The Above || Completed

20 Pain

The pain gushed through my side like boiling water, making me cry out. What a great way to wake up in the morning. I found myself on the floor, Aeron sitting up beside me. What genius had the brilliant idea of tipping us off the hammock?
"Maddison, are you okay?" Aeron said, looking alarmed.
"What? Yeah," I said, groaning at the pain in my side.
"No, you aren't. You're bleeding." He frowned. "How did you get this cut? Why didn't you tell me?"
He lifted my shirt to reveal the gash in my side, a lot larger than I remembered it, bleeding heavily. The red was prominent against my pure white skin.

"We have to get you to a nurse," Aeron muttered. "I think it's infected."
"Infected?" I repeated as Aeron went to stand up.
I then heard Aeron calling, "Erica, as much as I want you to go to Hell right now, Maddison needs a nurse!"
Erica had done this?
"Go get a nurse yourself," Erica shouted.
Aeron growled, "Unbelievable."
I tried to get up but the pain overwhelmed me and my limbs gave out. I didn't think it would be this bad. I was probably weak from blood loss.
"Maddison, don't," Aeron ordered worriedly. "I'm going to get help."

Then came a pair of feet running down the stone path. I recognised the shoes of a boy and a girl. I looked up to see Grace and Zachariah.
"She's bleeding," Zachariah informed Grace.
"Aeron, I'll go get help. You two stay here," Grace said.
She took off before Aeron and I could thank her. She was definitely quick-thinking. Zachariah sat on his knees beside me and gave me a soothing smile. I felt Aeron take my hand on the other side of me.
"Does it hurt?" he asked me, a look of guilt on his face.
I nodded. "It's not your fault."
"Why would it be?" Zachariah asked.
"I got her into this mess," Aeron said ruefully.
"It's just a scratch." I chuckled, squeezing his hand.

Zachariah smiled a shy smile but made no move to ask how anything happened. He was polite enough not to get involved. All he did was take my other hand. I stared at him for a while, wondering why he wouldn't just ask us what he wanted to know. But I hadn't thought that perhaps he just didn't want to know. He was okay with being kept in the dark. A shadow boy. I then diverted my gaze to Aeron. He was staring at me intently and protectively. And he looked so deeply into my eyes that I couldn't tear mine away.

"Did Erica really toss us off the hammock?" I asked, feeling a knot form in my stomach.
"Yeah, she did." He nodded, a sad tone in his voice.
"It's not her fault. She got angry seeing us like that," I said with a sigh.
"She's made your injury worse though," he said, his eyes traveling to the blood staining my shirt.
Zachariah spoke up, "You should've taken care of it sooner."
"I didn't even notice it before. I'm sorry, Maddison," Aeron murmured softly.
"I thought my name was Devonne," I said, smiling sympathetically.
Aeron chuckled. "Yes, it is."
"How did you get scratched?" Zachariah risked asking.
"Thorn bush," I replied. "It really wasn't a big deal when it happened."
Zachariah nodded in understanding and looked up.
"Help's coming. You'll be okay," he said reassuringly.
"Thanks, Zachariah," I said.

I was then lifted onto a stretcher by two men dressed in navy blue. Nurses, I presumed. I looked at Grace, who stayed behind at Zachariah's side, and gave her a genuinely grateful smile. Aeron followed the men to the hospital wing where they set me down on a bed with thin white sheets covering it. The room was fairly dull but it had everything that a hospital wing should have.
"The doctor will be here in a moment," one of the men informed.
"Thank you," I uttered as they walked out.
I looked at Aeron again, noticing how worried he actually looked. He was perspiring slightly under his arms and he seemed very distant.
"Aeron, I'm fine. We're fine," I assure him again.
He shook his head. "I know. I just-"
He stopped short.
"What is it, Aeron?" I asked, my curiosity aroused.
Had something like this happened to him before?
"Nothing, Devonne." He grinned, all charming. A mask.

Just then, the door to the grey, sterile room opened and an old man wearing a white coat stepped in. He must've been the doctor. He was bald and had a grey-haired mustache adorning his top lip. It stood out immensely against his paper-white skin.
"Miss Zeph?" he said in a husky voice as his blue eyes met my own.
"Yes," I responded.
"I'll be taking a look at you now but I'm going to ask Mister Phoenix to leave. Preparations for the Renewal commence today and he has no excuse to miss them," he explained.
Aeron looked as though he wanted to argue but I held up a hand.
I gave him a hard stare. "He's right. I'm okay. Sort things out with Erica and focus on the Renewal."
He took a deep breath and gave my hand a squeeze before leaving the hospital wing.
It was just me and the doctor now.

^^^

!!Author's Note!!

Thanks for the abundant enthusiasm, everyone! I enjoy writing this story so much and your feedback really motivates me.

The picture above is a portrayal of Zachariah.

Anyway, I never get tired of hearing from you guys so go ahead and comment. And if you're feeling generous, leave a vote too.

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