Gold and Wine

Chapter 6

Paul's Point:

I knew he wasn't okay. When I first saw him, his skin raw and bleeding in his frantic rage, I knew that this was going to be a long healing process. I never thought, however, that I would find him in such a state.

The room was destroyed, the books splayed over the floor and the walls damaged. The desk was half-bent, the chair broken into various parts. Worst was him, however, who was in the center of the room. His hands were bleeding, his face red and scratched. His eyes were red and swollen, frantic as he darted between our faces. His bed clothes were torn again, revealing the wounds from the afternoon. Even the Father hissed in surprise at the sight, the one he so easily dismissed.

Adonis was silent, horribly so. He left before anything could be done and I was tasked with bringing Adam back to the infirmary while the Father went to find the brother who had aided Adam prior.

He was weak against me, not even attempting to fight as I dragged him to the infirmary like a ragdoll. I shouldered the door open, lugging Adam over onto the cot. He was muttering, whimpering between soft sobs. What hurt him so badly? I held his hand, sweaty and bloodstained, and didn't even think that prayer would help this. He seemed beyond any help, I had warned the Father that he did need help and now the words of myself and the brother were cold fact.

"I'm sorry," I said quietly, squeezing his hand as he twisted on the bed in a whimpering, sniveling mess. It was only a few minutes before the Father came back, the brother stalking behind him. The brother didn't even bother to hide his disdain at the Father for commending this to the "given suffering" when Adam was clearly in a deep, emotional distress. The brother pushed past the Father, entering into the room to check on Adam.

"Adam, you're okay. Come, you're safe here," he said, trying to comfort Adam down from his state but it didn't seem to help.

"He's in the same state as this afternoon," he turned to look at the Father, "did you, by any chance, read his file before he came here?"

"Only vaguely," the Father confessed, holding onto his rosary as he watched the scene unfold before him.

"Did it happen to mention any psychiatric disorders? Especially ones with anxiety?"

"As said, vaguely," he repeated. The brother sucked on his teeth, walking to his own desk where he pulled up the notes from this afternoon. After a few minutes, the tense air only being broken by the gradually softer whimpers of Adam.

"There you go," I praised quietly, hoping to comfort Adam further from his daze. He was now just lying on the cot, staring upwards beyond the roof. Eventually, the brother broke the silence as he came forward with a sedative that was softer than the one from this afternoon, not wanting Adam to become addicted or too distant.

"Hey, Adam, how are you feeling?"

Adam didn't answer, looking at the brother. The brother chewed on the inside of his cheek, his eyes shifting as he realized what had occurred. He went to my side, putting the tablet in my hand.

"Brother Paul has something that can help you. Would you be willing to take it?"

Adam nodded slowly. With a reassuring smile, the brother walked to the head of the cot and helped get Adam to sit up. I held out the tablet, and Adam stared at it for a few seconds before taking it and putting it under his tongue.

"That's good, just keep it there."

The brother moved to get the first aid kit, gently running his finger across Adam's hand to test the waters. Nodding, he then took the hand in his and slowly worked with the tweezers to get rid of the splinters that pierced Adam's skin.