All The Hurt Would Go Away

In perilous times...

"Dad! Watch out!"
"Dad move!"
"No!"
I screamed as I watched a bullet rip through my fathers' chest. He fell to the ground and I tried to run towards him but was being held back.
"Hello Jon."

"His heart rate is increasing again!"
"Someone hold him down!"
"Can you hear me?"
"Jonathan can you hear us?"
"His temperature's increasing, we need more fluids."
"Don't let him touch his bandages!"

"L-Leave me alone."
"Aw look what I've done to you! Poor little Jonny! It's a shame no one is there for you."
I opened my mouth to protest but he shook his head, shushing me.
"Lin left. You're all alone now. Well, I'm here but that's not really good for you is it?"
He began to reach for my arms as I struggled against him, unable to move my legs.
"You can't escape from me. Not now Jonathan, it's gone too far, it's too late for you."
He slowly ran his fingers up and down the cuts on my arms as I writhed and struggled in pain.
"Just accept it, no one loves you. You've always been a bother. No one is visiting you in the hospital now, no one cares about you. You might as well submit, it's the only attention you'll ever get."
He harshly whispered in my ear causing me to cower starting to give up.
"Yeah that's right. Now let me see these beautiful marks I've made on you."

"Stop him now!"
"What's going on?!"
"He's trying to take off the bandages again!"

"I'm starting to get impatient Jon. Take them off."
"I-I can't."
"Yes you can. Don't make me angry you know what will happen."
I couldn't move my arms.
"Don't make me wait any longer."

"Keep holding him down!"
"What's making him do this?!"
"His friend said all that about PTSD. We need him over now to know what's got ahold of this guy."
"Jonathan. Stop."
"If you can hear us please stay still."

"I'm not waiting any longer Jon. Now."

"WHAT THE FUCK?!"
"Come on we've got to stop this!"
"He won't stop scratching his arms what can we do?!"
"Try? For god's sake get him back under control!"
"The stitches have undone. It might be infected now."
"I'll go get the surgeon, don't let him do anything like that again."

"Could you not try to do anything more? Pitiful as always I see."
"S-Sor -"
"- Sorry? You should be, this is just disappointing. If you want me to still talk to you I'd try a lot harder. I don't ask much you know."
I started to shake
"Weak, you've only opened one cut for god's sake. You can last much longer and I'm gonna make sure you do."

"Well that's damn good luck."
"Pardon?"
"It's three millimetres from an artery, one slip and that'd be it. This will only take an hour and a half."
"CAN I SEE HIM?"
"Mr Miranda we are just about to perform an operation."
"A-An operation?"
"He reopened one of his injuries ten minutes ago we were hoping you could help tell us why."
"He's inside his head..."
"Excuse me?"
"The-The man, he won't leave him alone."
"You're going to have to be more specific."
"J-Jon's gonna hate me. It's his secret."
"Well we cannot wait till he wakes up and is better can we? He won't get better if you don't tell us sir."
"I-Is there somewhere more private?"
"Right this way."

"Are you still struggling Jonathan?"
"Do you want to be left alone?"
"Are you even trying to get me to like you?"
"Pathetic"
"Weak"
"Pitiful"
"Coward."
"I'M OKAY! I-It's not that big of a deal just a little blood."
"Finally you noticed, quit being so over the top and do another to prove you can cope with it."
Taking a deep breath I mentally prepared myself.

"W-WOAH!"
"NURSE?! What's going on?"
"Help!"
"What is he doing?!"
"For god's sake HOLD HIS SHOULDERS DOWN."
"DON'T EVEN FUCKING TRY!"
"Excuse me?! You have to leave! Go get the doctor. We have to look after him!"
"I know what happened. You don't need to fetch me. Let this man in."
"Are you kidding! He's bleeding out!"
"The operation will take place while the visitor is in the room. Now leave."

"How brave you are."
"Well done Jonathan."
"Th-Thanks."
"It's hardly an injury but I guess it'll do for now, you're not going to escape me alive. Don't even try. The only person who ever truly cared about you was your father and feel free to check on him."
He scoffed as I turned back to look at my fathers' now dead body.
"If you want anyone to still be by your side through all this I'm your best bet. Life's tough throughout as you can tell."
I looked at my past lover, vulnerable and frightened, exposed without my father beside me.
"Now, you wouldn't want me to leave you alone here would you?"
"N-No."
"I thought so, you know what to do then."

"Whatever your idea is I hope it works doc this is risky."
"It'll be fine."
"He's starting to tense, whatever magic ya got you better use it now."
"Don't rush him."
Somebody huffed and a brief silence fell.
"J-Jon? I don't know if you can hear me. You don't have to listen to him, whatever he is saying it's not true. I am here, I care about you, I support you. You don't need to prove yourself to me, to him or anyone. You are s-so strong."
The man's voice wavered as he fell silent.
"Come on, it ain't working he's starting to shake again."
Someone grabbed my hand slightly squeezing it as I repeated the motion back.

"Come on. What's stopping you this time you idiot?"
I care about you, I support you. The words ringing in my head.
"Jon, I've waited long enough."

"Listen to my voice Jon, he is only in your head."

"Jon. Now."

"Come on Jon, you can fight it, you can fight him. You're so strong."

"What are you? A coward? Do it"

"Don't listen to him, you'll be safe. He can't do anything."

"I-I'm so sorry I have t-to."
I gritted my teeth in pain as I ripped the skin off of another cut. I didn't want to be alone, Andrew says he'll stay if I do this so I must. It's the right decision. I'd rather have company than have no one.
"Bravo! I'm proud of you Jon."
Wheezing I muttered a thanks as the other voice in my head fell silent. Andrew left me panting on the ground as my arms shook and throbbed with pain.

"I don't know what your plan was Lin but it just postponed his surgery and another set of stitches is undone."
"Can't you see how close he was? It didn't turn out well sure but at least the patient responded to touch."
"Sure, the patient is currently waiting for you doc."

"I-I don't understand. Sorry for wasting your time, I thought, I shouldn't have tried. I'm sorry I've got to go."
The door quietly shut as I heard footsteps walking away, I recognised the voice but as it grew silent I still remained clueless as to who's it was.