Maledictus Ignis

Luke

Cole sat there staring at him for a moment, then he balls his fist up, but before he could hit him Dustin stops his fist and shakes his head.

"Cole, how don't you recognize me? It's me, your brother." Luke said.

Cole sat in silence for a moment.

"I don't have a brother." He said finally.

Luke looked sad, but also confused.

"....You can't be serious, is this one of your pranks?" Luke said in a joking voice.

Cole just looked at him almost offended.

"I don't know you. And I'm not interested in these stupid games, explain what's going on here." Irritated, Cole began squeezing Dustin with his arm that was around him.

"Cole, Cole! Your squeezing me!" Dustin exlaims.

"Oh sorry Dustin." 

Cole lets go of Dustin then wipes some of his tears away thinking about how he didn't even realize how hard he was squeezing him, then he turns his attention back to Luke.

Dustin begins thinking about what Cole said, was Adrian really dead? He had to know.. maybe Cole was just thinking things.. he did just wake up after all.

"Hey, Cole." Asked Dustin.

"What is it?" He responded.

"What you said earlier.. is.. is Adrian really..?" Dustin didn't want to finish the question.

Cole looked at him with such sadness in his eyes, with a hint of anger.

Dustin didn't need an answer.

"....I see." He sat there silently.

"Cole I'm.. sorry for your loss. Even if I didn't know him I know what it's like to lose someone you care about." Luke says.

Cole looks back at him angrily.

"Well you could have saved both of us you know! Not just me! Why didn't you take Adrian with you too??" Cole began heating up again.

"Hey theres nothing I can do for a dead body, by the time I got there he was already dead." 

Luke defends himself.

"I- you... ugh." Cole didn't even have the energy to stay angry.

"Ok.. I'm sorry, I know your not responsible for this.. but I can't just forget this. Why do you look like that man so much anyway?" Cole asked.

"I can't tell you here." Luke said plainly.

"What?! Why can't yo-"

"Hey!.. Quiet down, you've been screaming this entire time, there are injured people in here who are trying to recover, so try to talk a little more quietly." Luke explained in a hushed tone.

Cole looks around the room and sees all the people he didn't even notice before, as well as some of the nurses who had been watching closely.

"We should talk later, you need to recover after your little exchange with him." Luke said.

"What? I still have questions, I'm not even injured I can.." Cole tries getting up but is suddenly struck with a wave of sleepiness.

"The.. hell?" Cole says sluggishly.

"You used too much prowess earlier in your fight with him." Luke said.

"Prowess? What is that?" Cole asked now laying down.

"It's.. you don't know what that is? How is that even possible? Don't they teach it in school?" Luke said confused.

"Oh.. heh, guess I wasn't paying too much attention, nevermind, just tell me when I wake up." He said with his eyes closed.

Luke looked at him and saw the little brother he remembered so fondly.

"Well then I guess I'll see you- oh right, Dustin you coming or are you staying here for the time being?" Luke had forgotten Dustin was sitting there because he was so quiet.

"Hm..? What? Oh yeah, I'll be out in a sec." Dustin mumbled.

"Alright then."

Luke raised an eyebrow and walked out of the room.