Crazy In Love | Buggy

f o r t y - s i x

We came bursting through the cabin door so violently that the slammed against the wall, making a loud thump as it did so.

The three guests that me and Buggy had brought back were still there, gathered around the kitchen table. The sound of our entrance caused them all to be alarmed, horrified looks of fear spreading across their faces.

"Who are they?" Asked one of the clowns, pulling it a long blade. "Get out or we'll kill you."

They didn't argue, gathering up their stuff as quickly as they could.

"Wait! Are any of you doctors?" I asked, desperately.

"We're not going to let strangers work on our captain," a clown spat at me, in a cold and venomous voice. "You shouldn't even be here yourself, Betty."

I wasn't going to allow this to happen. I felt rage pumping through my veins. These clowns hated outsiders, so much so that they'd happily allow their leader to die rather than have a stranger work on him.

"Shut up. None of you are trained to deal with this. Under your care, he'll die."

"Who do you think you're speaking to?!"

"She's right," said the red and orange clown, placing Buggy down gently in front of the fire.

His body was so limp. Part of me really feared that he was already long dead. All I wanted was to cuddle into him, forget today had even happened. I couldn't though. He needed medical attention.

"I'm sick of her."

"Be as sick of me as you like," I replied. "After this is all done, you can throw me from the ship or kill me or whatever. I don't care. Just let me help Buggy first."

"Whatever."

With that, a bunch of the clowns left the cabin, seemingly done with arguing with me. I turned my attention back on the three people.

"If any of you are doctors, please help him."

"And why would we do that?" Asked one of the women, nonchalantly. "He invaded our village. He can die for all I care."

I saw red. I finally knew how Buggy had felt when I had almost died. I grabbed the largest knife I could find and stormed at the woman, grabbing her roughly by the neck.

"If he dies, I'll kill all three of you. I'll make it painful, too."

"I'm a doctor," the man finally said, meekly. "Just put the knife down and I'll help your friend."

My anger melted in an instant. I felt like a monster. I put down my knife. I felt tears spill out of my eyes. "I'm sorry, I just... he can't die."

"We'll have to strip him of his wet clothes."

"Oh, we'll wait outside," one of the remaining clowns said as soon as the topic of stripping Buggy came up.

I guess they didn't want to see their captain naked. I just told them thank you for their help, and they left. As did the two remaining townswomen.

With just me and the man remaining, we got to work. I began to pull his jacket off.

"Be as gentle as you can."

I was trying to be. It was hard when he was so limp and lifeless. His clothes were stuck to his skin, as if they'd been glued.

As I worked the jacket up, I asked, "What's your name?"

I thought if we could become friends, or he could at least see how nice I was, he would be more likely to actually try to save Buggy.

"Henrik."