Never

Chapter Two

Two weeks later...

"B-Boss!" I heard Radar call from the corridor.

"Radar, we've already had this-"

"He's awake!" Radar interrupted. "H-Hadrian! H-He's awake!" I froze for a moment. He was awake. Fear and relief tumbled around inside of me after hearing the news. I put down my book and bristly walked over to the spare room where Radar was waiting, and indeed, Hadrian was lying there in bed, wide awake. He squinted as he looked at his surroundings most likely because he didn't have his glasses on, however once he got a good look of me, he gasped.

"J... J-Jesse...?" He whispered. "Is that you...?"

"Don't worry Hadrian, I'm here to help you" I assured him as I took a seat by his bed. "Do you remember what happened?" As I asked this question, Radar pulled out a pen and notepad, ready to take any notes. Hadrian looked up at the ceiling, pondering for a short while.

"I remember Mevia and I running from a fire-" He stopped and gasped. "Mevia! Wh-Where's Mevia?!" He exclaimed, worried.

"She's in another room" I told him calmly. "She's still unconscious at this point..."

"I-I need to see her!" Hadrian exclaimed. He tried to move, but winced from the pain. He collapsed back on the bed and gasped from the sudden pain in his back. He gently moved his left leg and noticed he couldn't even wiggle his right one, and he winced as he tried to move his arms. He slumped down, defeated. He was too injured to move at all... He started to tear up, though I wasn't sure if it was from the pain of his realisation on being completely immobile. Gently and cautiously, I placed my hand on his shoulder.

"Hadrian, you need to rest" I told him. "You've been out cold for two weeks and your injuries are healing very slowly. You need to minimise movement if you want to recover..." Hadrian only sighed and tilted his head to the side, looking out the window where the sun shone through the stained glass, illuminating the room. Silence fell over us all as Radar and I awaited Hadrian to speak once more. I had no idea what was going through his mind, but I was sure whatever it was, it wasn't pleasant... Finally, Hadrian turned back to us both

"Fine..." He murmured. "Is... Is Mevia OK?"

"M-Mevia's wounds have been treated and she seems to be recovering at a-a steady rate" Radar spoke up as he flicked through his notes. "H-However, she is still unconscious and her head wound opens up on occasion"

"Will... W-Will she be OK?" Hadrian asked us with a worried look. I smiled.

"I'm sure she'll be fine" I assured him. "She may still be unconscious, but she's recovering well. I'm sure she'll wake up soon" Hadrian only nodded in response. "Hadrian" I started once more. "Can you tell us how you and Mevia got caught up in that fire? How you were able to reach this world?" Hadrian looked taken aback when I asked that question, while Radar merely peered over his notes, curious. I wasn't intending to ask the second one, it just... Came out... Hadrian looked up at me, though to my surprise, his face showed guilt and regret. I had never seen such an expression on someone like him. Sure, I was helping him and his friend recover from a damaging event, but it doesn't excuse the fact that every time I even think about the two Old Builders, all I can see is their malicious grins, piercing laughs and taunts, twisted deals and the terror they shot into everyone they reigned over. Seeing Hadrian's regretful look in reality right in front of me was almost surreal... I even blinked a few times just to make sure I was in reality! And I was, though in many ways I wish I wasn't... Radar cleared his throat, snapping me out of my thoughts as he spoke to Hadrian;

"Hadrian Sir" He started. "D-Do not worry about the second inquiry, w-we're only concerned on the f-first one as we need information fr-from all witnesses on how the fire p-possibly started and to further help tr-treat your injuries" I almost felt like sighing with relief. For the short amount of time he had been my intern, Radar knew how to get myself out of a tight situation with his persuasive wording and professional upbeat, even with his continuous stammering