18:00

60 : Concerns

The room was dead silent long before Test Tube opened the door.

No one dared to speak as she walked in, their eyes all settling on the unconcious object in her hands. Even if the best was never expected, the stitches along Bow's back were far from promising. The only sound made was when Test Tube started to hesitantly walk forward.

She didn't walk too far in, as to let anyone leave her sight, but she took a few steps into the room. She laid Bow down on the floor, as if offering a sacrifice to some sort of god, before retreating back to the door. The subjects simply stared in slight shock.

The first one to move was Soap, who slowly stood up. Her caution was quickly abandoned though, as she ran over to Bow as quick as she could manage.

"Oh god, what happened this time?" Soap muttered, quickly pulling Bow into her arms. She stared down at the other girl, examining the new scar with fright. The room stared back, everyone else hesitant to move as well.

Lightbulb took the next move, walking over and sitting beside Soap. Her eyes lingered over Bow's injury for a moment as well, and she had to hide a grimace.

"She's cold." Soap whispered, cradling the limp body as if it might break apart with the slightest bit of pressure.

"Wasn't she always?" Lightbulb responded- a saddened attempt at comfort. Soap got the message nonetheless, nodding in understanding. It didn't seem to do much though, as the room quickly sunk into an unsettled silence.

With a small groan, Knife walked away from the wall he'd been leaning against. He walked over, crouching directly in front of Soap and forcing her to look at him.

"Listen, I don't know everything that's happened down here," He said with a start, "but as far as I've heard, she's been through hell and back already. And I mean that literally- the girl died and came back for god's sake. She's been through worse, if her weird autopsy scar says anything. She'll live, just let her rest."

"I've died too. I have my own scars." Soap said in a soft retort. One of her hands floated up to the scar that wrapped around her head, as if proving her statement.

"And you're alive, aren't you?" He responded. She looked down at her other hand, eyeing her finger. It was still pale and numb, never having recovered from the blood draw she got when her and Bow got here.

"Does this look like being alive to you?"

Knife paused, looking at the same finger. "..Not really. But you sure as hell aren't dead. You can talk and move and think, and that's enough."

She stared back. The only response she could muster up was a small nod, but her grip on Bow loosened ever so slightly, and that was enough.

He stood up, staring back down for just a second, and he felt his gaze unwillingly soften at the sight. He forced himself to turn around, but as soon as he did, he felt his eyes narrow into a glare. His eyes settled on the figure in the doorway, still standing there in her white coat.

"Why are you still here?" He growled.

Test Tube stared back for a moment, before seemingly blinking herself out of her trance. She stared back for a second before responding. "This is my lab, I don't need permission to be anywhere."

She shot a glare back as she finally closed the door, leaving the subjects alone. As soon as the door entered her vision though, she could only softly sigh, feeling her body sink. She grabbed her notepad and pen and began scribbling down her observations, until she heard a soft chatter from behind the door.

"I think Knife's right," Lightbulb reassured Soap gently, "we've all survived this far despite it all. I think she'll be okay."

"I hope so." Soap replied, her voice barely audible. "Just... can we talk about this later? I don't want something like this to just be another thing for her to observe and analyze."