When the World Ends

27; Angel

     "Are you sure?" I ask. "Wouldn't Daye be in a room now?"

     "Perhaps, but Alfred said they were in the cafeteria. I'm sure in the time it took us to get here, they would have finished eating." Astrid confirms, turning towards the emergency room counter. A short, plump lady appears, carrying a stack of clipboards.

     "Can I help you, ladies?" She asks, dropping the clipboards into a slotted, color coated shelf on the counter. 

Astrid and I share a look. Stepping forward, she says, "We're here to see the Elector."

The nurse finishes sorting the clipboards before glancing up at us, wiping her hands on her clothes. "No one is permitted to see the Elector right now."

     "Did something happen?" I ask, stepping up beside Astrid.

     "I'm sorry." The nurse says. "That is information I cannot disclose."

Calmly, Astrid says, "You do realize who you're talking to, correct?" She takes a step back, gesturing to her clothes. "I am not suffering this polyester suit to not fulfill my duty as Commander." She points to her upper arm, where the house emblem is carved. "I am bound to him in service until death parts us."

     "And while I commend you for attending to your duties, I still cannot permit you to see the Elector at this time." She crosses her arms, glancing between Astrid and me. 

     "What are we going to do?" I ask, fiddling with the hem of my shirt.

Astrid glances at me, and then at the lady and says, "Give me a minute. I need to make a call." She dismisses herself to the far side of the waiting room and pulls out her phone, fingers dancing across the screen as she dials in the numbers. When the call clicks thorough and the screen turns black, she turns to face the wall. 

Turning back to the nurse, who has now sat down behind the desk, I memorize her name and then take a few steps away towards the hall. Leaning forward, I glance around the corner. No sign of anyone familiar. I jump when the nurse clears her throat and motions for me to move away. I approach Astrid as soon as she ends her call. 

     "Wait just a few minutes." She glances past me at the nurse. "Alfred said that Daye is fine and the nurse is just being finicky. Did you happen to catch her name?"

I nod. "Her tag says Esther."

     "Good." She says, motioning to someone behind me. I turn, seeing Micah glancing round the waiting room. Once he spots us, he is over in just a few steps. 

     "Any word on the Elector?" He asks, reluctantly dropping the key fob into Astrid's hand. 

Astrid shakes her head, plunging the fob into her pocket. "Not much besides the nurse there behind the desk saying we can't see him, although I made other arrangements."

As if on cue, Alfred appears around the corner leading to the hall, a little frumpled from last night's events but still as regal as ever. With a loud voice, he calls to the nurse. "Pardon me! These are the Elector's closest friends and I will be taking them to see him now." Without waiting for a response, he places his hand on the small of Astrid's back and guides her in front of him near the hallway and then motions for the two of us to follow. 

Astrid and Alfred chat quietly amongst themselves, leaving Micah and I to follow along behind them. For a while, neither of us say anything, and then we accidentally start speaking at the same time. 

     "I'm sorry," he says. "Please, go first."

     "All I was going to say was that I think you made a wise decision listening to Astrid. I think she has more authority than the both of us could fathom combined."

     "I might not have, if she wasn't correct about knowing where I live."

I gasp, looking up at him. His serious facade breaks, a gentle smile spreading across his face. 

     "I'm not that brave. Stealing from Alfred is like stealing from Daye himself and I'm not that insane- yet." He pauses for a second, ambling behind the duo in front of us. "Look, I'm certain I made a foolish impression of myself that day we met in the complex hall. I'm sorry. I had no intention of harming you. I'd appreciate if you forgave me, but if not, I understand. The decision is entirely yours."

     "I suppose I can consider it." I admit, grabbing his arm and pulling him along once I realize how far we've gotten from Astrid and Alfred. They've turned the next corner and we're not even halfway down the hall. 

Luckily, when we turn the corner and catch up, they haven't gone too far and are standing near an open door on the right side of the hall, chatting with a nurse. 

     "...sorry, he can't be discharged until the nurse that signed him in clocks in for her shift and reviews his chart. There's still a few more hours. Can't you wait a little longer, Elector?"

Now that I'm standing directly behind Astrid, I can see that Daye is standing just inside the door, an irritated look plastered on his face. 

     "Call the nurse and request that she comes in early. I'll match her salary and give her a bonus. Anything to be out of here." With that, he turns away, dragging an IV pole along beside him. 

All of us in the hall share a look, filing into the room behind Daye. 

Alfred speaks first. "Elector, I am not letting you leave this hospital until you have recovered. You health must last the duration of your reign, not the first two weeks."

     "Yeah-" Astrid follows. "Even if you spend a week in here, you'll look back on it in ten years and be grateful that you listened to us. We're only looking out for you."

Micah and I hang back, staying near the door. 

     "Who is that?" Daye asks, disregarding the things said to him by Astrid and Alfred. 

When neither of us answer, Astrid motions us closer. "Well, Angel, of course. And that's Micah. He attends the academy. Long story, don't ask."

All Daye says is, "Hmp-" and then sits back onto the edge of the bed, rubbing his hand over his face. "Well, Micah, hopefully know know that anything seen, heard, or said here is confidential."

     "Absolutely." Micah says, doing an awkward half bow.

     "On pain of death." Daye adds, glaring at him and then glancing away to fiddle with the IV tube. 

Micah glances at me, but I'm already busy approaching the bed. Daye and I share an awkward look before I raise my hand press the back of it to his forehead. "Are you really feeling better?" I ask quietly, taking my hand back. 

     "Yes." he answers, equally as quietly. "Not hundred percent, but certainly ready to leave this place. I'm sure recovery at home would be the same if I was able to take the equipment with me."

My response is interrupted by the door opening, The nurse they were chatting with in the hall appears. "I ran your request by Sharon, the nurse that admitted you and she said that if you were serious, she could be here in thirty minutes." She has a cellphone clutched to her chest. 

     "I am dead serious." Daye confirms. "Tell her it's a deal and then come back. I need something from you."

The nurse nods, raising the phone back to her ear with one hand as she exits the room and closes the door with the other.