The Arsonist (Warren Peace)

Chapter Eighteen

(Sorry if this sucks I’m sleep deprived and it’s currently 3:13 a.m. for me and I’ve been listening to nothing but sad music while writing this)

Everything was a blur. I remember waking up briefly in the ambulance mumbling something about Warren but I was just shushed being told to save my energy. I remember getting rushed into the ambulance and getting surrounded by multiple doctors but there was a small smile on my face as I thought I finally might be able to reunite with my mother and be genuinely happy again instead of the mask of fake happiness I put on everyday.

Warren’s P.O.V.

I had just finished up my shift and was getting ready to lock up when my phone rang and I absentmindedly answered it, “hello?” it was a woman on the other side of the line, “hello is this Warren Peace?” I was confused, “Yes this is who may I ask who is speaking?” her voice was on the verge of annoying with it’s fake high pitch, “yes this is Adrianna Hale from Northridge Hospital we’re calling about Blake Kitsch you were set as her emergency contact.” I was in shock, “what happened?” there was a moment of silence on the other side of the line, “she was involved in a really bad car accident and it isn’t looking too good for her favor so I would get down here as soon as possible.”

I was frozen to my spot and only when she spoke again I was snapped out of the stupor I was in, ‘um y-yeah okay I’ll be there soon.” I hung up without another word I climbed into my Impala that used to be my dad’s before he got sent to prison. I was aware that I was speeding and being a dangerous driver but I didn’t care all I could think of was how much of an asshole I had been to her and now she might not make it out of this night alive. I parked but stayed in the car for a moment punching the steering wheel as I filled with anger at myself, “god you’re such an idiot why couldn’t you just suck it up and be a man and tell her how you really felt.” I sighed rubbing at my face then climbed out locking the car behind me with the push of a button. I had broken up with Nicole earlier after I caught her talking with her friends about Blake.

My mom was one of the receptionists at the front desk, “hey mom.” she looked up in surprise, “hey Warren what are you doing here?” she was visibly confused, “so you know Blake right the girl that I like?” she nodded, “she was in a car accident and apparently I was on her emergency contact list.” I felt like I was going to break down and tears filled my eyes proving me right, “mom they said she might not survive.” for the first time since my dad got locked up I let myself cry and my mom rounded the desk pulling me into a hug, “oh baby she’s a strong girl I’m sure that she’ll fight and she will be just fine.” 

We stood like that for just a moment before I pulled away wiping at my eyes, “can you tell me what room she’s in?” she typed into the computer, “room B234 c’mon kiddo I’ll show you where it’s at.” she placed her hand on my lower back directing me towards the direction of the room. We arrived and I took a deep breath hesitating to open the door in fear of what I might see on the other side. I slowly opened the door and gasped at the sight of her beaten and bruised body. She had stitches on her face just above her eyebrow, a cast on her left arm, and bruises on her neck leading down the gown along with a ventilator. 

A fresh wave of tears appeared in my eyes as I stared at the state her body was in and I rushed over to her side, “oh Blake I’m so sorry.” I brushed back a stray hair, “you might make it and I was such an asshole to you I am so so so fucking sorry.” A tear fell hitting her hand, “please don’t leave me.” My mom left having to return to her shift but she closed the door behind her giving us some privacy. I grabbed her hand grabbing one of the uncomfortable chairs pulling it closer to the bed so that I didn’t have to release her hand, “so I know you might not be able to hear me right now but I was thinking of you last night and I started to write a song about you it’s not finished and it might suck so I’m sorry but here goes nothing.” 

I took a breath starting, “She's watching the taxi driver, he pulls away. She's been locked up inside her apartment for a hundred days. She says, yeah, he's still coming, just a little bit late he got stuck at the laundromat washing his cape." She's just watching the clouds roll by and they spell her name like Lois Lane and she smiles, oh the way she smiles she's talking to angels, counting the stars making a wish on a passing car she's dancing with strangers, falling apart waiting for Superman to pick her up in his arms yeah, in his arms yeah waiting for Superman she's out on the corner trying to catch a glimpse nothing's making sense she's been chasing an answer a sign lost in the abyss, this Metropolis she says "Yeah, he's still coming, just a little bit late." he got stuck at the Five.”

I chuckled tearily, “that’s all I got for now.” I squeezed her hand, “you can’t leave me now I need you.” her phone was sitting on the table next to us and it startled me as it started to ring. I picked it to see ‘Rosie's mom Calling’ I answered, “hello?” a woman answered, “is this Blake Kitsch’s phone?” I gulped, “yes ma’am but she’s unable to come to the phone at the moment could I possibly take a message?” she sighed, “um alright just ask if we’re still meeting at the Paper Lantern at eleven tomorrow.” my heart dropped, “um she’s currently in the hospital so she won’t be able to make it.” it sounded like her breath caught, “oh my gosh what happened?”

I sighed, “she was in a car accident.” it sounded like she was fumbling with something, “alright well what room number is she in we’ll come in visit for a little bit.” there was a little girl’s voice in the background, “Mama are we still meeting with Water Girl tomorrow?” she stopped talking to me, “Water Girl is in the hospital so she won’t be able to meet with her tomorrow but we’re gonna go visit her okay?” the little girl sounded like she was crying now, “we’re in room B234 just a word of warning she’s not awake currently.” the mom sighed, “alright well we’ll be there in a bit.” she hung up without another word.