Pulse and Perish || Luke Brooks.

Chapter 25

"Ouch" Luke winces and jerks his head backwards as I dab alcohol on his forehead.
"Oh stop being a baby" I joke and continue to clean Luke's wound.
"I'm not being a baby" Luke protests.
"If you insist Mr. Brooks" I nod my head and grab a small bandaid from the first aid box.
"You gotta stop calling me that" Luke laughs and brakes into a cheeky grin.
"Well-" I smile, placing the bandaid over Luke's wound. "I'm just returning the favour" Luke stares softly into my eyes, blinking a few times.
"Right, you should be good from now" I smile and close the first aid box, brushing down my jeans and tucking in the stool.
"You should play nurse more often" Luke jokes as he jumps off the kitchen bench top.
"Okay, all you gotta do is get injured, I'm not fussed" I shrug.
"That's not very nice" Luke grins and pokes my side.
"Mr. Brooks there's a problem" Calum speaks, standing by the kitchen doors. Luke drops his head and groans. Luke turns away from me and faces Calum.
"Can it wait?" Luke grits. Calum then looks at me and then back to Luke and shakes his head.
"No sir" he replies. Luke turns back to me and sighs.
"C'mon" he speaks and places his hand on my lower back and guides me out the door.
"Take Alisha to her room and meet me in my office" Luke nods and stomps off down the hall. Calum says nothing and cocks his head to the right, referring me to follow him. I pull my cardigan over my shoulder and walk with Calum.
"Did you have fun today?" Calum asks.
"Is that a trick question?" I laugh.
"Yeah.. Thorners aren't fun. We've lost 10 people this year from them" Calum shakes his head
"That's terrible, do you ever have memorials?" I ask.
"Luke believes we shouldn't pity another's death" Calum purses his lips.
"Who cares what Luke thinks, everyone's life is worth something" I tut.
"We care what Luke thinks Miss Hamilton. We have too. Or we die" Calum gives me a fake smile as I walk into my room. I'm suddenly lost for words, I don't know what to say next so I give a sympathetic smile.
"Have you lost anyone?" I ask. Calum nods.
"My best friend. To a Thorner." He chuckles. "Luke sent us off on a wipeout mission and all of us returned.. Except Luke Hemmings. He was a good kid" Calum nods and wipes his watery eyes.
"I'm sorry" I whisper.
"It's not your fault miss Hamilton" Calum smiles. Calum stands in silence, staring at me before a pair of feet come shuffling down the small stairs.
"Am I interrupting something?" Luke sarcastically spits. Calum quickly shakes his head.
"I asked you to return her to her room, not make friends with her" Luke raises an eyebrow.
"I uh- sorry" Calum nods and jogs up the stairs. Luke turns his attention to me sitting on the bed. He doesn't say a word and just nods his once before shutting the door and locking it. He nods a lot. I sigh and kick my feet on on the bed, as there is absolutely nothing to do in this room. After awhile of counting cracks on the ceiling I sit up and look around the room. I notice a inbuilt light above the faucet and toilet. Similar to the ones we had at the asylum. We had the lights built into the wall so the patients couldn't unscrew random lightbulbs and hurt themselves with them. I get up off my bed and walk over to it. Inspecting it, I knock on the layer of plastic. Just to see if it is plastic and not glass, otherwise I might have trouble escaping. I move my mouth the the side as I think long and hard about my plotting.

I quickly clear my throat before walking over to my door and start kicking the door enough for someone around to hear.
"Let me out!" I yell through the door.
I kick and rattle the door again, making it bounce on its old hinges.
"Did you hear me!? Let me ou-"
"What's going on!?" A deep voice calmly speaks as they open the door.
"I want out" I order.
"Are you allowed out?" The person asks.
"Of course I am, I was even outside this morning" I state and cross my arms over my chest.
"Okay c'mon but you're not to leave my side" the person orders. I bat my eyes and smile.
"Of course not, thanks Jai" I grin and walk past Jai. I lead Jai up the small lot of stairs and onto the first floor. I speed walk towards the main door, Jai basically jogging to keep up with me.
"Didn't I say stay close?" Jai chuckles and cups his large hand around my upper arm and pulling me the opposite direction.
"Can't we go outside!?" I whinge.
"Let's keep things inside, hm?" Jai winks and walks me up the first level stairs to the second floor.
"Can I go back to my room then?" I shakily ask.
"It's lunch time, I'll make you something" Jai replies and pushes open the kitchen doors.
"I'm not that hungry actually" I shake my head.
"Then I'll make you a drink" Jai laughs and makes his way to the fridge as I steadily take a seat at a stool by the bench.
"Can I ask you something?" I ask, making Jai turn around and stop cluttering around with things.
"Go ahead" Jai nods and continues to clutter.
"Well, Jai. That day you know-"
"Crashed at yours?" Jai buts in.
"Yeah. Well when I picked you up, they said something about you being uh dead. What did they mean?" I ask. Jai just ignores me and grabs out two cups.
"Jai?" I repeat.
"Listen it's none of your business!" Jai roars and slams the cupboard door shut, making my body jolt with fear.
"Sorry" I mumble.
"No. I'm sorry" Jai whispers, leaning against the bench top across the room. "I'm sorry" Jai whispers again and runs his hand through his hair, stepping towards me and engulfing me in a random hug.
"You know I'm a psychiatrist right, it's my job to help" I mumble into Jai's shoulder.
"I know, I know, but.. I think my brother needs your help more than I do" Jai sighs and breaks the hug, sitting his hands on my shoulders.
"I tried helping him, lots of people did. That's why he was in an asylum. But he pushes people away and refuses to help himself" I bluntly explain, getting to the point.
"No" Jai shakes his head. "He tries. He's just picky" Jai laughs and drops his eye contact. "That's why he brung you here" Jai mumbles and drops my cardigan off my shoulder, rubbing his thumb over my goose bumped skin.
"How many girls has he brung here and are still living to this day?" I scoff and look down.
"He's not going to kill you. I won't let him" Jai murmurs and leans in, parting his lips slightly and flicking his tongue over it. My breath quickens as Jai inches closer and closer. A sudden feeling of urge washes over me. I try shake it away but it stays put. Jai smirks to himself before leaning in close enough for him to feel my almost panting breath on his lips. Muffled voices come from behind the kitchen doors, both Jai and I too 'caught in the moment' to even hear before the kitchen doors are pushed open and two figures are standing shocked in the doorway. I quickly move away from Jai and pull my cardigan back over my shoulder to hide any evidence.
"Miss Hamilton? Jai?" A young man speaks in shock, standing next to Calum.
"Miss Hamilton, come" Calum gestures and I quickly jump off the stool and make my way over to Calum, shaking my head in confusion.
"She stays with me" Jai orders and grabs me.
"Jai" I groan.
"Listen. My brother doesn't hear about this alright?" Jai grits his teeth. Calum and the man next to him look at each other. "Alright!?" Jai growls and Calum and the man nod their heads vigorously. "Good" Jai fake smiles and lets go of me, walking out of the kitchen and bumping shoulders with the two men at the door.
"Are you alright miss Hamilton?" Calum asks with concern in his voice.
"Fine, thanks" I un surely nod. Calum smiles at me before holding out his arm for me to take, I return the smile and loop my arm in his.
"I think we aught to get you to mister Brooks" Calum babbles. I shake my head.
"I've had enough Brooks's for one day" I let out a small laugh.
"Try working for them" Calum whispers and chuckles.
"Do you ever miss your family?" I asks as I look the old wallpapered wall up and down.
"My parents were murdered when I was 15, Luke found me wondering the streets that night. And he took me. I thank him really" Calum explains.
"My parents died too. My mum when I was 2, she died from pneumonia and my dad 4 years ago from a heart attack. He was always unwell.. So." I explain and purse my lips.
"I'm sorry" Calum sympathetically speaks.
"You too" I return the tone before taking a few steps down the few lot of steps leading to my cage.
"Um, I'll come get you when dinner is ready" Calum nods and unlocks the door.
"I'll be here" I laugh and walk in.
"Bye miss Hamilton" Calum waves.
"Bye Calum" I smile.