Dying Breath: Unveiling Secrets

The Truth

Askova woke up in a hospital bed, still wearing dirty clothes. Running through the woods can do that. She just realized that she was cold, but she was wearing a long sleeve shirt, and the thermostat was at 76 degrees Fahrenheit. She just realized that Derek was sitting in a chair next to her, asleep. She was a little weirded out. The door opened.

" Well, you're not dead, that's for sure. But you could have been in a comatose, and that's very bad for the world's condition right now," Dr. Atkinson explained.

" You..." Askova growled. She got up and started coughing. Dr. Atkinson walked over to lay her back down, but Askova smacked his hand away.

" Get... get away yo... you bastard," Askova said, in a jaded tone. Dr. Atkinson played her back down though. Askova was so tired, she didn't even care.

" You have a fever. You're burning up, making your actions and reactions too impactful." Askova looked at him like he was a basket case. She closed her eyes and sighed. She struggled to get out of the covers.

" Going outside without a coat right now isn't such a good idea, it's freezing out. Lay here. Get some rest. Press this red button if you need anything." He then left the room. Askova finally got out of her covers. She looked over at Derek, then looked out the window. She heard Derek wake up, and looked at him again.

" Oh, hey Askova. I see you're awake," Derek said in a sleepy tone. Askova looked at him in a baffled look.

" Yeah fo... 'fore you did. Um... why are you sleeping beside me? It's kinda creepy," Askova asked. Derek sat up.

" Um... well, I wanted to be here when you woke, to make sure you were okay," Derek replied.

" But, why?"

" I... I'll tell you later." Derek sat back down. Askova was curious.

" Tell me what later?" Askova was serious. Derek's face was red, with a blank stare.

" I um, didn't want to do it, but I had to. You were running towards that herd, and you could have gotten hurt," Derek, looked down, and away.

" Derek, what did you do?"

" Um, remember when that branch hit you in the face? And you got knocked out?" Derek asked. Askova nodded her head.

" It's a little fuzzy, but yeah."

" I actually grabbed the branch and released to stop you," Derek wearily smiled. Askova looked mad.

" You what?!" Askova yelled.

" Hey, calm down! You could have killed yourself," Derek quickly responded. Askova calmed down pretty quickly. Derek hauled himself to his feet and walked towards the door.

" Wait, where are you going?" Askova asked, sad.

" I'm going. You need to rest," He replied. Derek then walked out the door. Askova felt like she was going to cry.

" How is she feeling?" Maggy asked.

" Fine," Derek replied in a monotone voice and walked away. Maggy watched him walk away until he walked around a corner.

" Hmm," Maggy entered the room, " how are you feeling.

" Fine," Askova replied. She was lying down, faced away from the door. She seemed sad.

" Well, you don't sound fine. Tell me what's wrong." Maggy sat down on the bed beside her. Askova didn't move.

" I miss Derek," Askova replied.

" But he just left, like 10 seconds ago," Maggy said cheerfully.

" I just, well... I don't know. I just miss him, that's all."

" Hmm." Maggy was suspicious. Maybe Askova secretly liked Derek but didn't know it herself.