TRIBULATIONS

32.

It was hard.

It was hard carrying the bike while walking up the stairs. It was hard even carrying the bike. But Arthur did it for Pierre. Finally making it to the elevator, Arthur felt his head spin. His head slightly fell back, he thought he was about to faint due to the way his vision blurred, but he couldn't faint now. So he shook his head, which made everything worse.

The elevator doors opened, and Arthur staggered back. His hands clamped onto the bike as he slowly limped his way out of the elevator.

He barely made it to the center of the room, yet his knees had buckled once again, and he found himself on the floor. His jaw smacked against the metal, and he groaned. I'm so tired..

But he couldn't faint, for Pierre.

He had to check if the man was heavily wounded.

So he got up, and he practically swayed side to side as he rushed his body towards Pierre's insensate state. His head spinned once again, "..Ah.." He whimpered, "..Damm it, Pierre! Open your eyes!"

He slapped the man who remained unconscious, not even moving a muscle. He pressed his cold palm against Pierre's neck, trying to check for a pulse. His heart skipped a beat when he felt none, until... There it was, faint. Arthur felt his eyes tear up, "Damm it, Pierre! You said you'd protect me, how are you supposed to do that when you're... When you're.."

He gripped his hair, "...What do I do? What do I do? What..?"

He took a few deep breaths. Arthur's trembling hands rushed to remove Pierre's jacket. It was a struggle, the man was burly but he got the job done. Pierre wore a tight grey long sleeved shirt. Arthur examined his body to see if he had any blood. Luckily, he was not that hurt. Although, there were a few cuts and bruises on his hands, face, and especially his knees. His pants had ripped a little bit.

Arthur thought for a while, I need a kit. He concluded. So he stood up, and searched the entire room. It would make sense if a medical kit was in the bathroom, so he went there. And as predicted, he found one. Unfortunately, he couldn't find a hair tie, so he stuck to half braiding his hair so that it would be out of his face. At least he attempted to braid. He was so nervous, what if he's dying? Should I call someone? What's going on outside?

But Arthur knew that no one could answer him.

After a few moments, Arthur had cleaned the cuts on Pierre's face. He put bandages on each of the cuts, and for the bruises, he simply rubbed some ointment. Satisfied with his work, he stared at Pierre's' meaty breasts, and he bit his lower lip. His face heated up, as he contemplated undressing the man. It's not like I'll do something weird, I just want to clean his wound. He thought.

Arthur sighed as he carefully pulled his shirt over his head. He wondered how nurses take care of patients, it was hard to undress an unconscious person. Nonetheless, he was able to do so. Arthur squirmed in his position, Pierre was... Very fit. He cleared his throat, he raised him up with great effort despite feeling weak. Pierre had no cuts, but Arthur could see bluish- purplish bruises starting to form on his skin. He rubbed some ointment on them too.

After some time, Arthur sat there contemplating if he should pull his pants down. Eventually, he knew he had to, I mean, Pierre was injured there too.

Arthur started to unbuckle his belt, the belt smoothly slid out of the belt loops. Arthur unzipped his pants, revealing his black boxers, and his prominent bulge. Arthur gulped as he stared at it, he felt awkward, as if he were invading Pierre's privacy. Still, he swung his right leg over Pierre's legs, and gripped each sides of his pants as he forcefully pulled them down. Pierre winced, and Arthur held his breath.

Please, please don't get up now. He plead in his mind.

Arthur hurriedly picked up the cotton swab full of disinfectant, and rubbed it as gently as possible on the cuts, ignoring the way Pierre winced in pain. Soon, he patched the man's knees up! And he was finished with his work. His head spinned in a circle, and Arthur grunted. His upper body almost fell backwards, but he grabbed onto Pierre's legs.

He managed to fully undress the man, except for his boxers of course. Arthur tucked Pierre under the sheets, but as soon as he took a step back,

His eyes rolled back, his body gave out, and his head crashed onto the chair he previously sat on. He let out a loud shriek, a sharp pain shot through his skull, the ringing in his ears emerged and they became louder,

Darkness.

☠

Ravena cursed as she hid in an alley way.

The experimented were awfully strong.

She gritted her teeth, what are they planning? She didn't understand why this was happening.

Sudden anger coursed in her, it was unlike her to get angry, but if there was something she really despised, it was not knowing things. Ravena stepped into the road, her limbs started to elongate, her body seemed distorted as her teeth sharpened and grew longer. She raised her bony hand, and she let out a screechy high scream, a scream higher than a C# major. A scream that was so piercing whoever heard it would explode, blood splattering, staining the floor.

The experimented screamed in pain, their screams fading as their heads exploded. Silence.

Silence.

Ravena stopped screaming, she had never been able to do that before. Or rather, she was able to do that but never attempted to do so. It was her instincts screeching at her to lose control. She hoped Edena was safe and had not heard that.

But for now, She was sure that no one would be able to infiltrate Mispair.

In fact, she should head over there, but first, she needed to see Edena.

Edena on the other hand was receiving some information from Bennett. She frowned, confusion washed her as she questioned Bennett. "Why are you telling me this? Aren't you afraid we'd label you as a traitor? As someone we can't trust-"

Bennett chuckled. "You're already letting me stay here for free, think how you want about me."

Bennett had told Edena of what he had shared earlier with Arthur. Since Edena and Ravena were in Dreamaspira, they could retrieve the files in his Father's' office. He was the attorney, maybe, just maybe he knew something.

Edena sighed. "..T-thank you." She cleared her throat, "Remember to stay in your room."

Bennett hummed, "I will, stay safe."

Edena was speechless, "..O-okay, I will."

Bennett laughed once more before hanging up.

Edena stared at the device, what was that conversation.. She wondered. But she wasn't complaining, it was... Nice.