They lay the Izzy and James down on the hospital beds on the far side of the room. I run to James's side to see what is wrong with him. There's a giant gash in the sleeve of his arm right above his elbow. Blood is staining the surrounding fabric and James seems in pretty bad condition.
A few unrecognizable men in masks stride in with purpose going to both James and Izzy. Two to each. I stare at James with tears in my eyes and move my hands quickly and I check his pulse in all the possible places. I could feel his heart through his shirt beating rapidly, hammering against his chest begging to be let out. The men in masks shove me back.
"Ma'am," they say, each with a hand on my shoulder, "we're going to ask you to please step back. We're professionals and we don't need you getting in the way. Your friend will be fine." I glare at them for a moment before retreating back to where everyone else is standing.
"Oh my god," is whispered often as we watch in horror as James and Izzy lose and gain consciousness. Amy has a scowl stuck on her face with her arms crossed as she watches the men carefully clean up James's wound.
"He's gonna be okay," I assure Amy, putting our hatred towards each other behind us.
"Psh yeah right," she mutters, "that's a really bad wound."
"But they'll fix it," I say, struggling to sound convincing and sympathetic.
"What would you know," she mutters before walking away. I sigh and watch James with worry and care.
***
We were asked to leave the room a while later-- more like told forced or commanded, but we all retreated to the bunkbed room in back, including Jackson.
I sit with Lily and Jordan in the back corner of the room, talking about Izzy and James.
"Of course," Jordan says with doubt in her words, "they'll be okay. They're two of the strongest members of us."
"Right," Lily says slowly, "if not okay, what else could they be?"
"Dead." Amy says as she walks passed us.
"Thanks for the necessary input, Amy," I say sarcastically, getting a little more than annoyed by her attitude towards the whole situation. She glares back at me and continues to walk and I turn back and continue to talk to Jordan and Lily.
"So what's your deal with Jackson?" Lily questions out of the blue.
"Well, uh, he was my friend in middle school now he's not," I answer partially truthfully.
"Small world," Jordan says musefully, "Jackson's pretty okay though. Little bit too 'I am a man I have a penis', but the perfect guy doesn't exist."
"Yeah, cause the perfect guy is dying on a table in the front room of a gas station," Amy mutters as she passes us again, continuing to pace around the room.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, "that was unnecessary."
"Any word on Bill?" Patricia calls throughout the room.
"No," Lily calls back, "where'd he go, again?"
"Nobody knows," Jordan answers, "he probably wanted to take his car and got lost."
"Yeah," Lily agrees hesitantly, "that's probably it."
"Why can't we all just be happy little bundles of joy, home and safe surrounded by family, friends, and people we actually like instead of being HERE WITH PEOPLE DYING AND GETTING HURT AND BEING STUPID WITHOUT ANY FREAKING KNOWLEDGE?" Amy all but shrieks as she's on the other side of the room as us.
"What the f--"
"For real though," I cut Lily off, "how much do we even get paid?"
"You're getting paid?" Amy growls in response.
Heck.
"We don't get paid?" I ask, lying about so much, "to what ends? To what ends."
I feel them staring at me for a while with odd looks before Amy mutters something and we continue on with our lives, thank god.
"Maybe we just get paid with our satisfaction of saving the world," Jordan suggests with a small shrug, "it would be kinda a proud moment."
I look over at her with a deadpan stare, "saving lives of people who I hate?"
"Yes," Lily says, shooting a look to the side.
"Seems legit," I mutter, scratching under the medical wrap around my arm.
***
We're all sitting on our beds talking to Jackson when some guy walks in.
"We got the blood to stop on each of 'em. They're a lil bruised up, but the worst wound was like an axe or sum'thn. "
I nod slightly, seeing Lily nod out of the corner of my eye.
"The chick's awake, but the guy isn't yet," the man continues, "don't worry. He's gonna be fine."
"Thanks, Ben," Jackson says, drawing my attention, so I shoot my eyes back to the man, but his eyes are light, unlike my uncle's.
The man leaves and we all look back at Jackson.
"On the bright side, James will be okay," he says, optimistically.
"Unless they only said that to keep us optimistic," Amy mutters, leaning against the wall.
"Just have hopes, Amy," Jackson says, scratching his head and readjusting his leg.
"So what's the deal with you and Liz?" Patricia asks in Jackson's direction.
"We were friends in middle school." Jackson says.
"Were?" She pushes with a confused look on her face.
"Well yeah," Jackson answers, "I moved away and we grew distant."
"Awe," they all coo-- except for Amy, of course. And me. And Jackson.
I glance at Jackson who shoots a small grin at me.
"It's not a big deal," Jackson says, "we both moved on, right, Liz?"
"Right," I answer, rubbing the back of my neck.
The door opens right as Amy opens her mouth and Izzy steps in.
"James just woke up," she mumbles, rubbing her head. "He said something about seeing something. Oh and Bill. Bill stabbed him."
--------
I am so sorry I didn't update this. School was stressful and now it's August. I am the absolute worst and I am sORRY. This was also a really bad chapter and I am sorry. I don't know what's going to happen but eventually things will.
I love you all so much. Byee
