Until dawn: The scars that follow

Chapter 3: Tears and Laughter

Jess pov

It's here... It's still coming for me. Matt's here too, but he's running too fast. 'Matt!!!' I shout but he doesn't stop. I 'm about to shout again but then I feel something grab me from behind. I turn my head and I'm met with the face of the same creature once again. It screams at me and plunges it's claws into my throat. Mike... where are you

'Mike. Mike....' I continuously say quietly, holding my legs right up against my chest. I stare forward, not even turning to the pleas of the nurse beside me.

'Let her be nurse, let her be' Dr hill says, finally putting down his note book. The nurse stares at me hesitantly for a moment before finally getting up and leaving the room. He gives me a minute, before finally rising from his seat and moving towards me.

'You gave me quite a shock there, I must admit' he says, casually 'tell me, is there anything I can do to help?' I look at him for a moment before quickly replying 'let me see Mike'.

'Very well' he says, before popping his head out the door 'nurse, could you fetch Michael for me please?' I finally calm down a bit and barely make it to my feet and once again onto the wheelchair. I watch as Dr Hill makes his way back over to the window and begins to stare out into the sun outside.

Chris pov

I grab my crutches and push my way up onto my good leg. I'm a bit wobbly at first, but after a few seconds I'm able to take a few steps forward. I've never been injured before, except once when I was very young. It's very vague, but I manage to remember trying to climb a tree and barely making it a metre off of the ground before falling. I was rushed to the hospital with a lump the size of a gold ball on my head. I guess that was the day I decided to choose brains over brawn.

It's a struggle but I manage to make it to the other side of the courtyard before finally sitting down on a nearby bench.

'Aww, like watching a baby take his first steps' Ashley says, emerging from the door leading inside. I smile, but she isn't smiling. This is the first time we've spoken all day, and its almost evening. I pat the seat next to me and after a moment she sits down next to me. I grasp her hand tight and for a moment we just sit there, not saying a word. Neither of us had to. A few minutes pass and I finally decide to break the silence.

'Bet I could still beat you in a race'

'Well there's a first time for everything' she says, smiling at last and helping me to my feet.

We ready ourselves, I know I'm probably going to lose, but that doesn't mean I won't try to.

'On your mark, get set, go!!' I shout and begin trying to push myself forward quickly with the crutches, but she immediately over takes me and is almost half way there before I make it ten steps. I have a plan though. I drop on to one knee and pretend to cry out in pain, Ashley falls for it.

'Chris, are you okay?' She says, grabbing my right arm and trying to pull me on to my feet.

'Never better' I say, pushing her over on to the grass and quickly powering forward.

'Hey!!' I hear coming from behind me, but I rush on and make it to the end in time to see her running angrily towards me.

'Who's the champ?!' I shout, laughing, but she certainly isn't.

She walks over to me silently and punches me hard on my right arm.

'Hey I need that' I say still laughing. As much as she tries not to, she laughs too.

'Well, I've got some reading to go do' she says, turning and heading inside

'Come on don't be like that' I shout after her, but she doesn't answer 'I'm sorry!'