When Video Games Come to Life

(16) When Will She Wake Up?

Claire's P.O.V~~~~~~~~~~

I didn't know what happened. I heard so much commotion, but I was so far away, currently helping Sonic. I remember hearing a scream, and a crash, then another scream, but there was just no way I could have left at that moment. Finally, the small creature had been defeated, and Wesley came rushing up to me. "Claire, Claire!" He had been gasping for breath, with such horror in his eyes... I blinked at him, still contemplating on actually asking what he was going to say, when he started speaking again. "It's Laura, she, she..." Sonic had reappeared, along with several others. Wesley spoke again: "The ambulance... It's on it's way..." I remember thinking 'Wait. An ambulance?! I knew it was going to be bad, but not this bad!' I had motioned him on, terrified. "There was a dragon, in Laura's room, and--and, she attacked it, but the dragon swatted her away later, and she went flying. Instead of hitting the wall, she went through the window, and she's covered in blood, and I don't know, Claire, I'm so scared right now!" A tear made it's way down Wesley's cheek, and only then did I realize I had been crying too. He started walking me towards the door, outside. Everybody else followed along behind. Then we started running. Cream was already out there. "Cream was so brave. S-she attacked the dragon, with Laura's machete, and got it right in the neck. It's head fell out the window-" I gasped. "No, no, it's still attached. But Cream jumped on it, and let out a victory screech. We need to thank her hugely, I just don't know how..." That's when the scene had appeared around the corner. Laura, laying there, so innocent and tiny looking, unconscious, but still breathing. Then I realized. Her breathing was so shallow, she was covered in so much blood...

I must have visibly shuddered, because at that moment Rayman came up and spoke. "Don't worry, a lot of it's not hers. She got a nasty slash in on it's finger." Then he glanced at us. "Look, I am so sorry... I don't know how that thing got here, but I feel it's my fault..." He hung his head and started walking away. Wesley had went to comfort him, and I numbly walked over to Laura's body. I heard a sob, and turned around. Amy and Cream were huddled together, crying. Sonic and Knuckles were standing there, so shocked, so terrified... Tails was on his knees. Chris had his head down, and Chuck was behind him with his hands on Chris' shoulders.. Big was cuddling Froggy, Cheese didn't even come out, and Meta Knight, King Dedede and Kirby were all a little ways off, all staring, so blank, so horrified... I could see tears on all of their faces. I heard the sirens, I saw the lights. But now I remember. As bright as they were, everything was only getting darker to me... I saw shadows appearing around every corner. My hearing turned fuzzy. I saw Wesley narrow his eyes, then start running towards me. I felt my head hit the ground hard, and I remember feeling Wesley grab me, possibly start shaking me... That's when my memory officially quits on me. This whole thing has played over in my head so many times. Now I'm sitting in the ambulance, on the way to the hospital. They actually checked me before we left, I guess because I passed out. What a waste of time that could have been spent on Laura! They completely cleaned her up, and bandaged her, and everything, but I can still see blood on the stretcher sheets. Oh, wait, look! The hospital!

"Okay, ma'am, sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave now." One of the ambulance people started ushering us off of the ambulance so they could take Laura in. Our legs were shaking so hard, when Wesley stepped off the ambulance, he tripped, and almost fell. One of the people looked at us, and began to speak: "They're going to do everything in their power to help this young lady, don't worry." He gave us a nervous smile, then focused more on work. In spite of my devastating terror, that actually made me feel a little bit better.

When I spoke, it came out hoarse, and quiet. "Thank you." Was all I said. They began to push Laura throught the hospital, and Wesley and I followed right along side her the whole time. In my confused rush, I tripped. On my own feet. Welsey turned around and began helping me up.

As soon as I helped Claire up, I was running again. I saw the doctors turn the stretcher into a room, and went to follow. Suddenly there was a hand on my chest, and Claire ran into me from behind, with a slight 'Oof!' "Wha'?" I started saying, but the nurse kept her hand on my chest.

"Nobody but officials are allowed in there right now, sir. Now if you could please leave?" Talk about rude! 

Claire looked at me. "Well, Wesley, now what? I'm going to lose my mind! I can't just sit and wait!" And she had a point.

"I-I don't know, I guess we just... I don't know..." So I started walking out towards the waiting room, where there was a doctor one of the ambulance people had been talking to.

"Hey! Hey, y-!" Claire gets so impatient when she's scared! Not that I can really blame her, though. I felt a pain on my hand, and realized Claire was biting the hand I had clamped around her mouth. "Ow!" I exclaimed, then realized the doctor was walking away. "E-excuse me, sir!" We started rushing towards him, and, fortunately, he turned around. "Sir, we would like to ask about Laura-- Laura Collins. H-how is she? What surgeries will she need, err.. will... will she make it?" I know there's very little information on her, but I just can't help but to hope he has some good news, or something!

"Well, sir, we have very little information, less still that we can give out, but, uh, by the sound of it, we have two glass shards to remove, that's known of, and several stitches... If she makes it is not yet known. I'm sorry... The best recommendation I have for you is to not tire yourself out about it. Go home, get some rest... Look, you know the best thing you could do for her, is to be strong for her. She needs your full support and energy right now, thus why I need you to keep your energy up, strong and fresh. Remember you're not forgetting Laura by doing this, only doing the best for her, and yourselves." I had to swallow back some tears. By some I mean a lot.

"T-thank you, sir... It means a l-lot." Then he nodded and walked away. Claire obviously knew we had to go home, deliver the news, and grab a few things if we're to stay here for a while. So off we headed. I pulled out my cell phone, and started dialing Knuckles, because I knew he'd be the calmest in this situation.

"How is she, how is she?!" Was the first thing I heard. "Well, so far, there's two surgeries, several stitches, and they..." I started choking up. "They don't know if she's going to make it. W-we need to get home, though, at least to grab a few things... Could you pick us up, please?" I got a "...Y-yeah, sure..." From the other end, and we both hung up. "They should be here shortly..."

We were back at the house, so broken, so gloomy... I was sitting on the couch, I had just gotten done telling everybody all of the details, and was waiting for Claire to grab a few more things. My eyelids felt way heavier than I could ever imagine, and I found myself actually drifting off... My eyelids were falling, my head drooping... then I was slipping into sleep. I felt horrible about it, like I was offending Laura. But there was nothing in my power I could do to stop it, then I was asleep.

I woke up to Claire's face inches from mine. She was shaking me, and I could see a wild look on her face. For a second, I thought she was going to attack me for sleeping. Then, as I sat up and became more aware, she spoke. Words I didn't expect to hear from her, words so tempting, yet I knew it shouldn't be done. But it seemed like the most logical thing. 

"Let's sneak into Laura's room!"

A/N Ah, I really hope you enjoyed it! I am so sorry it took me as long as it did to make another chapter, but boy I hope you liked reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thank you, and see you next time! ~Dustpaw.