Disquietude 2: Shattered

Disquietude


Chapter Two: Shattered

         The smell of antibiotics, the sound of nurse's heels, the buzzing, crackly intercom. These flooded the halls of the St. Drybury hospital, melding into a solid, almost overpowering atmosphere. People of all races, genders, species waited throughout. More than a few of them were obviously nervous, many indulging such habits as nail biting, shoe tapping, whistling broken tunes, all of which served merely to enhance the mood of panic in the others. A short dark-skinned girl listened to a CD player, switching the song every few seconds. A fox hybrid rapped his furred knuckles against the wall irregularly, not seeming to follow any sort of tune or pattern.

         The sound of heels grew louder, coming closer and closer... almost deafening now, the last like a spear through the mind. "Miss? You may see her now."

         A lone girl clad in jeans and a black hoodie, sitting apart from the others who waited, answered the call. She rose somberly, following the nurse down twisting corridors, past rooms smelling of various disinfectants and medicines. Her thoughts raced, yet she couldn't keep track of a single one, instead simply moving as she thought she should; her body on autopilot, her mind lost in an endless sea. The nurse may have said something, but the girl was in no place to hear it.

         The two reached their destination: A plain sea green door on the side of the hall, not much different from any of the others. The human nurse slowly opened it, creaking slightly as it went. She grumbled about something before setting it open, and beckoned for the hooded girl to follow. She made a few gestures that were all but lost on the girl, her mind still someplace else. The nurse gripped the curtain at the top of the hospital bed, and slowly pulled it out of the way, revealing a battered form that shocked Rielle from her state of waking slumber.

         "I'll leave you alone for now, but remember visiting hours are almost over." With that, the nurse quickly left the room, closing the door behind her. Rielle took a seat at the side of the bed, studying the sleeping, beaten girl. Her head was braced with padding, and her face was hooked up to a plastic mask, connected to a strange-looking machine covered in gauges and dials. There were a lot of scabs and too much red to be sure, but she thought she saw a bit of white fur over the body before her... looking at her face, Rielle could make out a couple whiskers on the right side of her nose; the rest may have been pulled off, but she knew now from the facial features that this person was most likely a mouse hybrid. Rielle shivered, outright scared that someone she had lived with could inflict such brutality in such a short time.

         The mouse stirred, her eyes opening slowly. She let out a small whimper as she turned her head, looking around. Rielle almost got up to help her, but stopped as she realized anything she did now would likely just hurt the mouse more. The crippled girl groaned faintly as her head pivoted, turning toward Rielle. She smiled weakly before speaking in a cracked, muffled voice. "H-hello..."

         Rielle couldn't bring herself to speak. She opened her mouth, about to respond... yet nothing came. When she didn't speak, the mouse continued. "A-are you the one who... brought me here?" Rielle nodded slowly, trying to communicate as little as she could; it was obvious that every word pained the mouse, and she didn't want to make her ask any unnecessary questions or feel obligated to respond to any. Sighing, the mouse managed a weak smile. "I'm Sera... what's your name?" Rielle quivered a bit, as if pulled into a bit greater of coherency by the question. "I'm Rielle." Sera took a deep breath before speaking again, seeming to contemplate what she had heard. "It's... a pretty name..."

         The two remained inert for a while, neither speaking. Ordinarily tiny noises became much louder; an orchestra of ticks, beeps, thumps. All sorts of noises from both inside and outside the room composed a background symphony. Rielle sat silently, reflecting on the events of the past few hours, cringing as the weight of the situation hit her head on once more. Niki had betrayed her... or rather, had been planning to go after her from the beginning. That was the part Rielle simply couldn't come to grips with; her only friend in the world had turned out to be her most dangerous enemy. And that stranger... he was like her, a fellow one-fourth... she shuddered as she thought of it. That one small point of what she was had dogged her for her entire life, more than anything else. The simple fact that she had a tail and two different sets of ears had gotten her excluded from everything she tried to be a part of, forcing her into obscurity... she hadn't been outside during the day or in a crowded place for years, always forced to hide in the shadows, out of sight. Yet, not once during her few, short outings at night had she found another like herself... and most certainly she'd never seen anyone display the abilities that stranger possessed. The soft, lumpy sphere of flesh was still ingrained in her mind... The sphere that had ironically set her free with the ultimate trap. She wondered if she'd ever see that man again...

         Rielle's thoughts were interrupted by the squeak of Sera's voice. "D-did they tell you anything? They won't... tell me how long I'll be here..." Rielle shook her head no. "I... see..." Sera grunted pitifully, as though attacked by pain. Rielle jerked forward, ready to help, but then stopped as she was reminded of her powerlessness to help such a condition. Sera settled soon, and asked "Why don't... you take your hood off? I'll bet... y-you're burning up under that heavy fabric..." Rielle choked back a sob. Here was someone in this condition, barely clinging to life, and yet still worrying about someone else's discomfort... She never would've thought of taking her hood off ordinarily, but she couldn't stand to make someone like this worry about her. She pulled her hood off quickly, exposing her pointed ears. Sera glanced at them, watching them swivel away from her gaze and flatten. "Oh..." Rielle turned her head down, a tear forming in the corner of her eye... "You have... pretty ears..."

         Rielle blinked, staring at the mouse. It was the first time anyone had ever said something positive about what made her different. She wasn't quite sure how to take the compliment, and simply fell back on saying "Thanks." She grinned a bit, though her smile soon faded.

         The door creaked open, revealing the same nurse that had led Rielle to the room, who was suddenly pushed aside. A mouse-woman hybrid stormed into the room, her face contorting in shock at the sight of the laid-out Sera. "Ah!" Rushing towards the beaten mouse, she grumbled, soon turning to Rielle. "Who did this? Was it you!?" Rielle's face flushed, shocked at the accusation. She tried to speak, tried to clear her name, but was cut off before she could manage anything. "Those ears... damn one-fourth, come back to finish the job!?" Tears welled in the wolf-girl's eyes, as she turned her face away... when a weak voice interrupted.

         "S-she... didn't..." Both turned to Sera, her breathing more labored now. "She... got me here... it was... someone else..." The other mouse scoffed and looked away as the nurse came in, breathing heavily as though she had ran.

         "Excuse me, miss, I came to tell you that visiting hours are over. And," she continued, glaring at the intruding mouse as she tried to catch her breath, "I told you they were over when you got here. What exactly are you doing?" The mouse snorted and headed out, shooting one last venomous look at Rielle. The nurse sighed and followed suit, beckoning for Rielle to come. The wolf-girl rose somberly, watching Sera as she left, stopped one last time by her voice.

         "Nadine... doesn't mean to be so abrasive... she just gets protective when it comes to me is all..." Rielle sighed, giving a weak smile to the mouse.

         "Don't worry... I'm used to it."

         Rielle wandered somberly into the hall, following the sound of the nurse's heels more than the sight of her. Her mind was torn, still unsure of what to do now. She thought of what she would do once she left the hospital; she couldn't go back to the apartment she and Niki shared. Even if she could go unnoticed by the landlord, she knew she wouldn't be able to deal with the memories that tortured her with images of things that could no longer be. She thought of going back to living on the street... it wouldn't be so bad. It was Spring, anyway; she could probably survive the nights if she had warm clothing. Summer was always nice, and Fall... as for Winter, well... she could cross that bridge when she came to it.

         The girl's thoughts were interrupted as the nurse tapped her on the shoulder, seeing her in a trance. "Miss, if you'd like to come back tomorrow, visiting hours are the same. I'm sorry about what happened. Are you two close?" Rielle thought a moment, then shook her head.

         "We just met," she replied. The nurse seemed a bit confused, but not put off. Rielle quickly followed up with a question to break the awkwardness. "Is she going to be alright?" The nurse sighed and shook her head.

         "I don't know much about this kind of thing, or rather... I don't know what to expect. I'm not told anything about patients besides their room number and what they need, either. I'd like to say she'll be fine, but after seeing her..." She turned her head down, her eyes closed. "I suppose there's nothing wrong with praying, but if I were you, I'd pray for her to have a painless end. She's been hurt worse than anyone I've seen in all my years here, and most of the ones that came close were crippled for life, at least. Some even had their organs just suddenly fail." Rielle bit back a sob, as her eyes began to water. The nurse heard her, and looked ashamed of her comments. Placing a hand on the wolf-girl's shoulder, she tried to calm her down. "The important thing is that you're okay. You were pretty scuffed up when we found you too. To be honest, I'm surprised you got out of whatever happened unharmed as you were." Rielle let one tear go, doubly upset by the fact that someone cared for her as much as someone else who was more in need. She shook her head, her face turning puffy and red as a beet. The nurse sighed and gave the girl a quick professional hug, patting her on the back before pulling away. "Just worry about yourself for now. You did everything you could, I'm sure." She pulled out a tissue and handed it to Rielle before walking away down the hall. The wolf-girl sobbed, wiping her face with the tissue and blowing her nose.

         She managed to get her face under control quickly enough, her vision no longer obscured. She could see - oblivious to it before this - that she had ended up in the same lobby as she had been waiting in for hours before. Something was different though... no longer were there the familiar sounds and sights of neurotic habits. Nobody was chewing their nails, nobody tapping their feet, no knocking knees... instead, these were replaced by silence and a single inquisitive stare on the faces of everyone. Rielle felt she was being judged, scrutinized... then it dawned on her. A little wave of air rushed over her head. She hadn't put her hood back on, and what's worse, her ears were standing right up. She cursed herself and pulled her hood over her head, yanking the string to hide much of her face as she broke into a run, speeding through the door of the hospital.

         Rielle was met with the usual sounds of the city, as well as the usual sights, as she turned and bolted down the sidewalk. With her face hidden, she could barely see where she was going... and, sure enough, she slammed into something. It was a soft wall - certainly no building or vehicle, thankfully - but it still had enough mass to bounce her back, as she was sprawled out on the ground. The wolf-girl lay there for a moment, stunned, before pulling herself to sit up. In the same motion, she tried to stand, but she was suddenly forced down to a sit again. A strong hand dug into her shoulder as she let out a yelp, her whole arm feeling the shock. Looking up, the face of her attacker couldn't be made out, appearing black with the sun right behind the enigma... but the voice certainly could.

         "What's the hurry? Trying to get away from the evidence?"

         Rielle knew that voice, having heard it only moments before. It belonged to Nadine, without a doubt. The wolf-girl struggled, trying to get away, but was met with an even stronger squeeze on her shoulder, digging in and around, compressing her chest.

         "Listen, you," hissed Nadine. "These doctors are idiots. It's obvious you're behind this. Maybe they have to stick to their Hippocratic oath, maybe they have to inform the slow-as-hell proper authorities before anything can happen, but everyone can see you're guilty. Just know you're going to get yours, and it's going to be even worse than what you did to Sera." Growling fiercely, she took hold of Rielle's hood. "And don't try to pass yourself off as normal, you little bitch. You just insult all the regular people, trying to fit in." Tossing the hood back violently, Rielle's head was exposed, and with it her frightened face. She tried to pull away, and Nadine responded by pushing her chest hard, sprawling the wolf-girl flat on the sidewalk. As Rielle rose, Nadine snorted and spat, the liquid glob landing right in the girl's eye before the mouse turned away, fuming.

         Rielle took her hood and wiped the spit away, pulling it over her head again. She headed down the sidewalk the opposite way through a sea of people, none of whom would make eye contact with her. She turned into an alley, trying to get away... even in the middle of the day, this place was shrouded in darkness, like it hid here until the night overtook the world again and made it safe to come out. It was a filthy alley besides, all sorts of garbage strewn about; a receptacle for all of society's useless parts. The wolf-girl paced down the narrow path, burying herself in obscurity... phantoms of imaginary beasts haunted her, as though they might leap out of the inky black to devour her at any moment. Mirages of happy times appeared before her as well, but they danced away instead of looming closer. She chased after them, her feet slapping against the broken pavement, the light becoming dimmer and dimmer as she went, but they eluded her regardless of her efforts... perhaps more because of them. She stopped, her breathing inconsistent. Her face was covered in stinging tears. The neck and shoulders of her hoodie were soaked from sweat, making her body hotter and hotter... She pulled it off quickly, hating it; each drop built on the negative feeling against her, and it was the only thing she could help. Throwing it behind her, she kept on through the alley with no end in sight, her upper body now exposed to the haunting eyes. Her tail and ears were no longer kept hidden, instead kept upright and showing. The slap of her feet was soon replaced by crumbles and crashes; the pavement she'd walked on was gone, replaced by ruins of the aforementioned. Only dirt and forgotten objects lay back here. Rielle could guess at what she walked over by the sound... *tap* coin... *thunk* dirt mound... *crish* glass...

         She stopped, bending down, and felt around for a bit. Her fingers felt a twinge of pain, as a thick liquid weight ran along one. She didn't care; pain was something far behind where she was now, in this inky limbo. Taking up a thin, flat object, she squeezed it in her hand... the trickle came from multiple places now, feeling like it converged on the back of her hand. She didn't miss her guess. This was glass. She held it, thinking of this place... looking up into the sky, and seeing a dark strip of blue. Even the light seemed to be avoiding her. She had come very far down this alley, not knowing how far it stretched; she could hardly see a thin sliver of color at the end, occasionally disturbed by a passerby. This place... she thought that she'd wanted this place for some time now. A place out of the sun, the crowd. A place away from judging eyes, from those that would look at her as a freak. Here, all she had was herself and the products of her imagination. Even if she were to tire of being awake, she had no restriction here. Nobody would look down on her or for giving up, nor look at her with self-righteous malice if she did. She could simply take something sharp, like the glass, put it against her neck... with one sweep, all her problems could end. Niki wouldn't haunt her, Nadine wouldn't hurt her... she wouldn't have to endure the scorn anymore. Just one quick movement. It was all too easy. The option seemed more and more enticing to her by the minute. She already had a place devoid of contact with people... if she could remove her ability to feel, she could complete her paradise. Nobody would care, or indeed even find her in this place for a long time, maybe years. She poked the shard to her neck, gasping at the feel as it pierced her soft skin, a meager, thin trickle running down to her chest. She tilted her hand, angling the glass... taking a deep breath, she smiled as her escape would finally come to her...

         "You..." Rielle froze, a voice coming from the darkness. It was a weakened voice, one that sounded on the verge of tears... but had a strange acceptance in its tone, as though such hardly mattered. "You have... pretty ears." The wolf-girl shuddered, her hand dropping, the glass hitting the ground with a loud shatter. Nobody's eyes had found her in this place... but someone's will had. She was struck by images of Sera, laid up in her condition. The mouse was pained even by speaking, and yet she had showed such concern for the wolf... such concern for one who was ready to throw her own life away. Rielle sobbed, falling to her knees. She let out a loud wail as she held her chest, her heart aching for being so ready to spit in Sera's face like that. Such a selfish act... she couldn't go away yet. Still... she didn't feel drawn to the distant light just yet. Laying herself on the ground, guided purely by feel, she sat in the darkness... her eyes closed, even less light reaching the red pools.

******

         "Bitch..." A snarling mouse hybrid fumed, pounding her fist on a coffee table. Connected to her through said table, relaxing in a plush recliner, a slim mouse-man hybrid dressed in what could only be called the most casual of casual clothes - sweat pants and a muscle shirt fraying at every edge - turned from the large TV to stare at her.

         "What's the deal, Nadine? Someone step on your foot?" the more relaxed mouse inquired with a bit of a chuckle. Nadine snarled in response, a look of deepest rage in her eyes. The other mouse gulped, his eyes opening wide. He'd learned to fear her in this state.

         "I'll tell you what the deal is, Elmond; Sera's barely alive because of a goddamn one-fourth!" The mouse panted angrily, her breath ragged. "You should've seen, she was... I can't even say it, it's just... just...!" Nadine looked ready to burst, her eyes turning pink, her hands shaking violently. Elmond set his remote off to the side and rose, offering a hug to the enraged mouse. Nadine glared at him for a moment, then lurched forward and clasped her arms around him, letting out an audible sigh. "It's just..."

         "I know, I know. You haven't seen her for a long time, and when you finally do..." The mouse woman grumbled, scoffing. "There, there... she'll be alright. You know that better than anyone, right?"

         "I... I know she's strong, but... you didn't see... and then, that one-fourth!! She was there, in the room, looking at what she'd done, and...!" She pulled away, standing on her own, leaving Elmond with a quizzical look on his face.

         "Wait a minute... she was in the room?" Nadine bit her lip, nodding slowly. "Hm... I don't think that... I mean, if she did, that's really bad, but... Are you sure it was her who did it?"

         Nadine snapped. "Of course I'm sure! Who else could it be? All of their kind loves causing that kind of brutality! They're just overjoyed to cause pain and suffering, they... they..."

         "Hey now," interjected the other mouse, "I don't trust 'em either, but I don't think they're all murderous like that... especially not a she-"

         "Well then who else could've done it!?" Nadine glared again, this time with a different, sharper kind of anger. Her fists clenched, and she winced as her nails dug into her palm, her fleshy tail twitching sharply. Elmond shrugged, knowing there wasn't much he could say without making the situation worse.

         "I don't know..." Elmond sighed, shaking his head. "I don't believe anyone could be so... evil as to do something like that and come back to taunt her after, but... well, I don't really have a better answer." Throwing his hands up in the air, he headed toward the door. "I'm going out for some air. Want me to pick up something for you?" Nadine shook her head. "Alright... don't get too upset, okay?" He managed a weak smile as he turned and headed out, shutting the door behind him.

         Nadine flopped in the chair Elmond had been sitting in, and sighed... the images of Sera still haunted her, as she growled lowly to the world. "...Bitch."

******

         Rielle awoke to pitch black. Almost, anyway. She looked around, and saw that she was still in the alley... although, something was different now. She could see the alley itself. Looking down at her hands, the dried blackened streaks reaffirmed the events just past. Her chest, now clad only in a simple bra, bore the same river of dark crimson, a small stain having pooled in the fabric. Yet... she was unsure just how she could see this. A quick glance skyward let her know; the moon, full again for this night, had positioned itself directly above her, shining into the black crevice that kept her secret. She idly thought that it had, in a way, come searching for her... ignoring the fact that she was in no mood for visitors.

         The wolf-girl headed out from the alley, each step echoing off the cement walls. The moon seemed to follow her, always staying right overhead. The memory of the last day bounced around the edges of her mind, but she was in no mood to think about that now. She was finally rested after her long day; she needed to use her energy to find her future. There were no jobs for a one-fourth, and probably nowhere to stay... she could maybe use the alley for a while, but even it wasn't hidden forever, it seemed. As for food... if it came right down to it, she might have to eat her ears and tail. She chuckled in spite of herself, thinking how convenient it would be... Shrugging, she stepped out into the world once more, and shivered a bit as a slight breeze blew past. It was chilly, certainly, but not so bad that she was freezing... not warm, either. Her stomach gurgled loudly, as she realized she hadn't had anything to eat since the day before. She patted her pockets, checking to see if she was lucky enough... alas, to no avail. She hadn't remembered her wallet in her rush to get dressed, not that she could count on being served anyway.

         As Rielle looked about, she saw no cars, no people, no activity of any kind. As she walked down the sidewalk, she lamented the fact that she couldn't tell time by the moon like the sun, but she didn't need such a skill to know it was probably very late, likely the wee hours of the morning. She thought for a moment, wondering what she should do next... she couldn't go back to the apartment, since... well, why was obvious. She didn't know any other places besides the alley, and it didn't have much in the way of sustenance. She looked around, wondering if she could spot some kind of safe haven...

         Her eyes were assaulted by light, as she turned away. She'd been in darkness too long; her head ached with the intrusion. Looking towards the source, her eyes adjusted to see a single woman behind a desk, dressed in uniform. The walls that surrounded her looked familiar... the chairs that framed the walls, the paleness of the light. She'd ended up back at the hospital in her wandering. It must've been some kind of fate that she'd come here, the one place that had accepted her in its own tiny way. With nothing left for it, she headed inside.

         Pushing open the door, Rielle approached the desk, looking around warily through the empty room. Her eyes fell to the nurse, a different one from before. "H-hello..."

         The nurse's eyes opened wide, as she wheeled her chair back to show her massive frame, probably no less than 250 pounds. Breathing hard, she screamed "D-don't hurt me!" Rielle grimaced, her ears flattening. "I'm not in charge of the money, I swear!"

         The wolven one-fourth grumbled, but soon realized her pressing needs as her stomach did the same, and had no choice but to persevere. "I'm not here to hurt you, I promise. I just need you to do something for me."

         "A-anything! Just please, spare my... my... haaa..." the fat nurse huffed, her face growing red. reaching into her purse, she pulled out a small puffer and inhaled with it. "Please spare... *tweee* spare me!"

         Rielle didn't care much for the reaction, but she had no time to be picky. "Listen, please... I'm starving. I haven't eaten in forever. I just need some food. Anything you might have here... Please? I'm afraid I might pass out otherwise, and I've never been able to be served at any restaurant, not that they're open..."

         The nurse calmed down somewhat, her face resuming a shade closer to what she started as. "Well... there's... nothing here for a one-... there's nothing here. All the food is for the patients, and... well, I can't..."

         Rielle nodded, as her stomach growled loudly again. She was certain the nurse heard it, as her cheeks pinkened with embarrassment. Thinking she wasn't in a great position to get at the mentioned food, she shrugged and turned away, heading for the door...

         "What's going on out here? What's all the yelling for?" Rielle turned back towards the source of the voice, and saw the same nurse that had guided her during the day. "Ah, you're... good, I was hoping you might come in. You didn't leave a number we could call you at." The nurse briskly stepped behind the desk and opened and closed a few drawers, shuffling papers and folders about. "It's about Sera, miss..." she pointed at the girl, tilting her head.

         "Ah... Rielle."

         "Good to meet you Rielle, I'm Carol. Now... mm? Are you alright?" The nurse tilted her head, looking at Rielle's bloody spots.

         “O-oh, I'm fine, just an... accident, is all,” the wolf-girl replied, covering the wound on her neck with her hand. Carol shrugged, turning back to the desk.

         “I swear, you get yourself scratched up more than...” Pulling out a few papers, she scribbled some notes on them and stuffed them back in the drawer. "Jane, take care of... oh, all that." The large nurse nodded, leafing through the pages. Carol turned back up to Rielle and continued. "We're trying to move Sera to a bigger hospital. We can't care for an injury of this... magnitude, and she's getting weaker by the second. I'll just say this frankly: We're not sure if she'll survive long enough to be moved." Sighing, the nurse looked at her watch. "If you'd like, I can let you see her. You'll have to be quick, of course."

         Rielle wore a look of melancholy. She'd never heard of this person before yesterday, and now her future was uncertain, and she may've been about to die. She knew she should be in tears, but something just wasn't right... it had moved too fast, perhaps, or maybe she was in shock. Regardless, she nodded, following as the nurse ducked down the hall. Following dutifully, she focused on the nurse, the walls passing by swiftly. A turn, then another, and another... she paid no attention, thinking only on her destination.

         As the last corner was rounded, Carol took a few more steps before turning and gingerly opening a door. Inside, the same mouse lay there, with her same wounds, her same air mask, her same beeping machines. Rielle stepped forward past the nurse, looking down on the mouse woman. Her heart skipped a beat, once more seeing the damage that had been done. Seating herself at the mouse's side, she watched as the red-stained head tilted toward her, the glimmer beneath squinted eyes piercing through her. "H-hello, Sera."

         The mouse struggled to breathe even with her mask, but she did manage her weak voice through it. "Hi... hi there..."

         A hand fell to Rielle's shoulder. As her own hand rose to meet it, she saw that it was Carol's. "Alright," said the nurse, "I'm off for now, I have things that need doing all around this place. There's only four of us here in all to keep everything running." As she headed out, she pointed to a button near the bed. "If you need anything, just give one of us a buzz with that." Turning away, she headed off down the hall, the sound of her heels quickly fading.

         Rielle looked over the mouse, wondering how she could bear her situation. "Are you... how're you doing?"

         Sera sighed a weak, squeaky sigh. "I'm alright... I've... gotten used to the pain, I think... I'm just so tired. They won't tell me anything... and they're... all over the place..."

         Rielle wrapped her tail around her waist, leaning forward. "They said... they said they were going to move you... to a bigger hospital. One that can take care of you better." She poked her fingers together idly, struggling to speak. "They said you'll... you'll probably..." Scratching her head and brushing her fingers against her eyelids, she took a deep breath. "They said you'll probably be okay."

         The mouse let out an audible weak breath, her body seeming to collapse into itself. "Thank you..." Turning her head slightly towards the wolf-girl, she forced herself to breathe. "Are you tired? You can... rest here if you like. I won't tell..." Shifting uncomfortably, Rielle winced at the offer.

         "N-no thanks, rest won't do me any good... but, if you need to sleep, I can watch..." she glanced at the various equipment the mouse was connected to, trying to get some idea what it was all for, "...all this for you."

         "Ah... bless you. I haven't slept in... I don't know..." The mouse's eyes slowly closed, seemingly careful not to move too sharply. Her breathing seemed to become less labored, as her body fell into slumber.

         Rielle sighed, looking over the battered mouse. She still couldn't believe that Niki could've done such a thing, though her shock was not as great as before. She was no longer so set on the wolf, instead being more centered in the present. Regardless of how it had happened or who was responsible, the fact that there was a being before her with an uncertain future was enough to distract her from such things.

         Time passed, as the wolf-girl tiptoed through the hospital room. She couldn't find much to distract herself. Aside from Sera, the incomprehensible mess of machines, a window with closed venetian blinds, and a monochrome, sterile clock on the wall, the room was basically very plain. The walls were spotless; one got the sense that they were floating in space when they looked at the more bare areas. Every so often, the machines would change their pace somewhat, beeping a little faster or slower, flashing a little brighter or dimmer. The numbers displayed meant nothing to Rielle, and she couldn't begin to put all of them together. A number of times, she wondered if the nurse was going to come back for her, or if she had forgotten... and, for that matter, what was happening that kept her away. For being ready to move the mouse, they certainly were taking their time. Each time Sera breathed, she seemed to inhale less, despite her machinated assistants. Rielle couldn't figure whether this was a good or bad thing, but considering the mouse's declining condition, it seemed more likely to be the latter.

         Humming to herself, Rielle thought about what she might do... Sera was the main priority, of course, but she couldn't stay at the hospital every night. As her stomach let out a low rumble, she knew she couldn't go much longer before she'd collapse. It didn't seem like this place had a cafeteria, and there was no leftover food around. She quickly changed her focus to the clock, trying to blot out the feeling... and did a double-take. She knew it was probably late by now, but 4:40 AM? Rielle sniffed, just now noticing her nose was running... thinking back, this was around the time that everything had happened. Was it inappropriate to observe a 24-hour anniversary? She pondered... it probably wasn't something to celebrate, in any case.

         Rielle's thoughts were interrupted by a soft sound... a crispy scratching sound, like a cat pawing at a door. She listened intently, trying to find the source... it would stop every few seconds, only to continue again soon after, each time successively louder. Her heart began to beat faster, as she made a fist on her knee, waiting to see what it could be... or, hopefully, avoid it entirely. Each scratch came a bit closer, penetrating her being a bit more. The sound itself was small, but her entire body focused solely on it, each tiny vibration shaking her. She heard the sound of sliding, the window the source... no doubt, as the blinds moved, someone or something had opened the window. As the blinds bulged outward, Rielle contracted, folding into herself, helpless to watch as a black runner protruded under, then a jeaned leg to follow... As another came down, they both touched ground, as grey flashed out the side of the obstruction. In a voice Rielle could swear she knew, the owner of these grumbled loudly in the window.

         "Damn thing... better be the right room after all this." As the jeans shifted left, the rest of the body came into view. Any doubt that Rielle may have had was cleared from her mind, as she saw that same grey jacket, that same black shirt, that same orange hair... and the strange, beguiling eyes that, try as she might, she could not predict. This was he who had at once set her free and trapped her in her own prison, who had taken her vengeance despite not seeking it. The man blinked, glancing at Sera, at Rielle, then back to Sera. "...Huh. That's handy." He nonchalantly strolled over to the two, glancing at the wolf-girl before looking over the beaten mouse. Rielle sat by her side, not moving at all, instead silently watching. She didn't want to set him off in any way, particularly because she had no idea what he could do... and more, she didn't trust him to do as he pleased.

         "W-what are you doing here? And..." she said, standing up slowly, "for that matter, what's your name?"

         The stranger turned to her with no clear emotion in his face... at least as far as she could see. "I came here to finish. Why?"

         Rielle thought for a split-second, but realized what the stranger meant. "Wait... by finish, you mean...? You're not going to..." Stretching her arm out between him and Sera, she glared at him. "You can't! Look at her, she's-"

         "Jeez, I thought you'd have more brains than that,” he groaned, tilting his head to one side as he winced in exasperation. “I can see her just fine." The stranger brushed his fingers through his hair, the outline of one pointed, fuzzy ear visible just for a flash. "She's right about to go. I've seen this kind of result once or twice before." Brushing the wolf-girl's hand aside, he bent down to inspect the mouse closer. "Her body's beyond repair. Soon the pain will be too much, and she'll... well, it'll feel worse than three heart attacks at once, I can say that much." He cupped his hand around her cheek, as she winced and mumbled weakly in her sleep. "Whoever that was that did this sure must've known something about torture. Sadistic, too... I've only ever witnessed an actual beating from someone with this many issues once, and that was... hell, how many years now... sixty, seventy..."

         Rielle gulped, feeling more off balance than scared... "B-but... can't you... wait, what? Seventy? But you, you look so..."

         The man sighed, shrugging. "Not important. I'll leave you alone if you get out of the way," he said, reaching for Sera's mask. "Friggin' thing... how do they get this on here..." he grumbled, as he fumbled with the accessory. Rielle twitched, gripping his wrist tightly and yanking, trying to get him away. "Argh, leggo!" Her field of vision was quickly flooded with grey, as a blunt pressure connected with her face. Sent sprawling backward, she tried her best to get up... though she couldn't manage much in her state, her arms giving out as her stomach rumbled. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself up with borrowed strength, stumbling back toward the stranger. Her vision faded in and out, as the rest of her senses followed suit... though she could, through it all, hear a piercing beep of a machine. One had failed, perhaps, or... gaining a brief flash of sight, she could see he'd removed Sera's mask, before everything faded into a dizzy haze again. She fumbled forward, reaching her hand out to anything, feeling the rough fabric of the grey jacket on her palm.

         "Please... just... leave her... get out, and..." She could just barely make out the detail of his face, as those eyes seemed to reach her even in this state.

         An audible sigh was heard. "I told you, if we leave her, she's just going to to die painfully. Is that what you want?"

         "They said... she'd... bigger hospital..."

         "Ha... for a one-fourth, you're not too smart. How long ago did they tell you that?" Rielle could feel herself lowering, as she was set down on the bed by the stranger, this time less forcefully. "I said she's beyond repair, and I mean it. It doesn't matter how big the hospital is. Nothing can fix this." As he drew away, Rielle fell back, a foot or two from Sera's feet. "Now just lay there... I promise I won't hurt her, alright?"

         As Rielle lay on the bed, her body fell inert, her limbs losing function. Her senses returned, though she felt far away... she was hot, but not sweating. Could it have been dehydration? No matter now, as she focused on her vision, watching the stranger. As he threw off his jacket, the orange tail that had made its appearance before resurfaced. The ears on top of his head stood straight up, flicking a bit as he sat beside the mouse. The wolf-girl grimaced, wanting with every fiber of her being to stop him... simultaneously knowing she couldn't do anything for Sera. If only there was a bit more time, she thought, she could figure some method... some way to help the mouse. She bit her lip, silently cursing herself. She could do nothing.

         The fox-man placed his hand on the mouse's chest, shaking his head. Without a word, he flicked his large tail toward her, resting it on her neck. Pulling the blanket that covered the mouse off, he glanced over the rest of her battered body. His face stiffened, as he paused... giving his head a shake, he flicked his white tail-tip down to her feet, tickling her toes momentarily before pressing against her soles. The mouse didn't stir, whether because she couldn't or wouldn't a mystery. The two held their position for a moment, the air still... soon interrupted by a sound that seemed out of place. A sound that resembled the sucking noise made when one tries to keep a cup attached to their mouth using only their lungs. It started quiet, like a cup scale to an insect... but that cup soon grew, as the sound became more obvious, more distinct. The fuzz of the fox-man's tail had swelled, it seemed.. or, on a closer look, the tail itself had swelled as it had engulfed Sera's feet. A makeshift mouth had opened at the end of the tail, though one that bore no teeth. One could hardly make out a fleshy ring wrapping itself around the mouse's ankles, as the tail gingerly snaked its way up her body, taking care not to go too fast. The fox wore a look of utmost concentration, a bead of sweat rolling down his face. His tail engulfed her knees, slowly working on her thighs, as that one bead became many. Despite what one might think, the tail was not at all tight or constricting on the mouse's body; it slid easily over her, not disturbing her wounds. Such was the source of the man's stress, that he held it so open for the purpose. As the appendage worked its way past the mouse's hips, it seemed that there would be no problem... until she began to stir.

         BREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE~

         One of the many machines attached to her went off at once, as the fox-man let out a blast of air from his lungs in surprise, panting heavily. The mouse seemed pained, shifting herself more and more.

         BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~

         Another followed, resonating with the first to create a piercing tone. The fox looked over the machines, but couldn't make heads nor tails of them.

         EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE~

         “Arrgh, shut up!” The man rapped on the enigmatic machines with both hands, trying to manage something. Alas, no luck, as others were set off as well. Suddenly, he jumped, feeling a sharp pain from behind. The mouse had awoken... no, she seemed to be still unconscious, but her body was thrashing rapidly. Her claws, tiny as they were, slashed at his tail, her legs kicking at the interior. “Agh... goddamn thing!” Turning his attention back to her, he threw caution to the wind and grunted, pulling her into his tail at a much quicker pace. Her torso slid in, followed by her chest. He gasped, taking a deep breath, his face turning red as he tried for the last of her.

         “W-what's going on in here!?” The fox was interrupted by a sharp voice, letting his breath go and stopping the mouse's descent. Whirling around, he turned to face the intruder with wide eyes. It was a nurse, wearing eyes wider than his and a name tag that read 'Carol'. She glanced at him, then the inert Rielle, then back to him. “What are you doing with them? Just what the hell are you!?” The fox dismissed her with a wave of his hand, and took another deep breath, pulling the mouse into his tail even deeper, faster than before. Her head disappeared quickly, as her arms slid out of view like noodles. “Hey!” the nurse screamed, rushing at him. She was too late already; the mouse was all but gone from sight now, as her hands popped into the tail, sealing it shut with a 'schlorp'. The fox-man threw out his palm, connecting with the chest of the nurse, sending her back sprawled onto the floor.

         “You don't have to worry about these two anymore. This one,” he said, pointing to his wriggling, bulging tail, “is going to be set free from hell. And the other,” he mumbled, taking the few steps to close the gap between him and the paralyzed wolf-girl, “is dessert.” The nurse struggled to her feet, screaming.

         “No! You can't take them, you can't...!” She rushed at him again, this time drawing a pen from her pocket. Her run was uncoordinated, sloppy, and had much flailing to it, but she had no sanity left in her eyes; no restraint. She lunged forward, thrusting the pen toward the fox, aiming straight for his heart... He saw her coming, he knew what she was after. Yet he didn't move, as the writing utensil buried itself in his ribcage.

         His black shirt became even darker, as a trickle of life poured from the wound. The two stood in silence. The wriggles of the tail, the blare of the machines, all of that seemed miles away. The nurse looked into the fox-man's eyes, and shuddered, seeing nothing.

         “You can't do anything to me.” He stepped back, letting the death-gripped pen slide out. A small burst of red fluid dribbled down his chest, soon slowing... stopping. “Guns, slings, arrows or pens. None of those have as much power as one's own greed.” The fox stepped over to Rielle, picking her up in one arm, carrying her limp body toward the window. The bulges in his tail proceeded downward, as a similar 'schlorp' from before could be heard, his abdominal region ballooning out. He patted his swelled belly as it started to gurgle, slowly shrinking. “You can stab me all you want, but I warn you,” he mused, carrying his prize over to the window as his belly shrunk yet more, as though in a rush, “I'm already in hell.” His lips curled in a pained, dry smile, as he yanked the blinds off the window and threw them aside as he hopped out, soon disappearing in the dim red light of the early morning. Carol fell to her knees, dropping the blood-soaked pen. The screech of machines she trusted had never felt louder.

End Chapter Two.