The Decision

Chapter 11: Of bravery and intellect

At first I think it is an illusion, but as the smoke gets more dense, I walk faster, searching for its source.
It smells terrible and my eyes hurt of the soot.

Now running, I can hardly see deep black smoke, coming from the lab at the end of the hallway.
I rush inside, covering my mouth and nose with my sleeve, to extinguish the fire.
The door is drawn but I still have enough force in my arms to bend it open.
Inside the lab, there's a computer burning.
As my view scans the room for humans, I see a hand, laying on the floor behind the desk but nobody else. I rush over to see who it is but I can't believe my eyes as I identify the human as the one and only Jeanine Mathews. She's unconscious, laying on her side.
I approach her and check her pulse, if she's still alive. Her heart is beating, but I don't know how long it will last. Her spine feels unhurt so I open the door and carefully lift her up, carrying her bridal style out of the lab because otherwise, she would have died.

I lay her down in the hallway, making sure she's out of the smoke and run back into the lab, grab the fire extinguisher and after the fire is out, I run to the door open it wide and let the smoke escape.
Meanwhile I hear voices approaching us, shouting if there's somebody and if we're okay.
I try to answer with a loud help but I can just cough.
Too much smoke entered my lungs and I fell my consciousness disappearing. I stumble out of the room and just get a glimpse of three to four people running around the corner and to our leader, as I fall and my view darkens.

I feel dizzy but I won't have to throw up, I seem to be okay except for a stinging pain in my hands and ankles. After opening my eyes slowly, the white walls of Erudite hospital blend my sight.
A nurse who is waking through recognizes my consciousness and hurries to my bed.
„You're awake. How are you feeling ?"
I try to answer but my mouth and throat are dried out. I caugh.
As the nurse notices my trouble to speak, she turns to get a glass of water and as she returns, I down it gratefully. „ I'm going okay but what's with Miss Matthews?" The nurse looks surprised but answers:"I'm not allowed to give you information about that and you should know that."
„But I rescued her, I just want to know if she's alright." „I'm not allowed to talk to you about that, since you're okay, you can leave the hospital after a doctor looked over you a last time.", the nurse says slightly angry and disappears on the hallway.
I pull out my infusion and find my clothes neatly folded on a cupboard nearby. I want to approach it but after I stood up, my legs feel dizzy. Maybe because of laying a longer time. I wonder what day it is so I slowly manage to walk to a wall where a digital clock hangs. It's Tuesday, 2pm it says. Could I really been laying here for three days ?
Feeling my legs walking easier and easier I approach the cupboard and take on my clothes.
Shortly after I exit the room to a hallway leading to other medical dormitories.

At the end, there's a reception and I ask how long I'll have to wait for the doctor. I haven't heard about Ms. Matthews but it's none of my business, I think.
The doctor is about to come so I return to my room and sit on my bed. A big caught exits my lungs; it seems like there are still some Carbon monoxide particles left in my lungs.

Half an hour later, the doctor checked my breathing and said that I can go home. I ask him what's with Ms. Matthews and finally get an answer. She is still unconscious but in the room next door. With time, walking gets easier and so I slowly make my way to her room. As I enter, she's laying in bed in the center of the room. I approach her. If she's asleep, she looks more peaceful than ever.