Friends, Slaves, and Nightmares

42: The Hospital and Chase

"This way! I need to have enough time to get a portal open, and if we're out of sight so the guards can't see, that's even better." Katey shouted and veered to the right, towards the denser part of the forest while leaving the castle behind in the dust. Trix, Figure, and Mina followed without question, Mina still carrying David on her shoulder.

This part of the plan didn't make the most sense to her, but she knew it worked, and it would keep her and David safe. As it turns out, Mina knew very little about magic in general. She knew it existed, and things like her dragon arm and a ghost girl where entirely feasible. That's more than what most people know. Katey seemed to have a better grasp on what was possible with the use of magic, and what actually existed. She had been the one to explain about different dimensions and portals in the first place.

Portals, to put it simply, can instantaneously transport one object to another place, but transporting between dimensions is a bit different. In the normal realm of reality, dimensions never normally cross paths. An interdimensional portal acts as a highway between two dimensions. Almost like bursting through one wall to get to another room. For one moment, there's a space where the dimensions meet and a focal point at which people and objects can pass threw. And don't even ask about dimensional time difference. Mina already made that mistake when Katey mentioned it.

The trees became more tightly packed, allowing for less light to filter through the canopy of leaves above, causing their surroundings to get darker. The crunch of old, long dead leaves beneath the groups feet and the occasional snap of a twig under foot was the only noise. Once they were certain they were alone, they came a complete stop.

"Let me open up the portal, then we'll go through one at a time." Katey spoke yet again and walked over to a tree, her eyes glowing a bright red.

Trix nodded, and said "Don't take too long."

Figure's mouth moved but no words came out, at least, none that Mina could hear. Trix responded with a grin and a slight giggle. The two started talking, in a weird form for Mina to witness. She was only able to hear half the conversation, as if she was listening to someone talk to their friend on the phone. With Figure there and silently talking, it added a different strangeness factor to the situation.

Mina sighed and shifted, grabbing David and holding him in her arms now. He was still pale and covered in bite marks. She hated seeing the fanged bite marks all over him. He didn't deserve punishment like that.. No one did..

A bright blue light flashed into existence. "I got it open!" Katey hollered, her eyes still glowing red.

The source of the light was a swirling turquoise blue enegry. It appeared to be flat and oval shaped, hovering a few inches off the ground. It's swirling blue mass had streaks of purple and white coursinf through it. A strange sound emmited from it, a high pitched crackling sound combined with a deep hum that came in waves. The portal.

"Mina, you and David first." Katey order and stepped to the side to allow Mina to walk through.

Mina nodded and walked towards the portal. She only hesitated a moment with David in her arms. The giant swirling blue enegry seemed to glow brighter in sequence with the deep humming. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath before stepping through the portal. Strangely enough, the only sensation she could pick up on was a strange coolness, as if the portal was made of liquid, yet left her dry. All the sounds of the surrounding world dropped away into utter silence, until she took another step forward and the strange sensation of the liquid portal on her skin vanished and sounds returned.

Peeling her eyes open she was greeted to the stark white walls of a hospital. Nurses and doctors bussled about taking care of various tasks. A small boy being led down the hall with an older sister, probably for a check up. An old man sitting and coughing in the waiting room. It was slightly cold and smelled of cleaning products. Everything seemed normal. She looked around at her unfamiliar settings as someone grabbed her arm.

Her stomach churned in fear as she quickly turned and jerked her arm back, careful not to drop David. The stranger who had grabbed her turned out to be none other than Kevin. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.. Can I take David please? And we should get you out of sight before..." He gestured towards her dragon arm, "you know?"

Mina nodded and sowly handed over David. "He was awake when I found him... But he passed out when I uncahined him..." Mina explained quietly.

Kevin nodded and took David in his arms, glancing around he waved a nurse with a gurney over. The nurse pusher the empty gurney over and Kevin met her half way, gently laying David down on it. "Room 13, get two blood bags hooked up to him and an IV." Kevin directed, his voice suddenly becoming very factual. He glanced at Mina and spoke in a lighter tone, "Katey can get you to a nearby room to wait in. Kara, Axel, and Chase are already in a room and waiting."

Mina frowned, not sure who Chase was but not getting a chance to ask as Kevin and the nurse pushed David down the hall. "Ok then..." She whispered and slowly began to look around.

Katey, Trix, and Figure stood behind her now. Katey's eyes faded to blue and the swirling blue portal collapsed in on itself, which Mina assumed meant it had closed. "Let's get you to that waiting room Mina.." Katey began to say, "David's going to be fine now that he's in Kevin's hands. I'm sure you'll be able to visit him as soon as he's awake." She gave the slightest hint of a smile and put her hand on Mina's shoulder.

Mina just silently nodded and allowed herself to be led by Katey down another series of halls. Trix and Figure followed, starting another strange conversation with only one side for Mina to hear. Her stomach still churned uneasily, she was nervous about David. He was here in he hospital now, so he should be fine. But he had lost so much blood and looked so pale.. And all those bite marks.. Could they be infected? Maybe they were infected, not in the baterial way, but in the vampire virus way. Would David become a blood sucking vampire?

Mina was unable to stop as her thoughts ran wild across her mind and she numbly followed Katey. The act of sitting down didn't even register once they arrive in a large room with only three other people. Her head snapped up as someone gently touched her hand.

The boy looked to be about fifteen or sixteen, and had a striking resemblance to Figure. The dark brown hair, but this time light hazel eyes instead of Figure's electric blue ones. The boy just silently frowned, and offered out what appeared to be a note book.

Confused, Mina slowly reached over and took the note book. The note book was already open to a mostly blank page in the back and written out quickly but neatly was, "Are you ok?"

It took Mina a moment to put the pieces together as she looked up at the boy. "You can't talk?..."

The boy nodded his head and watched Mina, a worried expression covering his face. He pointed to the three simple words on the notebook, then at Mina.

She glanced down then at the boy and slowly nodded. "I think so.. I'm just worried about my friend David..."

The boy took the notebook and began writing, "Kara was telling me about David. You must be Mina?"

She nodded. "Yeah.. What's your name then?"

He smiled and wrote, "I'm Chase, Figure's brother and also Kara's friend." He pointed to Figure, and then Kara who had Axel asleep in her lap.

Mina smiled slightly. "Well, it's nice to meet you Chase."

She was slowly starting to feel more relaxed and calm. David was free and under Kevin's care. Everything was going to be just fine.