Changing Our Ways (KIRA)

[Deleted]

Ash Faulkner~~

My head was spinning from the lack of oxygen and the fact that it was slowly gaining it back again. My throat was dry and so awfully sore. I took deep, slow breaths. Savouring all the air that I could. I knew I'd been close to death before but now I didn't know what to think. I was alive, albeit injured, but I had no idea where or in what condition Saga was.

I tried to find her dad in the room, but I couldn't see him. I noticed then that Ace was gone as well; he must have left with his son. I groaned slightly as a new wave of pain flooded through my already bad arm. There was a doctor crouching next to me, asking if I was alright. I couldn't talk, my throat was too sore. I just shook my head.

[Lotus]

~~Saga Gregorio

I felt something soft underneath me again, but where I was I had no clue. I felt people poking and prodding me again. All of them calling my name. They could be yelling it to me, but all I can hear is a muffled noise that sounds like my name.

What happened? Why was I so terrified? Someone touched one side of my face and I wanted to yelp in agony. Then the memory came back. Ash! Ace! What had happened? Ash...he was dead. Jaida...she was dead! No...!

[Deleted]

Ash Faulkner~~

I heard the doctor calling out to others, then they were gathered round me and trying to lift me up. I could still barely breathe and I knew I was weak and in pain. But I wasn't going to be carried round like a child. I pushed them off and used the bed to stand myself up. I almost fell several times but I brushed the doctors off when they tried to help me. I stood up and grasped at my throat, it was so sore and each breath hurt. I found myself leaning against the nearest doctor as they tried to escort me into a checkup room. I didn't protest as they started looking at my throat. All I could think about was Saga and whether she was alright or not.

[Lotus]

~~Saga Gregorio

People were still calling my name and I wanted my body to respond. At long last I twitched my fingers and I heard the calling of my name become louder, "Come on Saga. You're nearly there. Come back to us darling."

Slowly my eyes opened and I looked around me. I felt pain and my eyes were blurry. I saw people all around my bed and then I couldn't breathe. I was gasping for breath as they tried to calm me down. I wanted to yell at them all, but it only came out as a gargled mess. Where was Ash? Please tell me he wasn't dead!

[Deleted]

Ash Faulkner~~

I was on a hospital bed now. The lights were too bright and they were making the pounding in my head so much worse. But I found myself breathing easier now although my throat was still sore. I reached up a hand carefully to clasp at my throat, there was tubing or something there. That was what was helping me breathe, but I didn't remember them putting it on me. Had I passed out?

I sat up ever so slightly to look around the room. As I did so, I caught sight of my arms and legs, they were covered in bruises. I was in a right state and I hated to think what my face would be looking like. I saw a doctor standing near the door, there was no one else here. But of course there wouldn't be. I had no family who would know or care enough about this to come and visit me. I would have only Saga. Saga! I needed to find out if she was alright.

"Where's... S...Saga?" I croaked out.

[Lotus]

~~Saga Gregorio

I tried pushing off the bed again and getting up but I had restraining hands all over me, telling me it was all okay. My head spun at the slight movement and my eyesight was lost momentarily. My breathing wasn't back to normal yet and I wanted to scream even more! It came back, clearer than before and I saw all the faces around me.

I pounded the bed sheets as I groaned out. Yes it hurt my throat, but I needed to convey my disgust and anguish somehow. I moved around, struggling to breath, head pounding and then I yelled. I yelled at the top of my voice! It was scratching, it was gravelly, and it felt like someone had set fire to my throat. I needed someone. I needed Ash. I needed him, and he was gone. He was gone and it was all my fault. I pounded the bed sheets even more as I felt something sharp in my arm.

My breathing slowed and my world went black yet again.

[Deleted]

Ash Faulkner~~

I stared at the doctor as he approached. I still found it hard to breathe and I couldn't sit up because of the pain. The doctor came and stood by my bed. He looked at me, "You shouldn't try and speak, it'll only make your throat worse. Try and rest." The doctor said, going to take a step away. I couldn't do that. I couldn't just not find out.
"Please?" I croaked, "Tell me where Saga is? Is she alright?" The doctor just shook his head and put a hand on my shoulder.
"I don't know any Saga, now stop talking and try and sleep." He left the room and I was left alone. Worrying about Saga.

[Lotus]

~~Saga Gregorio

The blackness didn't take the pain away and it didn't stop nasty images popping up every now and again. I knew I'd been in a worse state after rising from this strange state.

I was alone. Good and proper. Ace had killed the one thing I truly cared for in life. He'd killed Jaida... And now he'd killed the person who had seen me for me and loved me for it. I didn't want to wake up!

[Deleted]

Ash Faulkner~~

I was left in silence. I didn't like it. I didn't want to be alone. I wanted to be able to breathe and talk properly. I wanted to no longer be in pain like I was. But most importantly I wanted, needed, to know what had happened to Saga. She was the only thing I cared about and I was prepared to die for her, I nearly had. But now I was just stuck in this hospital bed, alone. Knowing that she was somewhere but with no idea in what condition, as well as knowing that Ace was somewhere in this hospital too. I wanted him to be locked up.

[Lotus]

~~Saga Gregorio

The darkness seemed to get heavier and heavier; to which I didn't like. It made everything seem far more frightening. But then, out of nowhere, nice images played behind my closed eye lids. I wasn't quite sure when I'd had those memories, but clearly my subconscious had stored them for me.

Then I realised who they were all of. Ash. I unknowingly been taking in every detail about him, and now, in this nothingness my mind wanted to play to me all those little snippets of the past month. It was like a film had been made; showing the time when I came into his life. It made his death even more real.

Now I wanted to scream. I wanted to hit something. I never wanted to see the light of day again. My life had been ruined by a hatred in my brother that I had never known could have existed.

[Deleted]

Ash Faulkner~~

I was restless, I couldn't just lie here in this bed and wait. I needed to find out what had happened to Saga. What if Ace was still out there? Unconstrained? He could try and hurt her again! I couldn't let that happen.

I sat up in the bed although my body screamed in protest. But I had to just grit my teeth and deal with it. Slowly, I managed to swing my legs out of the bed. I gently placed them on the floor. They were alright, I could do this. I reached up and pulled out all of the tubes that were helping me to breathe. I stood up slowly, gritting my teeth to stop me from screaming out in agony. I was strong, I could get through this. I needed to. For Saga.

I began to stumble away from the bed, heading towards the door. I kept a hand on the wall as I slowly walked along. I found myself in a bland white hallway with doors scattered along. I had no clue where I was in relation to Saga but I needed to find her. I began to walk really slowly down the corridor. Stopping at every door until I found her.

[Lotus]

~~Saga Gregorio

The darkness was letting up and I didn't want it to. I wanted it to keep me drowning in it forever. I never wanted to see the harsh lights of the hospital room or the state I was in. The one thing I didn't want to see was the empty chair that would be next to mine.

I felt my fingers twitching though as I gained control over my body again. I didn't want to open my eyes. I didn't want the emptiness to be real, but I needed to know. Slowly, my eyes flickered open and I saw.

The empty chair.

No Ash.

I lashed out; trying to bring my already sore fists into the pillow. Instead I hit my face; and the bad side. I felt the trickling of my hot blood and I cried out. I was alone! I was in agony! Would this ever end?

[Deleted]

Ash Faulkner~~

I fumbled my way along the corridor. Stopping at every door to look through the window in the hope of finding Saga. I had to find her! I had just pulled back from a window when I heard footsteps. I took a sharp intake of breath to brace for the pain and turned round to face the person. I didn't want them to know I was meant to be in a bed. The person was a young nurse with a stack of papers.

I smiled a little as she approached. I was in pain but I had to talk to her. "Excuse me?" I managed to stumble out, my throat was hoarse and croaky where Ace had strangled me. She looked at me oddly; I was probably covered in cuts and bruises and I was pretty sure there would be finger shaped ones on my neck; but the nurse didn't say anything, she just smiled back.

"Umm... Do you know what room Saga... Saga Gregorio is?" I croaked out. The nurse smiled at me, I tried to smile back.
"She's two doors down, I was just going to check on her." The nurse said, I smiled and then her face dropped. She quickly checked her files and then looked back up at me suspiciously. "Ermm... Who are you to the patient can I ask?" She said cautiously. I realised that the nurse probably knew about Ace attacking Saga in the hospital so she was being extra vigilant. But the question threw me, I didn't know what I was to Saga. A Friend? Something more? I couldn't falter though, else she'd think I was lying.
I smiled at the nurse. "I'm her boyfriend." I said, it felt nice to say that. Although it shouldn't have under the circumstances.

The nurse smiled and seemed satisfied. "Follow me then," She said, so I did.

I reached the door and hesitated outside, my hand resting on the handle. What was I going to face when I went inside? What was she going to do when she saw me? I was a mess. What if she was even worse?

I had to see her though. I took a breath and pushed open the door.

[Lotus]

~~Saga Gregorio

I heard the door creak and I squeezed my eyes shut. If Ace had come back then let him kill me. I wouldn't try and protest this time. I had no one to save me anymore.

I felt the tears that had been brewing in my eyes roll down my cheeks and mix with the blood that was still trickling down. I couldn't even talk properly. Everywhere hurt. My head. My hands. My knees. My throat. My face. My heart...

[Deleted]

Ash Faulkner~~

I entered the room slowly and gasped. Saga was lying on the bed, her eyes were closed and she was so pale that for a moment I thought that she was dead. But I could see her breathing and there was tears rolling down her cheeks. Her face was a bloody pulp that was difficult to look upon. It was bruised and bloody, cuts covering her face. Her tears had mixed with an open wound on her cheek and the two were pooling at the base of her neck. Saga's hair was limp on the pillow and what I could see of her arms and hands were covered in bruises and marks. On her neck were thin finger like bruises that were similar to mine. She looked so much worse then she had before. Seeing her I forgot my own pain and injuries.

I walked slowly towards her bed, my hand covering my mouth. I sank into the chair that was by her head and gently reached out to take hold of her hand. "Oh Saga..." I whispered in my croaky voice.

The nurse seemed to have forgotten my presence and began to take Saga's pulse and other vitals. I waited for her to leave before I reached out my thumb and gently wiped away the blood and tears from her cheek. "Oh Saga... I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry that I couldn't protect you..."

[Lotus]

I felt someone prodding me again, but this time they didn't take the pain away. I wanted to yell at them that if they were going to come near me they'd better take the pain away. I couldn't take it. I wanted it all gone. I wanted to wake up and it'd all have just been one terrible nightmare.

Then I heard the voice. That voice. It couldn't have just been my mind playing tricks on me could it? It seemed so real. I opened my eyes slowly and let them adjust to the harsh, white light before I looked around me. Then I saw him. In that chair. Just like I knew he'd be.

I couldn't really feel his touch though. His words still seemed distant. It was a dream. That was all it was. It was my mind playing nasty tricks on me. "Y-you're..." I needed to get it out. I needed the image to go away. It hurt too much! Ash was dead. Dead! Because of me. "Y-you're ... not ... real ..."

[Deleted]

Ash Faulkner~~

I had been looking at the floor. I couldn't look at Saga without feeling so guilty. I hadn't protected her like I promised that I would. I didn't know what to do now. This was all my fault. I kept muttering apologies to her.

I was so wrapped in these thoughts that I hadn't realised that she was awake. My head shot up and looked at Saga. Her words broke my heart. There was something wrong. I shook my head slowly at her, "No, Saga... I'm real. I'm here and I'm so sorry. I should have protected you. I'm so sorry."

[Lotus]

~~Saga Gregorio

It wasn't even like I could turn away from the image projected in front of me. It was too painful to move. I closed my eyes again and brought my arms up to cover my face. I couldn't do this. I couldn't do this. That's all that was running through my head.

Then he apologised again and told me he was real. Why was my mind playing tricks on me? Why?! I had left him to get help, but instead I'd left him...to die. I was cruel. As cruel as anyone could ever be! I left the person that liked me for dead. How wrong was that?!

"M-My A-Ash ... is ... dead ..." I took a deep breath from behind my arms. "T-This ... is ... a-a ... trick ..."

[Deleted]

Ash Faulkner~~

I was shocked, what did Saga me? I didn't know what she was saying. What did she mean? She thought that I was dead?! I wasn't dead! But then, she didn't know that they had come in and took Ace away.

I squeezed her hand ever so gently, I wanted her to know that I was real. "Saga? It's me! I'm alive... They took Ace away... I'm so sorry that I didn't protect you... but I am alive." I looked at her pleadingly. I wanted to make things right.

[Lotus]

~~Saga Gregorio

I slowly pulled my hands away from my face when his words started to sound clear; like he was actually in the room with me. I started right at him, with tears in my eyes. That's when I took in how bad he looked. He had handprints on his neck and a deep cut above his eyebrow. I reached out a hand and brushed my fingertips of his face.

I could feel him. My hopes were lifted as I said, "A-Ash...?" It really was him. He was here. He. Was. Alive!

[Deleted]

Ash Faulkner~~

I smiled at Saga gently and took her fingertips, that were against my face, in mine. I kissed them gently. "It's me... we made it Saga. We're alive... and We're going to be ok..." I trailed off, I wanted to say that I would protect her but that felt like a lie. I'd failed at doing that too many times before.

I smiled at her though, I was so happy that she was awake and she saw me as alive now.

[Lotus]

~~Saga Gregorio

My throat was on fire. My head was throbbing. My whole body ached. Yet all of that seemed minimal now in the light of knowing Ash was alive and sitting right in front of me. Tears flowed down my cheeks and I couldn't keep the soppy, goofy grin off my face. They had made it. He was right. They just had to live through it now; that was harder.

I wanted him close. Through everything I wanted him close. I wanted to feel his body heat and let him warm me up. I wanted to feel his strong arms wrapped around me. I wanted to feel his lips on mine. I well and truly needed him.

"I-I ... w-want ... to ... go ... home ..." Then she thought. Where Ace was? No. But if, just if. "W-With ... you ..."

[Deleted]

Ash Faulkner~~

I smiled at Saga, but inside I was sad. I knew she wanted to go home and that the doctors wouldn't allow it. But it wasn't just that, she couldn't go back to her house. Not with Ace there, as he would surely remain because he was a career and seemed to scare his family, but also because her house would have all the memories of Jaida and I knew that would be too sad. But she couldn't go to mine either, not with Lawson there and the fact that it was his friends who had started all of this. I couldn't forget that. I didn't know where Saga would go but I couldn't let her know that.

"We will...soon." I said back softly. I was trying to not let my voice croak so much; it wouldn't be good if Saga heard me broken. I moved my chair closer to the bed and stroked her cheek gently. I reached up and kissed her forehead lightly. "I won't leave you, I promise." I whispered.

[Lotus]

~~Saga Gregorio

I smiled up at him, trying to be hopeful. We didn't have anywhere to go; not unless he had spoken to Lawson like he'd said. I looked up at him and leant into his kiss. It made me feel better. It was like he had his own way of taking my pain away.

The only problem was, I wanted to leave this place now. I wanted to run away from it all. I wanted to be home. I wanted my fluffy kitten... my Jaida. Then the tears started falling again as I remembered her. She hadn't even turned one. I tried to forget the images of her, I tried to be strong.

I looked back up to Ash after wiping my eyes and stuttered and croaked out, "I ... I ... l-love ... y-you ... Ash."

[Deleted]

Ash Faulkner~~

I smiled gently at Saga. I didn't know why she was crying but she had plenty of reasons to be. I hated to see her like this. I was about to move up and take her into my arms when I heard what she said. I was taken aback, she'd never said that before. Despite all my pain I felt warm and happy inside. I smiled at her so gently. I pulled Saga close to me.

"I...I love you too.." I said back to her before bending down and lightly kissing her.