Blood in the Water

Alternate Ending

The first time Edd awoke he was enclosed within his own nightmare. He was laying in a hospital bed in ICU, alone. He was alone in a hospital, just the same as he had been three years ago. His heart rate spiked, as was evident by the heart monitor beside his bed, as his panic soared. He moved to try to get up and was immediately met with searing pain crawling up his abdomen.

This alerted the nurses who came rushing over. They tried to push him down which only escalated his panic further. He fought and struggled and tears came to his eyes. This couldn't be happening. Not after everything else. He couldn't be alone again.

One of the nurses impaled him with a needle, he felt the cold ache seep into his body just before his head became heavy. He continued to fight and struggle though his attempts got sloppy and weak. Soon enough his hands were too heavy to move and he dropped back down onto the bed.

Darkness claimed him once more.

#

When the man awoke again he was in a small room. His senses and motor functions returned to him slowly as he looked around and took in the acrid scent of disinfectant and the plain white and blue counters. He was covered in a blanket and couldn't see his feet.

Panic rose again as he struggled but this time found his hands and torso had been bound to the bed to keep him still. Then suddenly there was movement and a voice...

"Edd! Edd calm down, please, you have to calm down." His eyes focused on the familiarity and locked onto Marie's soft blue eyes. She had been sitting on a chair beside the bed but now she was standing, her hands gently cupping Edd's face and forcing him to keep his attention on her, "You're ok... You're not alone, I'm right here."

His heart rate slowly calmed down and he longed to take Marie's hand. As if sensing that, one of her hands came down and slipped into his. It was warm and friendly and slowly she smiled. There were tears in her eyes now, "You're alright Edd."

"Marie?" Edd's voice was raw and rasped and his throat felt so dry and hot, "Can you untie me?"

She frowned and looked worried, "Promise not to freak out?"

He slowly shook his head. The effort alone made him tired.

She unbound his chest first, then one hand and finally the other, "You freaked out when you woke up the other day and tore your stitches open." She quickly reached out to stop his attempt to sit up, pushing him back gently, "If you aren't careful you're gonna hurt yourself."

He repressed every urge to whine and still felt a deep sense of panic in his chest. "Thirsty." He finally complained.

Her smile was pained, "Alright, hold on." She looked around then pressed a button on the side of the bed and the top slowly began to rise to put Edd in something of a sitting position. "Wait here, don't move." She gave him a stern look before she left the room and returned a few minutes later with a paper cup.

When he reached out to take it she pulled it back gently, "They said you can't drink, but they gave me ice chips for you." She pulled one out and Edd frowned.

"I am capable of doing it myself." He said stubbornly.

"Edd, shut up and let me help you." She stepped forward and pushed his hand aside before shoving the ice into his mouth. It was cold and he frowned, but it felt good enough that he relented in his stubbornness for a moment. Marie sat back down and set the cup aside, then took his hand gently.

When the ice had melted enough that he could speak he had to ask. "Kevin?" There were so many questions hidden in a single word. So much pain and hesitance that his voice cracked because he knew he didn't want the answer, he could see it written on Marie's face before he even got the syllables out.