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 Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 5:20 pm
Hayden could swear he saw the top of the lab building in the distance through the trees. 'Please, just a little further, Kira...' he pleaded silently.
"Forget it," he said out loud, eyes focused forward. "I'm not just leaving you out here. We're almost there, and if I have to carry you, I'm getting you there one way or another." The matter was settled in his mind and he wasn't about to hear any more foolish arguments about it.
In fact...
"Hold on." He stopped, still carefully holding Kira up, lest she faint. "I'm not going to risk you passing out and falling. Wrap your arms around my neck. I'll carry you the rest of the way."
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Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 5:50 pm
On normal conditions, Kira would have protested him staying behind with her. On normal conditions, she would have refused to let him carry her and insist on going on walking. The current conditions, however, were not normal conditions.
Slowly, Kira reached up and wrapped her arms loosely around Hayden's neck. "Alright..." she murmured, not all together there at this point. She knew she didn't have the energy to verbally fight with Hayden, let alone actually walk the rest of the way.
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Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 6:42 pm
Taking a deep breath, Hayden braced himself before attempting to lift Kira. Bending over and tucking his arm behind her knees, he straightened up, holding Kira carefully. Poor thing. She seemed so light too. Maybe he couldn't have carried her all the way from the beach, but he should be able to handle it from here. "Just, hang in there, okay? Save your energy, but try to stay awake,"
Frowning, Hayden took off at a measured jog, taking care not to jostle Kira too much. He wondered if this was merely the result of exposure to the elements...or if Kira had some sort of injuries that couldn't be seen...
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Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 8:27 pm
Kira curled up when Hayden started his jog. She put her head against her chest and rested it on his shoulder at a rather uncomfortable angle. She also began to count her breaths again. She was hoping that being in such an uncomfortable position and keeping her mind focused on something would keep her awake. Sleep was not her friend right now, despite how good it would feel to close her eyes.
After almost 3 minutes of pure silence, she spoke a whisper. "I'm still awake...." She didn't want him to feel worried, or at least more worried than the poor guy was now. Her eyes were half closed as she focused on her knees, still counting her breaths.
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Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 10:56 pm
Relief flooded Hayden's system. He'd started worrying after such a long silence. "Good...'cause you made it. We're there."
Despite what he knew, Hayden smiled at the sight of the lab building mere yards away. He was worrying about how he was going to get to his security clearance card to get the door open when the nearest entrance slid open at his approach. They must have been watching via security camera and opened it remotely.
Oh yeah, they could watch through a camera and open a door, but they couldn't have helped out in the forest when he NEEDED help. Of course not.
He slipped through the door, carefully minding Kira as he did so. Darn narrow doors. Having done so without incident, he gratefully made his way down the hall towards the medical wing. Shelter from the sun plus air conditioning made for a refreshing combo. Hayden took advantage of the momentary relief to rush towards his destination.
"I'll get you to the medical bay as fast as I can. They'll take good care of you there," he assured, lying through his teeth. "You'll be your old self in no time. Better than new in fact." He tried to force a smile for the poor young lady, though his heart felt like lead. How could he doom another human being like this? But...what other choice did he have?
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Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 11:22 pm
The cool air felt almost freezing on Kira's skin, which had started to turn pink with a sunburn from her prolonged exposure both at sea and on the beach. Still, it felt better to her than the unforgiving heat outside.
When Hayden began to talk to her about the medical wing and the help there, she forced her eyes fully open to look up at him. "Thank you..." she whispered, a very small smile appearing on her lips, but her eyes showed the deepest of gratitude, even if they were half glazed over. After a few second, she closed them and slipped into an unconscious state.
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Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 11:33 pm
Frowning sadly, Hayden shook his head once more. That look alone broke his heart. He was doing it again. Dooming yet another person to a living hell. In any other situation, he'd make the decision to run now. But this time...
Kira's unconscious weight in his arms... What choice did he have? He had to take her to the medical wing to save her life...but in doing so, destroyed it as well. The irony was lost on him at the moment.
His pace slowed briefly, then picked up again. No, he had no choice. She'd die if he didn't get her treatment and he certainly had no idea what to do. He was a guard, not a doctor. "May the PokeGods forgive me..." he muttered, cradling Kira gently as he rushed her to safety...and unspeakable horrors.
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Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 11:41 pm
Hours later, Kira's eyes finally opened, blinking and squinting in the light that there was in the room. At first, she thought that maybe she actually had died, but that assumption was shut down when she heard the beeps of what seemed to be a heart monitor. Then she knew she was alive when a splitting headache decided to rear it's ugly head. Letting out a hiss of a gasp, she clenched her fists, waiting for it to pass, her eyes closed. She was alive, that's all that mattered, she'd try to get a ride off the island, preferably not by boat, when she felt better. She'd tell them that she needed to get back, that her mother and grandmother would be worried, and that she had another semester of college to go to.
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 12:00 am
"Sir, please..."
"Get in there, NOW! You heard me! She trusts you anyway, so go talk to her!"
'Since when do you care what your precious 'experiments' think or feel?' The thought echoed in his head. Hayden would never dare say that out loud, but he glared at Dr. Hakan in angry silence instead.
"I...said...now!" Dr. Hakan snarled, his quiet, sharp tone speaking volumes about his temper right now. Much more so than shouting would have ever done. He practically had a vein about to throb out of his head.
'One of these days, you sick son of a--'
"Yes...sir." It took all Hayden had to force the short sentence through his lips. Whirling on one heel, he stalked into a door marked simply with a number. As soon as the door slammed shut, Dr. Hakan allowed a slight sadistic grin cross his face before turning and leaving. As fun as this was, he had work to do.
Inside the room, Hayden had frozen behind the door. He really did NOT want to be here right now. Or ever, to be honest. Heaven help him if he ran into anyone he had betrayed once they discovered what had been done to him...
Bad train of thought. Push it aside and act normal. Gulping nervously, he cast a casual eye over Kira's form. The machines monitoring her vitals made him cringe internally, but at least they signalled that she was alive.
"Umm...Kira?" he spoke hesitantly, trying to keep his voice from cracking. "Are you awake, by any chance?" He was going to feel a little stupid if she wasn't. Though it would be a nice chance to slip out of here and retreat to his own room.
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 12:12 am
Kira slowly opened her eyes. "Hayden... I heard muffled yelling. Are you ok?" She moved to try to sit herself up, despite her throbbing head. She could just feel that he was upset, and she hoped it wasn't because of her.
"Hayden, do you know how long I'm going to be here? I need to call my mom and grandma, let them know what happened. I also have packing for next semester in college to get ready for...." She winced and rubbed her temples, wishing she had Advil.
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 12:29 am
Hayden blinked. 'She heard that? I hope she didn't hear what was actually said...'
"It was nothing; don't worry about it. Hey wait, you shouldn't be trying to get up!" He hurried over; the look of concern on his face was genuine. "Forget me...are you okay? You look like you're in pain." Hayden was careful to quietly pull a chair over to the bed. Sitting down, he gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe you should lie down. Do you need something?"
He danced around her questions, having no answers to give and no idea what to say.
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 12:38 am
Kira, ignoring his advice to not get up, comfortably got herself sitting up after a couple of minutes of maneuvering. She patted his hand gently. "I'm feeling better and I'm conscious. Aside from a splitting headache, that is."
She really did look better, aside from the bags under her eyes and her red, sunburned skin. The smile, though she was in pain, was true. "Thank you for rescuing me, Hayden. If it weren't for you, I know I wouldn't have made it."
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 12:53 am
Blushing deeply, Hayden chuckled and reached up to rub his neck nervously. "No, really...don't thank me..."
'Please don't. I'm not sure I can take it.'
"I didn't really do THAT much," he continued with a sheepish grin. "Anyway," still smiling, he sat back a bit. "Try not to think so negatively. I'm sure that you would have been just fine, somehow, even if I hadn't come along."
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 1:02 am
Kira laughed. "Trust me, I passed out the minute we got into an air conditioned eviroment. I wouldn't have lasted much longer without the water...."
Her stomach grumbled loudly, reminding her of her hunger, and also explaining where the majority of the headache was coming from. Her cheeks, already rosy, turned a deeper shade of read and she laughed nervously. "Any chance for food?" She asked, embarrassed.
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 1:10 am
Hayden smirked, nodding his head. Now this he could take care of.
Pointing to a spot on the wall near to where they were sitting, he explained, "The rooms may be rather...lacking when it comes to furnishings, but trust me; this makes up for it. See this intercom? Push this little button here and ask for anything you want. Food and drink-wise at least, I can guarantee they'll bring it to you. Other things might be trickier, but you can at least, try, right?" He grinned, covering as always, the uncomfortable feeling in his chest and stomach when he was with the lab's 'guests.'
Pushing the button, he leaned towards the intercom's speaker. Hearing a click, he started speaking, "This is Hayden Rutherford. Our guest is feeling much better and would like some food. Please send down a tray with..." He trailed off, turning to Kira with a wink. "Got any requests for anything in particular?"
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