Survival ✘ Bellamy Blake

8. Adler

8 | ADLER

The ten year old sat anxiously outside the medical ward, swinging his legs back in forth in the chair. He winced every time he heard her piercing scream echo outside the room and down the corridor where the boy was. It had been a long, twelve nerve-racking minutes and Ryan was growing even more nervous as each anticipating second passed. When the screaming finally died down, Ryan hopped to his feet, the short boy pulled a chair closer to the door and he climbed up it to the window.

On the hospital bed was Anna, her skin a ghostly pale color and her hair was hanging so Ryan couldn't see her face. His brother, Marcus was standing beside her, holding her hand and whispering to her. Probably something along the lines of 'it's okay' and other sweet nothings. At the end of the bed was Abby Griffin, a doctor and beside her was another young man in a white coat who Ryan didn't recognize.

He saw his brother move away from the bed and Ryan jumped off the chair, pushing it back where it previously was and causally sit down. As the door opened, Kane smiled softly. "You wanna see her, kiddo?"

"Yes!" Ryan exclaimed a little too loudly but he was waiting for Kane to ask him that. The boy rose back up to his feet, following his brother back into the room.

There it was. The little baby was wrapped up in a pink blanket, her skin covered in a slimy thick coat before Abby wiped it off with a towel. Ryan timidly approached her and Abby smiled at the young boy.

"Can I hold her?" He asked Kane who nodded and smiled. Abby directed him to a chair and after he sat down, the bundle was placed in his arms.

"We were thinking of naming her Raina. What do you think?" Anna asked him, exhausted but aware.

"Raina." Ryan slowly said to see how it sounded on his tongue. "I like it."

"And guess what else?" Kane piped.

"What?"

"She's gonna carry your last name, too. Alongside Kane."

—

"Y'know, I think you're supposed to hit the tree, Murphy."

Raina was watching as Murphy attempted to land his knife in a tree but every time he did, it'd only hit the tree and then the ground with a thud. She could now practically feel the anger seething off him at each throw he took and each time it missed, he lost a piece of his sanity. He was trying too hard to impress Raina that he failed everytime. Thankfully, Raina was up in a tree and out of harms way

"Shut up, birdie. I'd like to see you do any better." He shot back and picked up his knife. Raina watched, genuinely amused as he stood back, taking the throwing stance as he smirked up at Raina. "Ready? Watch this."

Murphy threw the knife with heavy faith. In fact, the faith was heavy enough that the weapon hit the tree and fell onto the soft soil ground. His face fell, along with his dignity.

"Wow. That was sad."

"It's goggle boy, alright?" He responded as another pained moan echoed out of the drop ship and Raina winced inwardly.

"Uh huh, blame Jasper." Raina retorted as he picked up his knife again.

"Want me to throw the knife up at you instead?" He threatened.