CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER FIVE
CASEY'S P.O.V
I shrugged at the sight of Tanner's text message. It wasn't like he was at fault. He didn't do anything to me. To be honest, I was seriously troubled about Astoria ever since I left the hospital, and I still am. I wondered about the exact words I'm gonna say and the exact gestures I'm gonna do to convince her that I was truly sorry for what I did to her those many months ago. On that night.
I was the reason she probably got separated from her family, relatives, and friends, whom none had come to see her or claim they knew her since the accident happened. Was she going to believe me? Was she going to remember all that happened that night? Maybe if she doesn't, I'd eventually not need to apologize. What if she blamed me for separating her from her family? I know how crazy I can get to be with my parents—my Mum especially, but I just can't imagine not having them in my life.
I didn't know when my eyes began to itch me, and I forced myself out of the river of thoughts I was drowning myself into. I definitely can't go back to the cafeteria after all that I have caused.
"I probably should just head to the hospital," I thought to myself.
I stood up from the toilet seat, even when all I did was sit on it with the seat closed. I subconsciously turned the flush valve, because the last thing I want was to step out of the restroom with weird faces in my direction, assuming I didn't clear the restroom before leaving.
I decided to sneak out of school through the abandoned hall that was at the very back of the mega school's walls. I've always taken to this whenever I got an emergency message from the hospital about Astoria. I looked at the fence before me like I always will, in fear of how high my fall was gonna be on the other side.
The sounds of barks and growls erupted out of nowhere and I saw two security dogs running from the other end of the school. They were coming towards my direction, and it meant that they were after me. Why in the world was today going so bad for me???
Ignoring my schoolbag, I immediately scrambled for the wall, trying to climb up higher just before the dogs could reach me. My schoolbag did flash across my mind, but I believed that it wasn't tas important as me not getting bitten by these rabies-infected dogs. My bag might be found later on by the security, but I don't care. What might eventually end the talk is a fight with my Mum.
The dogs were already at the fence, leaping up to get me by my limbs. I scrambled up further, but it seemed the walls refused to cooperate with me today. My hands slipped, causing me to go down a bit. I could feel the muzzles of the two dogs teaching my butt. Fear enveloped me, causing me to stare up and try to climb further.
"Give me your hand," a familiar voice from what sounded like it was above me called out to me.
"Tanner…", I whispered.
There he was squatting on the wall, his hands stretched out to me.
"Come on," he insisted, his hands still stretched outwards to me.
Why wouldn't I take his hand then? My butt was a hair's length away from the haged dentition of two crazy gigantic security dogs. I immediately stretched out one of my arms to him, and he yanked me up in the blind in an eye. I looked at his expression whilst hoisting me up. He showed no sign of strain or effort. Was he that strong?
I found my mind drifting back to the still hidden feelings I had for him, but I pulled out if it immediately when he finally got a hold of me. For a second, his chest brushing mine, and his hands slightly touching my waist.
"I'm guessing this isn't your first time," he broke the silence.
I frowned at him, my lips morphing a pout,
"Wh-What do you mean?",
"No need to pretend, silly. This is obvious. For how long has this been happening?",
"Well… I can't tell you that.", I stuttered.
He smiled and told me to drop down to the other side. Before I knew it, he jumped inside the school, and the dogs were still there. I wanted to tell him and ask what in the world he jumped back into the school for, but I already jumped off to the other side.
"Dang! Tanner is toast!", I shrieked, biting at my lips.
I'm now stuck with deciding on whether to proceed to the hospital, or confirm if Tanner was okay.
TANNER'S P.O.V
"You stupid little things," I growled, my 'Wolf' seeking for dominance over me.
The reason was obvious: the dogs. A shrill sound enveloped my ears and I felt my eyes itch and grow hot for a moment before my vision got clouded by a sea of red. It finally took over me. Again.
My vision, now smeared with a red hue made me realise my 'Wolf' was posing as a true Alpha before the dogs. Somehow, I could read through the thoughts of the two dogs. Their whimpering proved to me that they were planning to chicken away.
And they did.
This brought me to laughter, and my 'Wolf' retreated.
"I'm not all about destruction, you see. Try to believe me sometimes." the voice of my 'Wolf' resonated within me.
I ignored it's voice and turned for the fence. I picked up Casey's schoolbag and dusted the hits of dirt that was on it. Upon the landing outside the school, I began to mutter to Casey,
"Casey, you wouldn't believe what…",
Or maybe I was just muttering to myself—Casey was nowhere in sight.
CASEY'S P.O.V
I eventually chose Astoria over Tanner. It ain't like I'd have done that on a normal day. Tanner has always been my best friend. Or maybe he has always meant more to me.
"Taxi!" I flagged down a cab and got into it. "City Hospital, please."
Suddenly, my phone chimed and a text message notification flashed across the screen.
"GET HERE NOW! ASTORIA'S ACTING REALLY WEIRD!"
My eyes widened in shock and fear, wandering what the nurse was trying to describe as 'weird'. Irrespective of whatever she was trying to say, the text didn't give off any good aura. I craned my neck up and tapped on the driver's shoulder.
"Can you please ride a bit faster?" I begged the driver.
Seeming to understand my worried looks, he nodded his head and increased his speed. I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer.
"Just wait for me, Astoria. Please."
I kept nudging at my skirt fretfully, my fingers digging dip into my palms. Suddenly, I thought about the whole mess I was getting myself into. The security guards, the dogs, my school bag, Tanner…
I thought about giving him a phone call, but I hesitated and opted for a text message rather. I typed with shaky hands,
-TO TANNER
"Please, do let me know if you are okay."
I tapped on the 'Send' button and clutched the phone tight to my chest. I'm in a big mess, and no one can explain it better.
ASTORIA'S P.O.V
I kept shoving anything I could find towards me so as to create a barrier between I and the scary nurses. Minutes ago, I had snuck out of my bed in search for anything I could drink. I tried walking using my hind limbs only, but then I realised I was only beginning to live as a human, and it's going to take a while to get accustomed to it. I settled for all fours and walked round the room. I perceived fresh water somewhere close to me, but I couldn't tell where it was exactly. Just when I was about to start combing the room for water, the nurses walked in.
She kept on shouting that I was… I was what again? Oh yes. A 'witch'. She claims only witches work on all fours just like other animals do. I tried to communicate to the nurses in their language, but I could only say a few words like my name and the names of people, things and places I have heard during my time as a comatose patient. They kept on screaming, and I couldn't help but get frightened myself.
I felt a voice I surprisingly got familiarized with almost immediately suggest the nurses were trying to attack me. I braced myself as ran towards the other edge of the room, lifting the bed with my mouth and sent it flying towards the direction the nurses stood. They kept hugging themselves and screaming like their lives depended on it, and I couldn't help but grow confused and scared.
I made out the voice of the nurse who scurried out call 'Casey' to come over. That is the name of the woman who saved me, so if they weren't trying to attack me, what were they trying to do?
Several minutes passed, and I was forced to remain in between a corner of the room, and the weird box I placed in front of me. I kept my gaze fixed on the nurses, who also kept their focus fixated on me. Suddenly, a girl walked into the room, and she looked just as terrified as the nurses and I were.
"Where is—" she suddenly stopped when she saw me hiding behind the 'box'.
She approached me slowly, but my impulses were on high guard, so I instinctively hurled an object I found close to me at her. It got her on the head and she gasped in shock and pain. Her expressions suddenly softened my emotions, and I perceived her as no threat.
I saw trickles of blood meandering down her forehead, and I immediately felt sorry for hurling whatever it was at her. She raised her hands up in a somewhat surrendering manner.
"I know you are angry at everyone; I especially, but please, I need you to listen to me first, Astoria." she said, her voice shaky.
Judging by the way she spoke and the way she mentioned my name, I couldn't help but believe her immediately.
"Please, leave the machine alone and… let's talk, huh?" she gestured towards the door through which she walked in.
I didn't know why, but the nurses were also nodding their heads. I decided to try communicate in their language, even when I could only speak a little.
"You," I pointed at the girl, "Casey?" I asked, wanting to confirm if she was the one who the nurses say had been looking after me ever since I got here.
I noticed her teary eyes and she nodded in response to my question,
"Yes, I am Casey. I am." she smiled walking up to me and hugged me tightly. I was taken aback by her muffled sobs, and I could have sworn I heard her whisper, "I am sorry."
CASEY'S P.O.V
I don't know the exact word to describe the feeling I felt when I managed to get the trust of Astoria. I couldn't tell if her behavior news as a result of the aftermath of the coma, or if she used to be a member of the bush people tribe. I felt like she was trying connect with not just I, but the nurses too by trying to speak English.
My suspicions will only be confirmed when I went to see the doctor. Of course, Astoria was with me. She kept this confused and blank expression, still locking her arms with mine and shifting her glances from the doctor to me at intervals.
"You see, what is happening to her can be likened to an in-built trait that is almost irrevocable," I gasped immediately when he mentioned 'irrevocable'. "but then, there's suitable method to making her become better."
My eyes widened at the news the doctor gave and I stationed my ears to pay full attention to what he was saying.
"Despite the fact that we haven't been able to set up a suitable means of conversing with her, I believe we can teach her to speak and behave like every other normal human. She still shows no signs of remembering what her past was like, so for now, I believe that's what we can do. The nurses reported her walking on all fours, yet, somehow, she was able to accompany you all the way down to my office, struggling to walk with just her legs.",
"And that explains how fast she can learn" I added, stroking Astoria's hair.
"Exactly.",
"So… I have to teach her how to behave like a human?" I asked, unsure if I was able to comprehend all the doctor had said.
"It's not going to be easy, I know. But this is also something that she requires. It wasn't your fault you got her hit on that night. It was no one's fault. I know how much you carry this burden in your heart, and I need you to drop it right at this moment. First, do your parents—",
"No!" I surprisingly yelled I response, startling Astoria.
I stroke her hair once more and she seemed to calm down immediately.
"They don't know about… her. Not yet at least," I said feigning a chuckle.
"I feel you should let them in.",
"No way.",
"Yes way, greenhorn. Where are you gonna keep her, now that she's been medically recognised as 'stable', huh?"
I pondered about the doctor's question, coming to realize that I haven't given this a thorough thought ever since that night.
"I'd think about something," I dismissed the doctor, who wouldn't stop giving me that questioning look.
I stared at Astoria who seemed to be drowsy already. I faced the doctor, pangs of worry returning to my face.
"So, where do I start teaching her to behave like a human?"
TANNER'S P.O.V
It was after school hours, and Casey was no where to be seen. I still had her schoolbag with me, and it got to a moment where I got tempted to check its contents. I remember during one of my casual talks with Leo where he would mention that sometimes, girls do have secrets hidden in their notebooks or diaries which they like to keep either at their personal study or schoolbag. I could recall a particular time around last session when Casey would usually give off signals that alerted me to keep him friend zoned, but I didn't have a perfect definition for what her attitude then was.
I got home before I remembered I still had Casey's bag with me. I immediately brushed into my room to dump it before my mother saw me. After giving my mother a daily dose of my experience at school, I retired to my bedroom, still staring at the bag. I decided to just take a glance and then let it be. I know Casey is my friend,band of possible my best friend, and she probably might not forgive me for doing this. But I was this curious; curious to prove Leo wrong.
I was about opening the bag when my phone chimed. A text message just came in. I turned on the phone and read the rest that illuminated the screen.
-FROM CASEY
"Please, do let me know if you are okay."
I arched my brows in confusion, wondering why Casey would send such a message. Even when I could have assumed she did leave me to the dogs, was she that concerned?