A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 94: Anomaly on the ECG

~ Number Four's POV ~

"John?" Malcolm shakes my shoulder, and I snap to. Em's still asleep in front of me. "How long have you been here, John?" He sounds worried.

I rub my eyes to adjust to the light, then glance at the clock—11:12. "Shit. I don't know."

He nods as if he understands. "Her parents are here to check in on her. They asked if you could leave so they can have some privacy."

My jaw hardens. "I won't leave her."

"John, you don't look well," he goes on. "Go and get some proper sleep. You can come back later. I'll look after her while you're gone."

"And how am I supposed to do that?!" Honestly!

"At least shower and change then," he suggests, and I glance down at myself at that. I've been wearing the same jeans and t-shirt since I left Earth Garde HQ—I'm surprised no one has bothered to collect me again. "Take a break. I'll offer to go for a walk with you if that's what you want, but her parents insist that you weren't here so—"

"Ok!" I snap, giving in and rising to my feet. "I get it. I'll leave, but I'm not sleeping. I'll be back in an hour. If she wakes up while I'm gone..."

"You'll be the first to know, John," he assures. "You've got your cell on you, right?"

"Yeah." Although it's running low on juice; I'll need to charge it at the cabin.

As I leave her room and head out into the hallway, it's dim. It's dark in the foyer and only every other light is on. Her dad meets my eyes, gazing at me like the alien that I am. I try to refrain from rolling my eyes and smile at him instead. He says nothing and lets me pass. Her mother, on the other hand, is just entering the building. I pass her as she passes me, smiling, but saying nothing.

"How is she?" she asks then, and I freeze.

"Sorry?"

"Emi," she explains. "You went to see her, right? Is she ok?"

I smile small, but it doesn't stay. It's nice to see someone in her family doesn't blame me for what happened to her, even though she should. "She hasn't woken up yet, if that's what you mean, but she's stable," I tell her, trying to be reassuring, but my tone won't get any lighter. "Malcolm—er, Dr. Goode—he'll look after her. He's a good man; one of our best."

She doesn't reply, but nods 'till I say goodnight and continue my trek.

I plug my phone as soon as I'm back in the cabin, unable to keep from checking it—once, twice, thrice, six times—until I finally decide to keep it face down. I force myself to head for the bathroom and gauge myself in the mirror.

Malcolm was right. I am a mess. My hair's worse than being abandoned in the wilderness and a shadow of dirty blond stubble spreads from my chin to the end of my jaw. My clothes are caked in dust and muck. My hands won't stop shaking even as I try to steady them around the sink. I sigh and turn the water on, strip, and get in.

As usual, the water won't get hot enough, so I opt for a quick shower and change into cleaner clothes—black ripped jeans and a fresh white tee. I'm towel-drying my hair when I hear my phone ring in the other room. I race to it as soon as the melodic ringtone begins to play. "Malcolm? What's up?"

"John." He sounds frantic, out of breath, and his tone alone is enough to send my heart sinking into my gut. "You need to get here now!"

I'm in the Infirmary in a gasp and a tap of my foot without another question asked. It's just Malcolm, her mom, and her now, except now, there's a rapid beeping that terrifies me. Her mother looks terrified too, standing from the chair I sat in.

"What's going on?! What's happening to her?"

"I don't know," Malcolm mutters, cupping a bottle of blue substance I've never seen before. "She just started seizing a few seconds ago. I have meds, but I need someone to hold her on her side so I can inject it."

I nod, understanding—her mother looks in no shape to do it; her face is bright pale. I do as I'm told though I can't deny that I'm shaking too.

The ECG beeps its quicker ring every millisecond or so, and I try to hold her still on her side as Malcolm prepares the syringe. I hold my breath as he injects the needle into a vein, and the ECG begins to slow, stopping, starting, stopping periodically.

"There," he says, stepping away and checking his wristwatch. "She should calm down, but keep an eye on the clock."

"Is she in pain?" her mother asks.

Malcolm shakes his head. "She shouldn't be, but she might not remember what happened when she wakes."

"She'll still wake up though, right?"

"Yes, John. She'll still wake up," he assures, and he sounds confident, but I can tell it's slipping. "It shouldn't be long after the seizure wears off, but someone will want to stay with her in case it happens again."

"I'll stay," I say, not missing a beat.

"John, you out of everyone should be—"

"I'm not leaving her again, Malcolm!" This is too much. He can't expect me to sleep with everything going on! "Please. I just—I need some time alone with her."

I don't realize the silence we endure until Em stops and stills. I lie her onto her back again, fluff the pillow a bit so she's comfortable, and try not to meet the eyes that I'm sure are on me. Eventually, Malcolm sighs. "I'll be nearby. If anything happens, just call."

Her mother's the only other person in the room, standing, watching, waiting. "I'm sorry," I mutter. "I don't mean to be upset. It's just—"

"You're scared. I know. I am too."

"You don't have to go," I tell her. "You can stay if you want."

But she shakes her head. "It's ok. I should try and get some sleep. We're flying back home tomorrow morning, and it's going to be a long flight."

"Oh." I wonder why Nine didn't tell me about this.

"I know you care about her, John Smith," she says, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Please, just call me John."

"John. You know, she cares about you too." I lurch at that.

"She's really strong," I mutter—because I'm not sure what else to say, but it's the truth. "You must be proud of her..."

"I am. I just hate to see her go through so much pain." Pain? What pain? "It doesn't matter what my husband thinks. I think your plenty enough for her."

"Oh... thanks..."

She smiles a motherly smile at me, making me feel like a little boy before she leaves, and again, I'm left alone, watching the love of my life breathe at a dreadfully slow pace, except now, it puts me at even more unease after the seizure. Em's never gotten a seizure in her life. I can't help but wonder why, or even what's changed.