✧﹒ 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙, 𝙎𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨.

Chapter VII: Race Against Time

Hours have passed since. I layed on top of Kayden, feeling his cold skin against my own. Its coldness rubbed my soul.
I realized he’s been awfully quiet after I ignored his continuous questions. I also realized that his hand isn't tenderly caressing my cheek anymore either. Could it be that…
I looked up at him, eyes bulging in fear of what I might see. Fear that my theories are true.
Kayden was laying there, out cold, with his hair covering his face as it rested to the side.
“Kayden?” I say, trembling.
“Kayden. This isn't funny.” I repeated. Laughing in frustration, thinking it was a sick joke.
He still wasn't answering.
I sat up and held his cheek. Gently tapping on it to wake him up.
But he wasn't waking up.
I started to panic. My mind was still fogged up from all the drugs, but it was like my body instinctively reacted as soon as I saw Kayden hurt like this.
I managed to stand up to look for help. I grabbed his phone, only to find it dead. I started to cry, rushing towards Kayden to hug him, keeping him close to me in my arms. This was my fault completely. I should’ve held back.
I stood up despite all the pain in my legs and slipped my hands underneath his cold body, gently lifting him up from the bed.
The bed was covered with blood, I realized he passed out due to blood loss, along with the long term effects of the drugs he probably took.
I limped over to the door to leave the apartment room. I ran down the hall with determination flickering within me despite all the pain. Each step I took echoed throughout the halls of the apartment, the sound of downpour outside matching the rhythm of chaos. With a deep breath, I stepped out of the building, my resolve stronger than the headache clouding up my mind.

Some time has passed, I don't know how long I've been running in the rain, I lost count of all the weird stares I got from strangers on the streets. But the only thing I had on my mind was to protect Kayden until we got there.
I used my jacket to cover Kayden in fear that the rain water might cause the open wound to swell. I teared up, it was only a matter of time before Kayden bleeds out to death.

I heard a person calling out to me.
Though the throbbing pain in my head, I strained to make out a muffled voice shouting at me.
I looked in the direction I heard the screaming from, and I saw a doctor, standing in front of a hospital door. It was a miracle.
I ran towards the doctor and tried to explain what happened.
“Help him, he’s dying.” I gasped in between words. That was all I could say before the doctor took him in the building, away from the heavy rain.
I walked into the building and stood in shock. Relieved I got here on time.
My yell breaks the silence, I fell onto my knees before beginning to cry into my own arms.
Doctors rushed out of their rooms, almost like they were panicked and scared for their lives. They all stood by the door and stared at me, I felt it.

“What’s going on here?..” I hear someone yell out, a voice so recognizable, I'm almost sick of it.
My body couldn't help but react to that voice, I looked up to see Kayden Infront of me, again.
I couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't real anymore. My mind wanted to deny it, but my body was convinced it was really him.
I felt him wrap his warm arms around me, I hugged back, desperately clinging onto him. All I could hear was him telling me it'll be okay.
I knew it wasn't going to be okay.
“I almost killed him…” I whimpered.
“I almost killed him.” I repeated, my voice trembling.
Was this Kayden? Or was this just my mind playing tricks on me again?
I looked up and saw Kayden talking to a doctor standing next to him.
“He’s hallucinating, which seems to be a side effect of drugs. Give him some water and pills, now.”
I didn't hear what he said clearly, but he looked back at me, his expression changing from a frown to a smile.
I missed that smile.