Cryptic (A Calum Hood Fanfiction)

Chapter #31

Author's Note;

1st- there's a lot of medical information in this chapter and I did research, but some of it may not be true, so just bear with it for the sake of the story- remember, it's fictional

2nd- during Annabel's "POV" when she is put to sleep, I switch over the 3rd person because, y'know, she's out cold

3rd- I know I said that this is the big chapter, which it is, but the next chapter will also be pretty big since I left you all on a bit of a cliff-hanger! So... enjoy :)

4th- & no, I don't know if Calum's blood type truly is B-positive

-Carly

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Annabel's POV:

"How do you feel?" Calum asks me; a relatively simple question in a not-so-simple situation. How do I feel?

"Not quite panic-stricken, but perhaps... anxious," I slowly reply, bouncing my knee up and down in my seat; a nervous habit.

"You're not having cold feet about this, are you?" Calum checks.

"No, I'm ready; eager even," I assure him.

"Everything is going to go just fine; dandy, even," Calum starts, taking my hand in his and planting a light kiss upon each of my knuckles. "Mr. Dannings and Dr. Murkin have assured that this operation is 99.9% safe and effective; they've done research, run countless tests and have been consulted by the best scientists and doctors."

I nod my head, taking a deep breath and closing my eyes for a minute to try and clear my jumbled thoughts, but I can't help but ramble, "What if I don't wake up? What if the operation goes wrong? What if they can't remove the chip or they can't find it? What if I get an infection or a virus or it leaves an awful scar? What if-," Calum cuts me off.

"What if the operation goes just fine; dandy, even? What if you recover quickly and we go through with the identity project and leave this Hell and are free to pursue and to build a life together? What if we live happily ever after?" He takes my face into his hands and runs his thumb over my cheek, wetting his lips.

"I've found an angel in Hell; you're my angel, Calum and you're the closest to Heaven that I'll ever be," I breath, catching his lips in a wistful kiss.

"Annabel, we're ready for you," Mr. Murkin interrupts.

"Give us a minute, okay?" Calum requests before turning to me. "I don't know what to say except I love you," he sighs. I pull out a crumpled piece of paper from my front pocket, unfolding it and flattening it out.

"I love you, Calum. I love our long conversations about things that actually matter and our little late-night adventures and I especially love that I've found someone who genuinely cares about me; you're there for me at my lowest points; you're the rock that keeps me going when life gets rough, but you're also there to celebrate with me at my highest points. After my surgery and once I awake, I want you to be the first person I see, holding up a bottle of champagne because we are going to celebrate together, we're going to celebrate one our highest points, okay?" I take Calum's hand in mine, placing the note into it and then closing his hand. "I love you," I caress his cheek gingerly and then plant a swift onto it, standing and turning in the direction of Dr. Murkin.

"Annabel," Calum grabs my wrists and whirls me around quickly so that I am facing him once again. He pulls me in for a final kiss and mumbles into it, "All I can taste is this moment and all I can breathe is your life. When sooner or later it's over, I just don't wanna miss you tonight," he releases me and nods towards Dr. Murkin. And so, I follow Dr. Murkin into the operation room of not just my surgery, but my future.