The Skylar Experiment : Dead Ending (second draft)

Chapter Fifty-Two - Decision

*2,5k word chapter. I hope the writing is good. I had to drag myself again for this one XD, but let me know if I can improve somewhere :)*

LUC

HEATHER SHOOED ME AWAY as she started seizing. Leaving was one of the hardest things I'd ever done, but if there was anyone who'd dig to the bottom of Riley's condition, it was her. I met Ben and Devin in the halls, discussing over a bag of snacks in hand. They noticed me veering the corner instantly and sped up the pace. When they asked me if her state had changed, if she woke up and such, I stalled. 

I stalled involuntarily, because as I tried to explain all that I've witnessed, not to mention that crony skulking at the reception, I needed a moment to process it myself. The whole day felt like a daze from start to finish.

Ben slowed his chew and stepped forward. My face must have spelled it out; he muttered low and ushered me to the hospital's anteroom on ground floor. We sat on a cubic bench, and I gathered myself. 

My mind was stuck on the way Riley's eyes rolled into their skull a split-second after she grinned. I'd breathed out in relief, only to see her pale and fall back in a fit of spasms, then it became a raging blur of beeps and commands. Delphine and Heather jumped to contain her. I didn't know where to put myself or if I should stay out of their way.  

She was clearly in pain and scared, and I have never felt so powerless in my entire life. Other professionals barged in and began pushing her gurney out of the room. A rot-gut feeling expanded through me as the door closed. 

If this was NIO's warning...

"Man, you look exhausted," Ben said, waving his hand to snap me back to the present. He was offering me an oatmeal cookie, which I accepted. I forgot that I've eaten hours ago. "Is she alright?" 

I shook my head furiously. "She... No, she's not alright."

"Why, did you talk to Heather?" Devin asked. 

"I—not really. I saw her, but I didn't get to really talk. Riley woke up... She was tired, then..." I stared at the two and rubbed my palms together. Now was not the right moment for bringing up NIO. A strong reaction on their end was the last thing we needed if I hoped to fix it somehow. I lowered my stare to the patterned, glossy tiles. The place was bustling with patients, chattering visitors and staff on break. "She puked blood. And she had a seizure while Heather was there. They've taken her now to see what's wrong, but..."

I imagined her still struggling to stabilize in an examination room with a team surrounding her, and I felt ready to curse God himself in the hall. 

"Shit," Ben whispered, appalled. 

If he expected me to answer, he didn't show it. I finished the cookie in two bites and dumped the wrapper into the trash nearby. My phone screen displayed the hour, informing us that we were past nine. The building was going to shift their evening crew to night crew. Heather would come home after dealing with Riley and finishing a last round with her patients. Her work schedule was random, depending on emergency calls or if a colleague needed replacement. Outside of that, she usually worked during the day. 

Meanwhile, I explained in further detail how Riley's wakening happened. 

"This reminds me of when Raymond got stabbed by hunters," Ben replied with a sharp look on his face. "Remember that day he ended up at the hospital? The blade was coated with—"

"—mercury. Yeah, I remember."

He'd endured a stab wound below the waist about two years ago from an encounter with those sons of bitches. Thinking it'd heal as it normally should, he didn't bother to ask me or Lauren to enhance the rate and walked it off. But tomorrow, the gash reopened and he bled out, so Greg rushed him to the hospital. Turned out that mercury was circulating through his bloodstream and prevented him from healing correctly, which led us to believe that the substance came from the dagger. He couldn't heal right until his body drained out every last drop of mercury.