Keep Me Awake

Chapter 5 - I was in a Coma?

I clutched my pillow as my room began to drop by 50 degrees. I pulled my blanket up close and I curled up in a ball, protecting the little warmth I have. A deep chuckle ran through the air, and I buried my face in my blankets as I felt a weight push down on me, preventing me from screaming and moving.

"Crowe..." A voice whispered, resembling my mother.

"Crowe... Its time..." It whispered. I felt something crush my body, preventing me from screing.

•••

I woke up in a hospital bed. My arms and body bandaged.

"Ah! Good morning Ms. Ashimi!"  A nurse greeted me as she stepped into the room, a gauze and scalpel in her hand.

"Hell...o" I said slowly, looking at my arms.

"I know how you feel right now. Do you remember anything?" She asked. I shook my head. Her expression looked crestfallen. "Well, A bomb was placed near your apartment, and destroyed everything near it... your room was the only thing damaged. You had glass wounds along your arms, and your ribs were fractured after being under all that debris," She explained, gesturing to my body and arms.

"...I don't feel anything, though!" I exclaimed.

"We injected a pain killer in your arm that's supposed to wear off in a few days."

"How long was it originally supposed to last?" I questioned.

"It lasted a few weeks, You've been out for a while, Crowe."

So... I was in a coma? No, no that can't be.. "Was I... in a coma..?" I asked.

"Yes, physically, your brain stopped working and so did your pulse. A lot of us thought you were dead until we saw the heart monitor working again," She whispered. My eyes widened.

"So I've been out for... a few weeks?" My eyes widening. She nodded.

"Yes, precisely."

"What about my mother—?!"

"She's okay."

"When will I be able to go home?" I asked.

"Tomorrow. You will then have 3 days to continue your education."

I groaned. "When will I be able to remove these?"

"When your mother gets a call from us. Just get some rest. Its late, anyway," She said before shutting off the lights.

•••

I stood before the doors of the CRA. "Well, this is it..." I murmured as I pushed open the door, hearing the instant chatters of students as they roamed the halls. Some stopped and stared at me, curiosity burning on my skin. I hurried over to the office and I placed my bandaged hands on the desk carefully. "I am the transfer student from last month that was delayed. My name is Crowe Ashimi, ma'am" I spoke to the woman at the desk.

"Oh? Your the one? Alright! Here you are Crowe!" She smiled as she handed me my schedule. I smiled and nodded, leaving the office.

"Okay... I need to find my.. locker..." I muttered and I heard footsteps appear behind me. I spun around and recognized the familiar orange tips.

"Hey there, my little friend!" Ryan smiled as he knelt down slightly, making eye contact with me. I chuckled and backed up, so I could stare at him more clearly.

"Hello, my tall friend!" I laughed. He scoffed and he took my schedule.

"Ah, are you looking for your locker? Come with meeee!~" He chirped as he twirled into the hallway that was labeled III. I followed him and stared at all the awards received by students and teachers. I followed him into a hallway with lockers in groups of two. I looked at each one, looking for my locker. The hallways swarmed with students, that were getting their books and putting them away. Many of them looked at me and looked back at their books as they walked away. My glasses hung at the edge of my nose and I scrunched up my face, moving the glasses back up. "Ah, here we are! A173!" He smiled as he took my bag, beginning to organize my locker.

"Ah- You don't have to do this!" I stuttered as I walked forward, grabbing his arm and stopping him. He looked at me and smiled, showing me he just placed my bag in the small pocket.

"You see, you just need to carry your things in one bag and carry it around. Since your new, you don't have any books," Ryan said, leading me to a room. He stopped at the door and sighed. "You will have 4 classes, all in the same room. Except for your 5th class, which is Gym. Right now, I'd go and sit in the back of the class. Until everybody gets here, wait until the teacher knows your there. Don't freeze," He murmured before walking down the hall. I looked at the door and slowly opened it. It was empty. I walked over to the corner of the room, near the window and sat down. I rested my bag by my foot and watched out the window. I folded my arms and rested my face on top of it. I looked at my bandaged palms and removed my sweater. I tied it around my waist and looked at the solid desk until I heard the sharp cry of a bell.

The murmurs of students grew louder as they walked into my room, freezing when they see me. I looked at them and they gave me scared looks, as if they didn't know how to respond. I pushed up my glasses and sat up, looking at my arms. It's because of my arms. They're battered and bruised. They're scared of my wounds. I crossed my legs as their piercing gazes washed over my body. I was scared shirtless, just like them. But I'm hiding it behind an emotionless mask.

"Who are you?!" One demanded. I turned my head and ignored them, looking out the window.

"She might be the new student that transfered here. She's the last one to ever join this academy..." One of them responded.

"Why isn't she talking?"

"She probably doesn't want to speak."

"Hey!" Someone shouted from the crowd. I looked over again and somebody stood out of the group. He wore a white hoodie, different from the other boys who wore their uniforms. Wait— no, I'm wrong. A few more of them appeared, all dressed differently. "I think  you guys are just overreacting. I mean, she looks like a freak..." He scoffed, narrowing his eyes at me. I merely started to close my eyes and ball my fists. Great. Here we go again.

"She doesn't seem interested in your hostility, Jeff," Another boy that was dressed in a black sweater sighed, glancing at me in disinterest. Jeff glared at him before giving me a hateful glare. What the hell is his problem? I didn't do anything.

"Well, maybe I am interested in his hostility, but you never know. For a first impression, dude... You sure are a prick," I spat, glaring at him with annoyance. Something fuzzy brushed against my head.

"Kaine, remove my parts before they expose!" I ordered Kaine telepathically. The fuzziness went away and I saw Jeff frown, and walk over to a seat across the room, so did the one wearing a black sweater. Many other students sat down, many of them distant from me. Some didn't care and sat down next to my seat. I saw many students slowly fill the seats, and then the teacher appeared. He looked very skinny, and was slightly covered in dirt. He spotted me immediately.

"Hello, everybody. I hope you guys have noticed the new student that we have seen!" He smiled and I stood up slowly. He gestured for me to stand beside him and I swallowed, slowly making my way up to the front. He noticed my bandaged arms immediately and I saw him cringe. I sighed and turned around, facing everybody.

"Hello, my name is C-Crowe Ashimi. I am from the t-town, Stillwater, and I-I would like to make an acquaintance with all of you," I stuttered, but spoke as my body remained still. Many of them just remained silent and I unties my sweater and wrapped it around my body, covering my arms. "Also, I want to add, I don't appreciate you all staring at my arms like I committed a crime. Its weird," I let my jade eyes scan the rows of students, some of the guys kept their eyes on my hands, while the rest either looked away, or looked at me directly. The girls scoffed and made a face as they looked away. Jeff made an obnoxious snort and flipped me off underneath the desk. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. I walked back down to my desk and I lunged forward, the audio of the waking world going mute as I fell forward.