Ani The Grey

Greys

I follow the long line of Greys as we have finished our assignments for the day and are returning to our dormitory. We pass the Lower Level White as he marks us as returned on his lectropad. How he knows who to mark off is still a wonder to me as he rarely ever looks up from his lectropad to even look at us.

The bell announcing 30 till dinner blares loudly overhead as I finally reach my room. As I am reaching for my doorknob sounds of shuffling and a grunt to my left catches my attention. I turn to find a grey figure hunched against the door to the room directly next to mine. I can tell he is male even in the low flickering light of the hall. He is leaning his head against his door struggling to hold himself upright breathing loudly. He appears to be in pain.

In the next moment, I find myself in front of him. I pull at the hem of his shirt to get his attention as my voice is caught in my throat and the quiet of the hall makes me hold all noise in. It is always quiet in the dormitory. Greys are a quiet group. We do not speak unless spoken to and only to higher levels. I have found myself laxed in this rule as of late. I remind myself constantly to be careful as to not draw attention. A quiet Grey is a useful Grey.

My thoughts are interrupted as the person in front of me begins to groan loudly. Too loudly. I quickly grab his arm and place it around my shoulders and give him a look bringing my finger to my mouth in a be quiet sound. I look to my left and right making sure that the hallway is still clear as I begin to open his door and drag him inside.

After shutting his door, I quickly bring him to his bed. He manages to sit himself upright against the wall at the head of his bed as he groans once again his hand clutching his sides.

I look around the room in search of something I don't know. His room appears exactly like mine. His bed against the left side of the wall. A water basin next to the door. One dresser and a chair next to a small window. Even the grey curtain is the same. The same grey sheets, the same itchy grey blanket of the same material as our coats sits atop his bed. The only difference is the smell. A metallic sharp smell permeates my nose.

He groans once again and once again I am in front of him. It is now that I only notice that the smell is coming from him.

I sit on the floor next to his bed as I reach for his arm to remove it from his side. There is a little resistance but it wanes after a moment as he lets out one more groan and his head falls to the side.

He is not dead only unconscious as I still hear his breathing that is ragged and strained. I lift his shirt to see that he is bleeding from the side. On instinct I never knew I had, I quickly pull out the bottom sheet from his bed and rip out a couple of strips from it. I then remove his shirt and dip it in the water basin next to the door and start to clean his wound. He has a long slice across his side that has finally stopped bleeding. It appears to only be the top layer and not too deep. I let out a breath of relief at that. Somehow knowing that that is a good thing. I then look to his other injuries. His face appears unharmed but for the sweat beading down his brow. I look closely and realize that he is the Grey that stands in front of me each morning. The one with eyes the color of the sky. My face warms slightly at the remembrance of our first meeting.

Another groan from him helps me dismiss my unnecessary thoughts and focus again on him. I examine his torso and see that it is starting to bruise. I take the strips of sheet I put to the side and start to wind them around him tightening it more where his wound is to make sure it stifles the bleeding. He groans occasionally but doesn't fight me on it. His eyes are still closed but I am unsure as to whether or not he is still unconscious or not.

After making sure the last knot stays in place. I go to his drawer and pull out a new shirt for him to wear. I gently put it on him and start buttoning up his shirt. As I do the last button, I hear a soft hoarse voice whisper, "Thank you".

I look up to find beautiful blue skies.