the game

some digging

KATIE

We're at the medical bay on the shuttle. They have been giving Ken sadatives to ease his pain but they only seem to irritate him.

"Katie," he screams. Finally, they let me take him away. I know he's not all the way there as I help him down from the shuttle. He looks at me with his eyes that are usually cold. They're soft now as he leans into me. I stumble and then upright us as we make our way back to the dorms. The way up the elevator seems long and getting him into my bed takes longer. Then I decide I need to get him food so I try and leave. His hand won't let go of my wrist.

"Don't leave me," he begs. I sigh and slowly lay down next to him.

He snuggles into me and sighs.

I stare into the wall. How did it come to this?

Finally, after what feels like ages Amy makes it through the door.

"GET YOUR GRIMY HANDS..." she begins as she makes her way to Ken.

Suddenly his skin erupts in dark black brown fur. He growls as his body expands into that of a bear. Suddenly instead of being trapped in the arms of Ken I'm surrounded by bear hair.

"Excuse me, Ken, she's not going to hurt me," I chuckle. He makes it so I can see her face.

"Hi Amy, what can I do you for?" I ask.

She blinks.

"So he's a bear," she begins.

"I didn't know that one either," I shrug. He squeezes onto me tighter.

"And why is he snuggling you like that?" She continues.

"He had a really bad fever, I think that infusing my power into him helps him. It's been helping my head ache too," I smile.

She rolls her eyes.

"Has he asked for your hand in marriage yet?" She sneers.

"Oh," I begin and then Ken squeezes me tighter.

I grunt.

"Is he squishing you?" Amy steps forward. "Is he trying to kill you?" She continues stepping forward.

"Alright alright," I get up just as Ken begins growling. He still has a hand wrapped around my wrist.

Amy blinks at me and then him.

"Wow, I'm speechless," Amy raises her eyebrows. I look back at Ken. He's back to being Ken in a white tank and sweats. His brows are creased in pain. "He really loves you, huh?" She states.

I blink.

"He what?" I ask.

"I thought he was faking it before, but he needs you Katie, and even if he doesn't want to admit it, I think he's falling in love with you because of it," she shakes her head.

"He's using you, that's messed up," she continues.

"Alright Amy, how about I talk to you later?" I finally state. She smiles knowingly. I don't have to ask her to know what she means. But she's wrong.

I don't love him. I'm just helping him. Anyone would help someone who needed their help, right?

TERRENCE

My head is spinning in new information. I know it, there has to be something the guard knows? But how did Amy already go there? Why did she go there? It just makes me miss her, want to have a sit down conversation. I roll over and focus on the details. Something that will give me a way forward. Some way out.