More Complicated Than That (Slugterra Fanfiction)

Chapter 17

"Alright, where's 335?" Riley and Eli rushed down a poorly lit hall, looking for their best friends.

"I thought she said 325?" Riley let out an exasperated groan and spun around to face Eli.

"Now isn't the time to bicker, so just go check 325, I'll go check 335." With some incoherent mutters, Eli walked in the opposite direction of Riley.

Glancing at the label, it didn't appear that the other members of the gang were there. A frustrated growl left Eli's lips as he paced back and forth. He wasn't in a very good mood, neither was Riley. They both didn't have the best rest and were hungry. To top it off, their best friends were in the hospital and who knows what happened to them.

"Excuse me? Sir? Are you looking for someone?" Eli looked up and saw a nurse with her clipboard and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Yes, actually. My friend and I are looking for our friends. Trixie, Kord, and Pronto. Do you happen to know which room they're in?" The nurse checked her clipboard and nodded.

"They're in 345." Eli's mouth formed the shape of an 'O', but no sounds came out.

"Riley!" In a flash, Riley was sprinting over to Eli.

"I looked and they aren't in-"

"They were in room 345." This time Riley's mouth formed an 'O'. Eli turned to the nurse standing there awkwardly and thanked her.

"Yeah thanks!" Riley added, walking down the hall.

"No problem," the nurse called.

Eli grinned at Riley and she gave him a disapproving look. He shrugged and walked ahead. They both simultaneously stopped in front of 345. Scrawled in neat handwriting were the three missing Shane Gang members.

With a deep breathe, Eli turned the doorknob. Riley touched his shoulder, urging him to continue. He nodded.

It wasn't much of a shock. Not for Eli at least.

Trixie was a pasty pale white colour. Her lips weren't as red (although she had claimed to put on a little makeup). Kord and Pronto both lost their skin colours. They were pale and just as lifeless as Trixie.

Riley nervously bit her lip and walked over to Trixie. She stroked her hair and murmured some words into her ear. She walked over to Kord and sympathetically held his hand. Lastly, she rubbed Pronto's arm, almost like gently waking him up. But it didn't seem like they would wake up.

Eli hadn't moved while Riley did her thing. He couldn't. All he could do was stand there and feel torn apart. Hadn't his father been enough? And now, his friends? What did he ever do to deserve this poor treatment? All he wanted in life was to be a normal teenager. Okay, with the exception of being a slinger. Just then Eli had a thought. Didn't it seem like whenever he tried to achieve or accomplish something, he would lose it? Or maybe that was only a one time thing. But Eli, from that moment on, was certain that he had some sort of karma. Eli shook his head, trying not to think to much about it. But the thought subconsciously slipped into his mind.

Riley sat down in the chairs by the window, gesturing for Eli to sit down as well. He agreed with his eyes and made his way to the chair next to Riley.

"Riley. Do you believe in karma?" Riley shrugged and kept her gaze straight ahead.

"I dunno. That depends. Do you?" Eli sighed and held his head in his hands.

"I don't know anymore. Why does everything have to happen? My dad is missing, I get transported to Slugterra and then my friends are possibly dying. Doesn't that sound karma enough for you? Y'know? Maybe karma is a-"

"Woah! Language!" Riley laughed lightly, and Eli smirked. Her laugh somewhat eased up the silence and tension.

"I didn't say anything though!"

"I know, but I think I know what you wanted to say." Riley smirked and Eli rolled his eyes.

"I know, sorry. But what if I had bad karma? What did I ever do wrong?" Groaning, Eli shut his eyes.

"Hey, listen up Shane." Eli's eyes popped wide open and stared at Riley who returned the stare with an even more intense one. "I know, karma might seem like it exists. But it doesn't! Trust me! Probably with every freaking thing you do wrong, there's always something good that happens! Wouldn't you agree?" Her last question sounded more like a statement than a question.

Eli nodded slowly, trying to process Riley's speech. But if his friends were almost dying, what was the only good thing that happened? Riley, a voice he knew so well whispered. You like Riley. She makes you happy. She's the ray of sunshine in your darkness Eli! Admit it! And as much as that voice kept talking to Eli, trying to persuade him, he wouldn't budge.

I wouldn't call her my sunshine. Pft, what is she then, a mutual friend who you almost kissed? Yep, definitely not a ray of sunshine. Oh shut the heck up. You don't think half of what you're saying. Yet you're half of me.

Eli bit his cheek, close to begin using some unwanted profanity. His internal battle with himself settled down as Riley and him watched their friends in silence.

In the midst of their silence, Trixie's heart beat sped up. Riley leaned forward, inching closer to her. Eli too was just as curious. And hopeful.

But as soon as her heart rate picked up, it fell again. Riley sighed, but with some relief, knowing her friend wasn't dead yet. There was still a glimmer of hope.

Suddenly, Riley intertwined her fingers with Eli's. She kept a straight face and stared longingly at her friends.

Meanwhile, Eli was flipping out. On the inside. He stared at his intertwined fingers between him and Riley, grasping her warmth with his hand that was bigger. Eli's long fingers were opposite of Riley's short but slender fingers.

Don't just sit there! Do something you idiot! Kiss her? What?! I never said that. But yeah, knock yourself out.... Okay fine I won't.

Riley felt a small squeeze in her hand and she squeezed back, hoping he would get her message.

Kord's heart rate sped up, then slowed. Sighing, Eli and Riley slumped in their chairs. Riley began to mutter under her breathe. Audible enough for Eli to hear.

"Maybe karma is a-"

"Watch it!"
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This chapter is so sad :( but I hope you like it. I almost used some profanity *gasp*! Well, fortunately there was a good way to stop it haha.

PS: this was written in approximately ONE week! What?!?!

{Citrus}