Chapter Twelve: Keep An Eye on Her

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Chapter Twelve: Keep An Eye on Her

Mark

I don’t want to pull away from the hug, but I fear that, even though a hug is comforting and tells her that she will be safe, she has been through too much and she needs her space. When I do release her, she searches my eyes as I search her own widened ones, finding fear spark behind them like a match being lit. I fear that this spark will soon grow into an inferno, destroying everything she knows.

Her gaze averts from my eyes to the floor, and she tugs at the hem of her long-sleeved shirt. I want to reach out and touch her hand, but I don’t think she wants anymore human contact. I’m fine with that. Even though I want more hugs, one is enough. For now.

“I… I need to go to the hospital soon.” She explains, clearing her throat. Even if she coughed, her voice is still thick with emotion. I put my knee underneath my body and push myself up, watching as Ellie does the same.

“What for?”

“Just, uh,” She begins shakily. She crosses her arm over her chest and winces a little. “Well, my right shoulder is fucking killing me.”

“Oh. Anything else?” I ask her,

“Nothing important.” She says, a little too quickly. I open my mouth to say something, but a woman walks into the hallway so I snap it shut again.

“Elliot Waterson?” She calls out, and Ellie snaps around. As she does, I see a few specks of blood dotted on her sleeve. I frown, chewing on the inside of my cheek as I think through what it could be.

“Yes?” Elliot replies, shifting her arms so that they are in front of her and obscured from my view.

“I’m here to take you to the hospital for your check-up. Is he your partner?” She asks, gesturing to me.

“No!” Ellie almost yells, slapping her hand to her mouth. She shakes her head, letting out a breath. “No, no. He’s just a friend.”

Just a friend.

“Oh, well. Would you like to come with us anyway, sir?” She questions me, smiling sweetly. I nod my head stiffly, uncurling my hands that had somehow turned themselves into fists. “Alright, then. Follow me, please.”

***

At the hospital, Ellie requests to be checked up on alone. I go to protest, but her eyes, full of pain and, of course, fear, makes me shut up and wait outside of the room. I collapse on a blue plastic chair, pulling out my phone. The first person I contact is Wade.

“Yo, Mark, what’s up?” Wade asks, and I let out a breath.

“Brace yourself, Wade.” I say, gritting my teeth.

“Why? What’s happened?” He questions, lowering his voice to a somewhat sympathetic tone.

since eighth grade. → markiplierWhere stories live. Discover now