closed, stable and segmental. The left ulna has been cracked, The zygomatic bone in the skull has been cracked, multiple ribs are broken as well, however.. how fascinating, some of the ribs appear to be reforming on their own already. That shouldn't be possible in his current state, noted for later.

Surgery is necessary for a full recovery.

-Present time-

Since their recovery was going slowly Adrian decided to start exercising everyday to help take his mind off things, he figures he could be strong like Cole is someday. It was hard but it helped him to not think about it so much. After working out he goes home to take a shower and spend some time with Cole. 

He opens the door to his home, his father in the kitchen cooking dinner. 

Mom is probably in the basement. He thought to himself.

"Hey buddy, how'd school go today?" Henrick said cheerfully.

"It was.. ok, we had..." Adrian trailed off.

"What was that?" Henrick questioned him.

"I said.. we had dodgeball today!" He raised his voice suddenly.

"Whoa, relax, why're you raising your voice?" He says confused.

"I.. I'm sorry, I didn't mean too, I was just.. it's been a long day today." Adrian stumbles over his words.

His father came over to give him a big bear hug.

"Dad! What the hell are you.." He stopped, and began to tear up.

"Look, I understand it's hard, you've never had to deal with feelings like this before right? That's alright, know your not alone in this Adrian, me and your mother will help you every step of the way. So if you need to tell us anything just say it."

Adrian was now crying into his fathers arms 

"I just... I j-just don't want to lose him.. without him I...I don't want to lose him." Adrian said choking up between words.

"I know, your alright, you'll be okay." He comforted him as best he could and hugged him tight.

After a while they let each-other go and his dad patted him on the back. 

Wiping his tears he looked up at him then over to the stove.

"Um dad." Adrian says.

"Yes son?"

"You left the eye on." He says candidly.

Henrick turns swiftly to see the pot boiling over on the stove.

"Oh crap, ok well remember what I said buddy!" He runs over to clean up the mess just as Olivia comes out from the basement.

"Ah Adrian, welcome home, I just finished doing his daily checkup you can come down now if you'd like." Olivia says kindly.