Gnosis

CHAPTER 3: EXTRA-ORDINARY I

Word Count: 4125

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(Y/n) felt a surge of panic as the sharp pain surged through her body. With trembling hands, she reached for her side, where the pain throbbed. Her fingers came away slick with blood, the metallic scent mingling with the damp air.

"Five, I think I'm shot," she muttered through gritted teeth, her voice barely above a whisper. She pressed her hands against the wound, trying to stem the flow as fear clawed her.

Five's eyes widened as he took in the sight of her bloodied hands and the growing stain on her clothes. His breath caught in his throat and, for a moment, he froze in place, unable to comprehend the gravity of the situation. Then, with a surge of adrenaline, he jumped to his feet and kneeled beside her, his mind racing as he assessed the situation.

"Stay calm," he instructed, his voice steady despite the urgency in his tone. "Let me see."

He guided her hand away from the injury, checking how big the damage was. When he finally saw it, his hands moved swiftly, applying pressure to staunch the bleeding himself.

"You're going to be okay," he reassured her, though his voice betrayed a hint of concern when her eyes flutter.

"We're going back to the Academy."

All he got was a nod before he gathered her in his arms and blinked back to the Academy, which he was thankful that it actually worked.

He steered them through the corridors, which seemed to stretch on endlessly. Being as impatient as he was, he jumped one last time, and he stumbled into the sterile confines of the medical bay.

Seeing that no one was there to help them, Five laid her down on the table and reassessed the wound. His heart raced as he took in the sight of the blood-stained clothing and the pale complexion of (Y/n), her breaths shallow and ragged.

Drawing upon his experience back at the Commission and the training he had when he was still in the academy, Five tore open a nearby medical kit, his hands steady despite the trouble seething within him. With practiced precision, he began cleaning the wound.

"Deep breaths," he whispered as he tended to her injuries.

With the wound cleansed, Five's focus turned to remove the bullet. He took a scalpel and made an incision over the entry point of the bullet. (Y/n) winced at the sensation, her grip tightening on the edges of the examination table.

"Just a bit more," Five reassured her when he heard her groaned.

His eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he worked to minimize further damage. Finally, he extracted the bullet. The metallic clang echoed through the room as it hit the tray.

The room fell silent save for the soft sounds of Five's movements and (Y/n)'s shallow breaths. With a deep breath, he began stitching the wound.

"I'm sorry I worried you," (Y/n) whispered, eyes barely closing.

Five remained calm and composed, and with each stitch, he felt a sense of relief wash over him.

"Don't be," he answered.

He tied off the last stitch and surveyed his handiwork before bandaging the wound. He stepped back and turned to her, giving her a tired, reassuring smile.

"You're going to be okay," he breathed. "I'll be right here with you when you wake up."

"And you'll make me remember?" she murmured, eyes heavy.

"Always." Five said as a wave of exhaustion came crashing over him.

The weight of the ordeal settled upon his shoulders. He changed her clothing into a much cleaner and comfortable one, wiping the blood from her skin as well.