Chapter 1

-5 years later-

Max was sitting on his hospital bed when he heard the fire alarm go off. He quickly tried to move around but he couldn't because his disease had struck earlier that day

'Shit, if only I wasn't so weak,' Max thought angrily.

Max heard the crackling sound of the fire coming from beyond his door and multiple people yelling in the hallways of the hospital.

He saw a bright flame right shining from under his door and was extremely scared. He tried to think of all the possible ways he could escape the room.

The fire seeped into his room and slowly crept closer and closer to his bed.

"HELP, HELP!" Max screamed.

'Why isn't anyone coming!' thought Max

Max knew that he was done for and just laid down on his bed accepting his fate.

'What reason is there for me to escape? I have no family left. I've lived with this painful disease inside this hospital all my life. Why should I continue living?'

The fire caught onto his clothes and hair. The disgusting stench of burning flesh erupted in the room.

Max didn't make a sound and was in a relaxed posture even though he was being burned alive.

He heard two voices outside of his door but didn't call out for help and had a cold expression on his face.

A new nurse who had just been employed at the hospital was walking around the hospital to check on any remaining damages after the fire was put out.

"Oh my gosh, Max's room is still on fire!"

Another older nurse quickly rushed to the scene with a scary expression on her face.

'I didn't put out the fire in this room because I wanted to hear him scream. I'm not a bad person. It's just that Doc made me take care of this freak on overtime which made me miss a lot of parties. So it's all his fault, he should suffer not me.'

'But why isn't he yelling? If he's dead then I won't get any bonuses from the doctor for taking care of him. After I get that bonus I can finally leave the hospital!'

"I'll get the fire extinguisher. You should go help out the other patients I can take care of this one. The fire shouldn't have gone far, so it's not as dangerous as it looks."

The new nurse replied, "All right, make sure you save him!"

The old nurse quickly rushed into the room with the fire extinguisher and saw him on the bed. She stared shocked at what was going on but finally pulled him out of the room. He was still alive and breathing but his face and body were burned to the point that you couldn't tell it was him anymore. The nurse was shocked and disgusted by him and she dropped him in the hallway.

Max still wasn't in the right mindset so he didn't think anything of it. All was thinking about right now was Doc, the person he cared the most about.

"Do you know wher-"

"OMG EW! I can't believe I touched that hideous-looking thing," the old nurse said in a high-pitched voice.

" Also, you know that I only liked you so that I could earn more money right? No one actually likes you. The world runs on money nowadays you freak. Now that Doc is dead there is no point in working here anymore. He gave out a lot of bonuses and now the hospital is also on fire. This whole job was a waste of time."

There was a long pause while Max tried to comprehend all of this information.

Max whispered, "He's dead?"

"Yeah, he's dead you monster." the old nurse said while laughing.

She looked around to check if anyone was watching then ran away.

Max's lips turned upward and started to laugh crazily.

"I fucking knew it. I can never have anything good in this life"

Max became depressed and uncaring. He felt a hole in his heart while the rest of his body was numb.

A new nurse came inside his room and crouched down next to him.

"Oh no, who left you like this? I'll take you to the emergency room immediately!"

-1 year later-

Max was laying inside a different hospital room now, staring outside of his window blankly as if he was unfeeling. After multiple surgeries, he looked much better but he had stitches all over his body.

Max heard the sound of footsteps outside his room. He slowly turned his head and looked over. A cute girl in a red dress busted down his door and jumped on his bed.

"Why are you here Akari?" Max said impassively.

Akari frowned sarcastically, "I come here to cheer you up and this is the reaction I get? Let's turn that frown upside down mister.

Akari started jumping around his room happily.

Max's lips slowly started to creep up for the first time in a year.

"Aren't you scared of me because of my stitches?" Max said.

Akari stiffened, "Why would I be scared? I'm here because I want to be. I heard that you were hurt in the fire so I came to see you."

An awkward silence ensued.

Akari broke the silence by running around in his room again while yelling.

'How can someone be so pretty and cute but also be so energetic and hyper,' thought Max.

After Akari and Max calmed down they both sat down to talk. He told her about his experience in the fire and how he didn't know what to do with his life anymore.

"I will always be with you whenever you're sad ok?" said Akari seriously.

Max was shocked because that was the first time Akari ever said anything serious to him. Akari looked at the time and smiled at Max.

"Alright, Max I'll come again tomorrow."

She got up off the bed and started to walk towards the door.

"Why?" asked Max.

Akari turned around and pointed at him.

"Well, you're my friend right?" she said smiling.

Max was dazzled by her beautiful smile and started to blush.

When she came back the next day they started to talk about their lives. Max told her about his past and how his parents left him.

Akari felt sad for Max but she was also determined to help him get over his trauma.

"Don't worry Max, I'll be with you forever."

Max hugged Akari and started to cry. Akari started to go back to the hospital every day after she finished school and the both of them became very close with one another.

-1 year later-

Max was finally able to start to walk without any support as well as a new medicine that was developed that could keep the symptoms of the Hell Poison away.

Akari was there to help him and he could feel himself getting closer and closer to her.

One day when Max was practicing walking he fell on the ground. Akari picked him back up with a concerned expression on her face.

Max's heart thumped. It finally hit him that he had a person that cared about him as much as Doc did and that she spent time with him even though he was disabled.

'Am I in love?' thought Max astonished

'I can't tell her I love her yet, I'll tell her when I am finally able to walk. I want to be able to walk up to her and tell her instead of her coming to me. She has done enough for me already so I want to put in my own effort to show her that I mean it.'

-1 year later on Max's 18th birthday-

Max was finally able to walk without support. Max had solidified his feelings for Akari and wanted to tell her that he loved her.

Max walked up to Akari and stood there trying to build up his courage. After he thought about everything that she helped him with he finally said it.

"Hey Akari"

"Yes, Max?"

Max stares at the ground to avoid looking at her face.

"I wanted to tell you that I love you"

Max heard nothing but silence. He assumed the worst.

'Of course, what was I thinking, she would never like me back because I'm super ugly.'

Max started to cry silently. Then Max felt Akari hug him.

"I love you too Max. But never look away from me. It hurts me in my heart when I can't see you."

After Max heard this he became determined to never hurt Akari again and to protect her forever.

"Alright! Max exclaimed.

Then he stopped and stood still with a dumb look on his face. Max turned to look at Akari.

"You meant love, love, right? Not like family love?"

Akari started at him like he was an idiot and wondered how she ever fell in love with him.