C10

The hospital room was filled with the soft hum of machines, the steady rhythm of Silas's breathing, and the gentle patter of rain against the windowpane. Ajax and Donte sat vigil by Silas's bedside, their thoughts a whirlwind of emotions as they watched over their injured friend.

Silas lay motionless, his features pale and drawn, his body still bearing the signs of the trauma he had endured. Ajax and Donte couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt as they looked at him, knowing that their escape had led to his injuries.

"We shouldn't have left him alone," Ajax muttered, his voice thick with regret. "We should have been more careful."

Donte placed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder, his own heart heavy with remorse. "We couldn't have known this would happen," he said softly. "We were all just trying to get out of there alive."

Ajax nodded, but the guilt still gnawed at him, a constant reminder of the consequences of their actions. "I just hope he'll be okay," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

As the night wore on, Ajax and Donte remained at Silas's side, their vigil unbroken even as exhaustion threatened to overwhelm them. They took turns keeping watch, each lost in their own thoughts as they waited for signs of improvement.

Finally, as the first light of dawn began to filter through the window, a nurse entered the room, her face brightening with a smile as she checked Silas's vital signs. "He's doing much better," she said, her voice tinged with relief. "He's going to be okay."

Ajax and Donte let out a collective sigh of relief, their hearts buoyed by the news. Silas still had a long road to recovery ahead of him, but knowing that he was out of immediate danger was a weight lifted from their shoulders.

As they settled back into their chairs, the rain outside began to taper off, the storm finally giving way to the light of a new day.