“Get him in there! What are you doing, hurry up!” Grayson shrieked, as paramedics frantically moved back and forth between himself, and getting Alex wheeled into the back of the ambulance. “I’m fine! Get Alex to the damn hospital!” He shouted.
Meanwhile, Alex’s mother was being consoled by the Princesses, as the police explained what Gray had already told her. She was still in shock. She looked like she wanted to sob until she passed out, but she was just so stricken with worry and grief, she could barely nod as the police talked to her.
Grayson watched as they wheeled his best friend into the back of the ambulance and sped off into the street. The police offered Grayson a ride to the hospital, but he had to deny it. Still, they handed him their cards, as they needed a full police report of the events. He was pretty happy that they were sympathetic enough to hold that off until his friend was better, but that was quickly extinguished as he looked at Fluttershy, sitting on the curb, with her head in her hands and a vicious shake rattling her body.
She’d been like that since Alex passed out from losing so much blood. She couldn’t look at him, and, aside from all the screaming she did, was nearly silent. Rainbow Dash was right next to her, shushing her when she gave the occasional whimper, and holding her when she would shake too violently. The other four girls only sat close by.
June, on the other hand, was pacing back and forth in front of Luna, Celestia, and Shining. They all stood politely, with their heads bowed in respect, patiently awaiting something to happen.
Suddenly, everyone heard a loud cracking noise. Gasping, Rarity looked behind her to see the commotion.
Grayson had slammed his right fist into the brick wall of the building next to him. What really startled everyone was the small cracks in the cement where his fist was. Blood trickled down his fingers, and he slowly brought his down to his side, using his now good hand to support himself as he leaned against the wall.
“Miss Barkhorn...June, I...I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault.” He snivled, turning around and showing his tearful face. “I didn’t...I didn’t mean to hurt him, I didn’t - I didn’t mean it, I promise...” He broke off into a fit of sobs.
“Grayson, what are you talking about?” June asked, walking towards him. He tried speaking, but couldn’t. His sobs became muffled when June pulled him into a motherly embrace, shushing him. “Gray, tell me what happened.” She said gently.
“I-I... We were at the party, a-and they found out...Jake and Aaron, they found out he watches My Little Pony...And they called him a fag and a queer, and, and Alex...I didn’t help him, I just stood there, and I’m so sorry June, I shoulda said something...If I did, maybe I wouldn’t have gotten jumped, and Alex, he wouldn’t have gotten hurt, and I’m so sorry!”
Gray broke into another sobbing fit that lasted well over ten minutes. Finally, he seemed spent, physically and mentally. His voice was hoarse, and he could barely speak, let alone cry.
“We should get to the hospital as soon as possible.” A quiet and timid voice spoke up. Fluttershy had perked her head up from her hands, glancing over her shoulder at Gray and June.
“Fluttershy is right. We must stick by Alex’s side this entire time. He’s our friend. We’re not going anywhere until we know he is safe.” Celestia added with a gentle smile.
It was a rather cramped ride to the hospital in nothing but Gray’s car and June’s Mercedes, but they managed all the same. When they arrived, they were initially not allowed to enter since they were operating, so all they could do was wait outside the OR. Hours passed. The new day came, and still no word.
Around 3 a.m., the doctor emerged from the room, removing his face mask. “Mrs. Barkhorn?” She asked. June nodded and stood up. Seeing as how mostly everyone, save for Luna and Fluttershy, were asleep, she spoke quietly. “There were...Complications. The main problem was that there was a large cluster of nerves that were affected. And his lung was hit in the attack- not completely punctured, but we still had to take a look at it. The wound went between his left fifth and sixth rib. Essentially, if it were a few centimeters to the left...It would have hit his heart.” She explained. But June could feel there was something more. Her tone didn’t seem too hopeful.
“What else is there?” She asked, afraid to hear the answer.
“Well...He’s in stable condition. That isn’t to say he’s doing good, though. He’s lost a lot of blood. To be frank, I’m very surprised he survived the blood loss. He’ll need a transfusion. I don’t know for how long, but it’s best he stays under for a while. At least until his body recovers.” The doctor replied. She placed a hand on June’s shoulder, looking her dead in the eyes. “There isn’t much we can do at this point but pray. Pray that he wakes up, no different than the boy he was yesterday.” She explained.
June went through the standard paperwork bull, while Gray sat at Alex’s side inside his room. The girls were all asleep, as they all shared the extra bed and chairs in the room- Christine came by and, being good friends with the surgeon, allowed them the extra space. Grayson only stared at Alex, and it scared him. Bandages covered his lean figure, his arms were perfectly at his side. Over his mouth and nose was an oxygen mask, and his chest would rise and fall with each breath. Every time his chest fell, Gray would fear that it wouldn’t rise back up again.
Movement caught Grayson’s attention, as Fluttershy approached Alex’s bed from the opposite side. She stood over him, eyes red from the tears she’s shed. Grayson only stared as she silently pulled up a chair, sat right next to Alex’s bed, and placed her hand on his. She didn’t acknowledge Gray. Didn’t speak at all. She only sat and watched, allowing a constant, yet silent stream of tears to flow from her eyes. The only sound was the constant, rhythmic beating of Alex’s heart monitor.
|~| Grayson’s POV |~|
It’s been almost four days since Alex came to this dreadful hospital. It’s been days since I’ve talked to him.
Since he’s been awake.
It’s been a hell of a week so far. There’s not much on the case against Jake and Aaron. They’ve been taken into custody on charges of attempted manslaughter with a deadly weapon. Jake was the one that actually stabbed Alex; Aaron was just an accessory. Trial was going to be soon, hopefully after Alex wakes up.
They don’t know why he hasn’t woken up. They have no legitimate reason. Yet, at the same time, they say it’s not a surprise. The transfusion didn’t do much, it just stabilized him a little more.
Dana came by the morning it happened. She was a wreck. The second she saw him, she burst into tears, and rushed to his bedside. Sure, she calmed down eventually, but...It was just depressing. She talked to him. Just sat there, next to Fluttershy, and talked to him. Saying things like, “Hey, Alex. Remember when we were kids, and we always played tag in the schoolyard? And eventually, we’d get all the kids to play with us, because they saw how much fun we were having? You would always let them play because all you wanted was to have fun with everyone.”
It broke my heart, again.
June seemed strong about it. You could tell it was killing her on the inside, the way her eyes seemed so hurt and full of sorrow. But she would assure us, every day, that it wasn’t up to us anymore. She would console us when we hurt; Rarity was the first to break, and June was there in a flash. AJ and Dashie both lost it soon after, and June shushed them, sitting between them as she assured them everything would be alright. Then came Twi, and even Pinkie. But, Pinkie used the best of her charm to keep some spirits bright. She tried especially hard with Fluttershy. Pinkie and Rainbow were at her side the most.
Speaking of Fluttershy, she’s in worse condition than me and June combined. She hasn’t left the room- they moved him to his own room after the first night, so she just pushes two chairs together and sleeps next to him. Sometimes, I hear her crying in her sleep, as I enter to check up on him.
It doesn’t help that the princesses are becoming impatient. I can hear the princesses talking to Twilight at this very moment.
“But Princess! Alex isn’t awake yet, and Fluttershy is a mess!” Twilight argued.
“I’m aware, Twilight, and I am very sorry. But we must return as soon as possible, we’ve done enough waiting.” The Princess replied in a calm, yet commanding voice.
“That isn’t fair, though! Alex is our friend, and we need to be here for him as long as possible!” She pleaded.
“Twilight Sparkle. It is indeed tragic, the fate of young Alexander. But we can wait no longer. Equestria needs us, Princess Cadence cannot possibly rule without our help.” Luna added in.
“I cannot allow our society to suffer for the fate of one individual. I’m sorry, Twilight. But we have to leave by the end of the week. That is the longest I will give you.” Celestia sighed.
The end of the week. I checked my digital watch. Only an hour, and it’d be Thursday already. At this rate, they’ll be gone before he wakes up.
“It’s getting late,” June said, practically reading my thoughts. She was sitting next to Fluttershy, and stroking her hair, but must have been keeping an eye on me, as well. “We should get home and get some rest.” She sat up, slightly taking Shy with her, and looked down at her. “Fluttershy, sweety, are you sure you don’t want to come home with us tonight?” She offered with a warming smile.
Shy only shook her head slowly, not even glancing up at June.
“C’mon, Fluttershy...You’re a mess. Just one night, we can get you a proper shower and change of clothes. You’ll feel loads better.” Rainbow chimed in, approaching her old friend. Again, a lifeless shake of the head.
More silence. Nothing but the beeping of the monitor.
“Well...Alright. If you insist. I’ll bring you another change of clothes tomorrow morning.” June sighed, planting a quick kiss on her forehead. She and Grayson stood up simultaneously, just as Twilight entered with her head hung low. “Ready?” June asked, which Twilight replied with a nod of her head. “Then let’s go.”
Our walk to the elevator was silent for a while, until Twilight spoke up as we approached the metal doors.
“We have til the end of the week.” She said quietly.
“What?! Says who?!” Rainbow nearly shouted.
“I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash. But we must get back to Equestria.” Celestia said regrettably. I tried to ignore the conversation, and pressed the button to call the elevator. Now we needed to wait for it to get on this floor.
“That’s not fair! Alex isn’t even better yet!” Applejack, while far more calm than her rainbow hair-colored friend, was still clearly upset as well.
“It is a difficult decision, but it is a decision I must make as princess!” Celestia argued firmly. “That is why we must go back.”
The bell dinged, and the doors open. As everyone filed in, rushed footsteps filled the hallways, and we all looked to the side. Doctors and nurses were rushing down the hallway they just came to. They were barking orders, and entered a room at the end of the hall.
Alex’s room.
No. Please, no.
I sprinted as hard as I could down the hall, with the others shouting after me, but soon following. When I reached the room, I tried to enter, but one of the nurses stopped me.
“What’s going on, I have to get in there!” I shouted, trying to struggle past him.
“No, you can’t go in there! Sir, please!”
The dude was stronger than he looked, and I couldn’t get past him. I could hear the heart moniter go wild inside his room. I looked through the small window, and saw them all crowded around him.
I saw Fluttershy watching in absolute fear.
There was one doctor who must have been in charge, as he was barking orders and shouting at the others.
The line went flat.
They had to get a defibrillator and use them on Alex.
“Clear!”
Zap.
Still flat.
“Clear!”
Zap.
Still flat.
No response.
He was gone.
( Hey, lookit that. I managed another chapter this week. Praise the friggin' lord.
Anyway, hope you liked the chapter, feel free to read and leave constructive criticism as you see fit, and don't forget to check out my tumblr at remixedwriter.tumblr.com
Adios. )