Don't Be The Hero

Fourteen

Nina pov

The metal halls were filled with smoke. I was choking and my eyes watered as I ran. I sprinted through the halls, leaping over flames. Jack was yelling, screaming. Turning another corner I found him pressed into a corner by a wall of flames, and there was nothing I could do to keep him from burning to death. Throughout the dream, more people screamed, and cried of for help, people I know or love. There was nothing I could do to help but endure the endless pain.

A searing pain shot through my shoulder.

My eyes shot open and I threw myself over the edge of the bed and landed on my feet. My claws were unsheathed. I looked over and found a red metal pocket knife, with a blade about the length of your palm, protruding from my right shoulder. I flinch as I grip the blade and yank. That thing was in there deep. I dropped the knife and the wound healed almost instantly. Jack looked guilty. Before I could ask why he stabbed me, I sheathed my claws and he said, "Nightmare." And that was a good enough explanation for me. I noticed a hint of pain when he said it. I looked at his upper at which was steadily streaming blood down his arm.

"I hurt you didn't I." I said climbing up next to him. On closer inspection there were three parallel lines, maybe between two and a half to three inches long and maybe two centimeters deep, and needed stitches. He spoke up. "I'm fine. It's just a scratch." He said getting up. It was bleeding all down his arm. I ran to my bathroom down the hall and grabbed a towel. Running back to Jack I pressed the towel to the scratches. "Hold that there." I said pushing him to the door. "Nina." he said

"What!" I yelled at him as I pushed him to the edge of the stairs. "You might want to put some jeans on if we're going to the hospital. And can you grab my boots, and a shirt?"

I look down and he's right. I'm standing in my pajama shorts and a tank top. There is no way I am driving out to the hospitals in that. Not happening. I sprint back and snatch up Jack's boots and one of his flannel shirts, and a pair of shorts. Oh how I love shorts. Jack is already downstairs. I was in the process of yanking up my pants and shoving Jack's boots on his feet when I felt an all-knowing presence come upon me. I turn around. "Hi mom." She descended upon me like a hawk on a mouse. "Do you know what time it is!" she half yelled at me. If you can't tell, mom is cranky if you wake her up. I glance over at the glowing green numbers on the over. 3:47.

"Yeah... we were on our way to the hospital. Wanna come? I hear its a great morning to go." I say finally getting Jack's second boot on. Mom spotted the cuts on Jack's arm. "Get in the car. I expect full details." She said reluctantly grabbing the keys off the table and a jacket. I put on Jack's shirt.

I explained how I had a nightmare and how I forgot my gloves, purposely leaving out what the nightmare was about and how Jack woke me up. I sat in the back of the car with Jack, holding the soaking towel to his arm.

Mom pulled into the ER and I dragged Jack in. She said she would park and be right in. The nurses swarmed around us asking this and that. One of them took Jack to a room while another forced me to sign him in. Then another pulled me aside to answer questions. "So how do you know," he looked down at the filled out paper, "Jack?"

"He's my boyfriend."

"Is there anyone, family, we could call?"

"His family lives in Canada, he goes to boarding school with me." It wasn't entirely a lie.

"Ok then. Is there any adult that-"

I interrupted. "Look, my mom went to park the car. I'll answer all your questions later. Just let me see him."

He was unmoved. I grabbed the front of his mint green scrubs and slammed him against the nearest wall, his feet dangling inches off the ground. "I don't think you understand. I will walk back there with it without you and I don't care how I do it. So you will either take me back there to see him, or I will find my own way back there." The man nodded in fear.