the end...

~ fifteenth ~

~ opening ~

"Solaris!" Colby exclaimed, swiftly sitting up. "Why?! What drove you to this?!"

Solaris winced back. I might be too harsh, he realised, settling back down. He exhaled slowly. "You realised that me self harming, showing my weakness, is the whole reason I'm now stuck in a hospital bed with these... Horrifying memories."

She slowly nodded, not making eye contact, not speaking. She stared blankly at the floor, her brown gaze clouded.

"Listen," Colby placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm not mad at you, I couldn't be. You're a sweet girl, Solaris. Like Sam was in me, I'm disappointed. It's not your fault that.. Kale did all of this. It's no one's fault but his own sadistic mind. You believe me?"

Solaris pulled away. "Except that it is my fault," she murmured, staring down at her still exposed wrist. "I helped him get to you, I helped him hide you, I helped him mentally torture you, put pain in you. I had a part in all of this, Colby.. You don't understand how... How.." She choked on her words, tears swelling in her eyes. "How much I've hurt you, and.. And how I deserve this pain.. Me.. Not you.. I've put his all on you, and I deserve the suffer for it."

"No you don't. You don't deserve any amount of suffering, Solaris," he responded, care and a trace of hurt lacing his voice. "You thought.. You thought if you didn't help you would lose your closest cou-"

"Colby you don't understand!" She yelled, standing up, tears running down her face. "I hurt you! I hurt everyone here! I've attempted to fix it by saving you, by helping Sam, but have I really fixed it! You're mentally and physically scared! You're barely sane right now! You were..." Tears streamed down her face faster as she trailed off. "Y-you were c-comatose f-for s-so long.. I thought you weren't gonna live... And it's all my fault.."

"No it's not," Colby tried reassuring him. She's really hurt about this, he thought.

"It is, Colby!" Solaris exclaimed, roughly pulling down her sleeve. "It's my fault, and it always will be!"

He opened his mouth to say something more, but she bolted off. Swung open the door, running past Sam and Ace before they asked any questions.

**

Ace's eyes trailed after Solaris. She's not okay, he thought, turning back to Sam. "Go see Colby, Ill go after her."

Sam nodded, walking into the room. Ace turned around, running after her. He walked to the entrance of the hospital, seeing her sitting on the side of the curb. He pushed the glass doors, "Solaris?"

"G-go away," she choked out, drawing her knees into her chest. "I don't want to talk to anyone."

"Solaris, it's me. Ace."

She turned her head slowly, meeting his gaze, tearstained cheeks. "A-Ace?" She got up swiftly, running over to him, hugging him tightly.

Ace wrapped his arms around her, tightly. She's hurt.. Crying.. Why is that? Should I ask. He shook his head softly. No.. Leave her be.. She'll talk on her own accord.. But the more important question is..

What did Colby do to upset her this greatly?