The Man Who Ran

Can't Run No More

A.N Sorry for the long wait, I have a short attention span:(

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Ch 2

There is only black, a thick blanket of it, impenetrable, not by sight, nor sound, nor any other sense. I was lost in it, drifting in this void. It felt like I'd been there for an eternity, there was no way to tell time, it just slipped by. I felt like I was going crazy, and then pain flooded my body.

It started in my toes and fingers, and slowly drifted up, engulfing my body faster and faster, until it was the only thing I could perceive. I was beginning to think I was dead in the void, and that terrified me, but now I welcomed it, until the pain vanished, replaced by a chilling numbness that was almost as freighting as the darkness.

As the pain faded, I became aware of something else, a sound. It was faint, I almost couldn't detect it. I focused on it, forgetting the darkness, the numbness. It grew louder, allowing me to start feeling my body again. I mentally reached through the numbness, simply reveling in the sensation of feeling my body.

I could feel where it was going to hurt, if the numbness wore off, and it was going to hurt like a bitch. I explored my injures, it felt like my leg, stomach, and my..... ribs? It felt like my leg was being sawed off, then I was stomped on, and then set on fire, but dimmed down, you know, like someone had the stereo turned up so loud you could feel it, and all of a sudden you could barely hear it. The rest of me was just going to be sore compared to that.

I tried to move, just my fingers and toes, curling them, then my head side to side, not opening my eyes, I hadn't found them yet. I test all my limbs, one by one, just little moves, not wanting to hurt myself. Everything seemed intact, so I tried for opening my eyes, it was harder than moving my stiff limbs, it felt like someone had super glued them.

I finally managed, only to feel like I was being stabbed. I slammed them back closed, inching them back open, letting them adjust. I was blinded for a second, and then things cleared, and I took in my surroundings. I was in a white room, smelling of antiseptics (gross). The sound I heard was the beeping of a heart monitor (annoying). I shuddered, then hissed when my ribs protested, I really hate hospitals.

There was a noise outside the door, talking, and then someone came in, well two someones. The first, a tall man, light brown hair and dark green eyes, and a typical fake smile plastered on his handsome, tan face. He was closely followed by a plastic nurse, all fake boobs and dyed blond hair. The doctor checked the machines, and then the chart at the end of the bed, making notes. When he replaced the chart, he looked up and smiled.

"Ah, Corporal Johanna, how are we feeling today?" he had an accent, british.

"You mean besides feeling like I was set on fire?" I returned sarcastically.

"You’re in pain?" he asks, with a look of concern. I shake my head, causing him to look confused.

"Pain meds work on me funny, I feel numb, but I can also feel through it, to the pain, and tell how it’s going to feel."

"Oh, ok, well get some rest, you’re going to get some visitors later. If you need anything, just call Audrey, and she'll do what she can." with that they left, and I passed out.

I woke up to knocking on the door, and called them in, shifting carefully so I was sitting up, feeling more of the pain. It was Sergeant Brier, one of the guys in my unit. He was grinning as usual.

"Hey CJ, you look like shit!" I rolled my eyes.

"What happened; the last thing I remember was talking to Derek."

"We saw you guys, and then he ran ahead.... he stepped on an IED. You were thrown back, by the time we… we got there, you were unconscious, and on fire... He's dead CJ, he was torn to pieces." for once there was no grin on his face. I closed my eyes, fighting the tears, Derek was a good friend, no matter how annoying.

"So how bad am I?" I asked, pushing away the emotions, I'd deal with them later.

"Docs say shrapnel in your leg, minor burns on your legs and stomach, and four cracked ribs, you were in a coma for about a week." humm, not so bad.

"When do I get out?" this place was creeping me out.

"Two or three days, then you get to go home." that's not so bad, wait, home?

"What do you mean home?"

"You’re hurt too bad to go back, so your being discharged."I nod. Then Nurse Barbie walks in.

"Visiting hours are over." She says in a high pitched voice.

"Alright man, I'll see ya later." and he's gone. I slump back, letting the tears come, abruptly passing out again.

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A.N. Again sorry for the wait

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