Friends, Slaves, and Nightmares

43: A Rose may Bloom, but it Always Dies

Mina didn't know how but Chase seemed to make things better. Not perfect, but he eased her anxiety and helped keep her mind from traveling down an endless spiral of worry.

It turned out he was an artist by trait as well. He seemed to carry around his notebook and pencil for drawing purposes mostly, writing to people was just a bonus. Chase was flipping to another page and stopped to show a picture of a rose.

The image was sketched out in pencil, no trace of color except for the various shades of gray based upon the pressure pressed on the pencil and the amount of times the pencil went over that area. The rose was in full bloom with shiny drops of dew covering the delicate petals. Every detail was so precise, Mina half expected the image to shift in correspondence to an imaginary breeze.

"It's beautiful Chase.. How long have you been drawing?" Mina finally said and looked at Chase

Chase was smilingly happily, a hint of pride in his eyes. He flipped to a blank white sheet in the sketch book and quickly wrote out, "Since as long as I can remember. And it's not that great, I have better drawings and paintings."

Mina frowned, puzzled slightly. "Paintings?"

Chase seemed to silently laugh, his shoulders shaking and mouth open as any other person would appear when they laughed, expect without the sound. He scribbled out quickly, "Yeah. I don't just draw with a pencil. I have paintings, sculptures, collages, and other crafts at home. I've spent plenty of time exploring all of what I can do. This notebook and pencil is just the easiest and most portable for me."

Mina smiled and nodded. "Sorry, I shouldn't have limited your artistic skills to sketches."

Chase shrugged, then paused and studied Mina. There was a slight twinkle in his eyes as he suddenly found a blank page and began to draw. His hand moved furiously across the paper, the only sound the scratching of his pencil against the paper. Mina quietly watched over his shoulder. He drew lines, circles, and then went back and erased certain areas of the lines. There were short pauses as he turned the sketch book around to get a better angle. Slowly, the vague image of a face appeared. It gradually got more detailed until it was apparent he was drawing Mina.

It looked as if he snapped a picture in his mind and had only changed a few details, instead of the hospital in the background, there was a pine forest and a lake behind her. A slight breeze had ruffled her hair and was permanently frozen in this position. She studied it as Chase continued adding details until he was satisfied with the details and Mina's appearance. He had given Mina a broad smile the showed a glimpse of her teeth.

"You do that so fast.." Mina murmured in amazement.

Turning to the page with his past comments, Chase wrote, "The speed came with lots of practice."

"You'll have to teach me sometime." Mina smiled and looked at Chase.

With a small smile Chase nodded.

The door to the waiting room opened and Kevin stepped inside. His hair was slightly untamed and he still wore a hoodie. Scanning the room, his eyes fell on Mina and he smiled slightly as he strided over. 

"David is going to be just fine." Kevin began to report, "He's hooked up to some IV's and blood bags, so that should rehydrate him and help him cope with his extreme blood loss. After a few days rest and some proper meals, he will be alright. Physically, at least... I can't say how traumatizing this event was for him, he hasn't woken up."

Releif flooded Mina as she looked at Kevin. "I'll be here to help him recover all I can." David was going to be ok. He was not going to become a vampire. He was not dead. He was ok, and would be fine with rest. That's all she could have hopped for.

Kevin smiled and nodded. "I knew you would. Would you like to come see him? He's asleep, but you can go into his room now."

She shot to her feet quickly. "Yes, I'd really like that."

"Great, follow me-" Kevin began to say but was cut off by the door to the waiting room being slammed open. A wolf, much larger than Ace and black in color, had charged through the partially ajar door. Before anyone could react, it had tackled Katey and pinned her to the ground. Panic surged through Mina as she began to run over to help Katey. Other than the people in the room turning to look, no one had moved to help.

Unsettled, Mina slowed and came to a stop, standing a few feet away from the large wolf that partically ungulfed Katey in-... Playful licking?...

The vampire was laughing. Laughing. Katey herself was actually laughing and playfully pushing at the wolf's muzzle as if it was a game. Just like a human with their favorite pet dog. Yet it was a huge, black, wolf... And a vampire girl?...

A hand gently took hold of Mina's arm. "It's alright, it's only Buddy." Turning her head, she was greeted by Kevin's slightly humored smile.

"I-... Sorry.. I kinda panicked." Mina mummbled, embarrased she hadn't realized there was no real threat.

Katey had managed to get to a sitting position, rubbing the wolf's head. The wolf, Buddy, had his tounge lolling out of his mouth and his tail swishing back and forth. Buddy looked like he was then happiest wolf in the world in that moment. "It's fine Mina, he is a huge wolf. Most people would be scared and freaked out." Katey said, smiling as she glanced up at Mina. "He's just overly excited. I haven't been to this dimension in a while to visit him."

"You should really visit him more often." Kevin suggested, smiling slightly still. "Then again, I think he'd tackle you even if you were only gone an hour."

"I know he would." Katey said with a chuckle and wrapped her arms around Buddy's neck. To Mina's amazement, the wolf seemed to wrap his head down over Katey's shoulder and moved his paws in an attempt to hug her.

"Is he...?" Mina began to ask.

"It's a Buddy hug. I think... He's just kinda always done it." Katey answered, smiling still.

Mina just smiled slightly and nodded. Turning to Kevin, she asked, "Can we go see David now please?..."

"Sure thing, just follow me." Kevin said with a smile and began to walk out of the waiting room. Mina followed quietly behind him. 

They didn't have a far eays to walk, as David's room was just across the hall. Kevin extended his hand to open the door to the room, his back to Mina. The waiting room door shut behind them. No one saw as Pitch formed out of black sand in less than a second in front of Mina. He grabbed onto her roughly, covering her mouth. Her eyes widened in terror as she let out a muffled scream and attempted to jerk away, but his icy hands were clapsed firmly onto her. She could hardly move. 

The muffled scream must have caught Kevin's attention. He turned just in time to glimpse Pitch and Mina before the two began to vanish into black sand. "Mina!" Kevin shouted and lunged towards her and Pitch. His eyes met Pitch's for a brief moment and he could see the wicked smile across Pitch's face as he let out a soft chuckle. Kevin was too late as he fell through the black sand, Mina and Pitch being whisked away. All that was left was the faint echo of Pitch's chuckle.