Chapter 24: Discovery

The white walls of the infirmary encased me again in its embrace as I stared blankly at the doorway, waiting for something to happen. My thoughts were muddled by the soft buzz of the fluorescent lights that occasionally flickered, until a gentle touch pried me away from spacing out. I blinked twice before facing the person who now held my wrist in her warm hand.

“Cora?”

“Are you feeling alright? I-Is there anything I can fetch for you?”

Her face was inexplicably red, almost like she had a fever. I smiled and flicked her on the forehead before chuckling as I reclined onto my fleece white bed.

“Just relax alright, the staff said I am fine and you sure as hell don’t look too hot with how red you are.”

The lady looked away, her eyes darting back and forth between me and the wall she was facing.

“N-No… I just feel… guilty… I was the reason you were in this mess in the first place.”

“Don’t be. This isn’t my first time entering these white rooms and with the life I live, I’m sure it definitely isn’t my last time seeing it.”

I gazed at my hand until I felt an intense vice grip that locked it in place.

“And you will not endanger yourself on purpose! Do you hear me!”

Cora leaned forward, her face beet red and swollen into a pout. What can I say, even though I was in pain, I sure as hell do not want her to worry.

She was a close friend after all…

“Fine! Fine! Let go of me, jeez! Who would’ve thought that after recovering from burnt lungs that a lady would attempt to crush my wrist!”

“Y-You could have answered yes or no sooner!”

“You know full well that you could have just tapped me on the wrist or flicked me somewhere right, not crush whatever was left of my hand.”

I shot her a smug smirk after that statement as Cora backed off, gritting her teeth. However, I didn’t feel mad about getting hurt or anything, I’d reckon it will heal in seconds after all… I was more concerned for Cora. She was… less than stellar.

Recently, I’ve noticed that the bags under her eyes were growing thicker and that she spaced out more often. Right now, she is could manage it, sure? But how about in a few days. What if her health caught up to her…?

“Hey Cora, have you rested recently?”

“U-Uh M-Me?!”

“Yes, you… it seems like you’ve spaced out again, huh?”

A bead of cold sweat raced down my friend’s cheek as she backed off with a shaky grin.

“No… I… I haven’t been working too hard for you… got it?”

“And in the end, you even blurted it out…”

I let out a groan and rolled my eyes, before glancing at the lady who fidgeted by the side of my bed, her face coated in a warm pinkish blush.

“Listen, why don’t you take some time away from me. Away from work… Just relax for a bit, okay?”

“But… You’ll be unsafe, unguarded, and…”

“You’ll be the first to know.”

“H-Huh?”

Cora looked at me with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth

“Didn’t you hear what I said, if I get into trouble, you’d be the first to know. I’ll run to you as soon as I run into something or someone.”

“Aren’t you just saying that to make me worry less…”

“Aren’t you just telling me that you’re fine just because you were taking care of me?”

The two of us stood there for quite some time, eyeing one another as we leaned closer and closer, until eventually, Cora looked away and sighed, raising her hands in the air. She then began to collect herself, heading towards the door so that she can head out.

“Fine… I’ll rest, just don’t get yourself into too much trouble while I’m gone alright?”

“Aye Ma’am! That being said, there is someone I’d like to visit.”

Hearing my words, Cora took a pause, her body shuddering ever so slightly.

“If that’s the case then go ahead… just make sure you’re already okay when you do decide to visit.”

“Alright Cora, thanks for the permission. I’ll see you later then?”

“Yeah.”

With a single reply, Cora opened the door, walking out the room before slamming it shut… Did I say something? Oh well, she probably just doesn’t want to leave me unsupervised… and I get it. Danger seems to fid me wherever I go after all…

Letting out a long sigh, I let my body collapse against the soft white bed sinking into its sheets as I closed my eyes…

“Alright Sir, you’re good to go.”

The white banded student replied, looking at me with a cheery grin. A chuckle escaped my lips as I slowly began to recognize who it was… It was the same guy who took care for me during the small explosive incident I did during the tests.

“Fancy seeing you here. Were they running short on staff?”

The man shook his head as he grabbed another tool from his pack. It was a long and slender wire-like tool with a metallic component at the end, a stethoscope.

“Not everyone fancies you here, Pyre. Although I’d say that I can tolerate you better than others. Some of them may prove quite unforgiving, you know?”

“I already guessed as much.”

I let out a sigh and shrugged my shoulders.

“Alright sir, now that you rambled for quite some time, can you please take in some breaths.”

The man replied, placing the stethoscope on my back, allowing me to feel the cool sensation of the steel lapping against my skin. We carried those procedures for a few moments, conversing and chatting being done in between as if I were being examined in a check-up. After what felt like an eternity, the man finished up with a smile as I stood up beside him.

“Alright, all physical tests indicate that you are okay. Just be careful out there when you move and make sure that you don’t get into trouble when visiting someone.”

The man said, packing his medical equipment into a huge bag he lugged around. I replied with a nod, smiling at my helper.

“Sure, as long as you take care of yourself for me. Don’t get sick when taking care of the sick, you hear me?”

He let out a soft chuckle as he hoisted the bag off the floor before slinging it over his shoulder.

“Likewise, don’t go too wild. We don’t want you blowing up the wards.”

My ally soon left after that remark, closing the door behind him with aa playful wink as I once again left to my own devices, this time, gaining the clearance to walk around the campus once more. Sitting up, I threw myself off the bed and onto the floor, standing in an upright position as my legs steadied my stance.

“Well, with everything set, I should probably go ahead and visit Shan… it’s been a while and from what I heard from Adria, she still seems to be asleep. Let’s hope she wakes up soon.”

Having established my goal, I stretched my arms to the sky and with a spirited yell, walked out of my room to visit Shan.

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“Room 301, Shan Spiritus. Is that correct?”

“Ah, so Spiritus was her last name

The woman raised a brow at me, closing her record book with a slam.

“Pardon? Are you sure you even know who the patient is? I’m sorry sir, can you please tell me your name again?”

She then leaned forward, looking at me with a glower, as if analyzing me. I raised my hands in defeat backing off a small bit to preserve whatever space I had left.

“Pyre… Pyre Benitez, and yes, I do know the patient. We have been roommates for a time now.”

“Sorry, but could you please back off with the claims a little bit? Since when has Xion allowed a man to share a dorm with a woman. I understand that you garnered quite the infamy but-”

“But he’s stating the truth, right pyre?”

A tough hand gripped my shoulder as a figure pushed me a bit to the left. He was a bit thin and wore plain and tacky clothes, but one can recognize the signature bolt that hung from his neck. It was as if the object had been parallel to his identity.

“Robert?”

“At your service, I was about to visit Adria but I heard a familiar voice coming from the front desk. My ears still do not disappoint!”

We were almost primed to talk when our chatter was soon interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. It was the nurse whose brows twitched up and down as she clenched her fist which rested on top of her desk. Seeing this, Robert cleared his throat before facing the nurse who was stationed at the desk.

“As I was saying… Pyre is stating the truth. Their room was the one blown up yesterday. If you want to check it out, you can do so by your own accord.”

The lady flinched before letting out a sigh as she waved her hand in a dismissive manner.

“Alright, but please sure to act in line. Do remember that this is a place where people are taken care of.”

“I’m sure my buddy here understands that, don’t you, Pyre?”

He then gave me a slap to the back and I could have sworn that I felt my lungs fall off due to the impact.

“Y-Yeah”

“Well, get going best buddy. Me and this lady have a few things to chat about so I can find Adria faster.”

Me? Best Buddy? Ah, just let it slide. I got a free pass out so why was I complaining?

“Sure, I’ll see you around Robert.”

I then waved my hand in the air as if saying goodbye before walking to where Shan’s room was.

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The silence was deafening… It was so quiet that I’d bet that I could hear a pinfall from a room away. There was nothing lest the occasional beep of the ECG monitoring Shan’s condition. It felt as if she was going to sleep forever, a foxy sleeping beauty if you will. And as we all know it, a kiss from a prince won’t solve a possible brain concussion.

“If only you were up, maybe you could’ve told us more on who the culprit was…”

I leaned forward, resting my arms on the bedside before letting out a long sigh. Things were much quieter without her around. Cora was no fun to be with, it’d usually be us hitting the hay as soon as we enter or the occasional coffee before going to bed conversation. Where Shan would nerd on her favorite anime, Cora would spend being a normie as one might call it in our terms…

However, the silence was soon broken with a loud thud and a yell from the other room

“-st… What do you thin… you’re doing!”

H-Huh?

“…you see it, Adria! This is why….”

I ignored the patient I was watching over and hurriedly plastered my ears against the wall, in hopes that I’d hear clearer.

“Listen… Adria, will you not join me? We can get out of here, live a normal life and be with society? This place… is crazy… surely… you won’t… here?”

That voice… Robert?! Was he just in the other room? Why were they fighting and should I barge in?

“No… This place is a part of me… and if you can’t accept that Robert, then you’re better off without me…”

“Then… I am sorry…”

Ooh spicy. I wonder what would happen?

“You, Adria, will have to end up like Shan and the others! Unconscious and holding to dear life!”

W-Wha?!

I hurriedly moved away from the wall, swinging the room’s windows open as I leapt out, only to find myself falling to the first floor. I grit my teeth and with a loud yell, I imagined a plume of flames cushioning my fall, but instead of a cushion, what I got was a small explosion that caused me to roll on the ground like ragdoll…

All I saw in the wake of my fall was fire… and I hope that was a good enough signal to warn her…

Cora, will you make it?