21 Days

XVI: Home

                They were back home and the atmosphere have turned more depressing than the usual.

                Hiro was seen locking himself in Jing’s space. The more he looked at it, the more he realized that the person he liked was gone like that. Her handwriting was everywhere and as if she was there, Hiro can still smell the scent of Jing lingering in the air. He had opened the room’s windows and the cold breeze of the subtle rainy day came through. The weather was sympathizing and Hiro suddenly hates it that he slams the windows shut and went out of the room, filled with anguish.

                Ava on the other hand was staring blankly at the shared room that was used by Jing and Aiki. They were her new family, they became friends in a short while but now, both of them were gone. Even in the basement, where Sky mostly used his time doing his own research, it was strangely quiet. Ever so often, they would hear Sky yell because Aiki or Hiro would be caught sneaking but that day’s silence was so deafening.

                Seven was in his room, an IV connected onto his arm as to lessen the effect of the strange poison and sure enough, he was slowly coming back. His fever was starting to subside and his breathing has become more stable than it was the time they arrived home. Hiro didn’t blink any sleep as he too was worried that they would lose Seven. Their encounter with Shelly was the worst and for him, she brought them tragedy.

                Although tired, he wasn’t able to blink any sleep as the last memory of Sky telling him to run keeps replaying inside his mind. The thought that if they never met Shelly crossed his mind, imaging the possible what ifs. If that happened, maybe Aiki and Sky would still be alive and that they were coming back home with them.

                Nicky was watching Seven. He still doesn’t understand the situation but he could sense the heavy aura each of them emits when they went back home. He just saw Seven this morning, on the verge of dying and that time, he suddenly felt scared. Most of the time, he argues with Seven but even the thought of losing him terrified him. Because of that, he wasn’t leaving the room where Seven was. Jean and Sunny would pop every now and then, bringing stuffs for the both of them and even staying for a while to look after Seven. He was still unconscious.

                Ethan was seen spending his free time at the backyard. He was shooting arrows in one tree. He has so many questions he wanted to ask. He thought that having that skill was worthless in a situation he wasn’t able to see. He thought that maybe if he was there and that if he walked faster then he could stand back up towards the others but now, his regrets has been crawling up onto him since that dawn, when they arrived at the manor without Aiki nor Sky.

                Jay, although trying to compose himself was just as miserable as the others. Jake even saw him smoking in secret outside. Jake walked near him as he patted Jay’s back, Jay was embarrassed to be caught smoking. Although he was not a fan of it, sometimes he had to, as to calm his nerves as being in a situation you want to get emotional but can’t overwhelms him.

                He was sitting on a bench located in front of the fountain that stood on the left of the manor. He quickly tossed the cigar aside but it was too late as Jake already seen it.

                Jake sat next to him after heaving a sigh.

                “You too huh?” Jake said and Jay looked at him.

                “Of course. Who wouldn’t?” Jay admitted.

                “I don’t really understand what I’m supposed to feel in this situation.” Jake chuckled. “One by one, people are disappearing due to this virus. I realized that life is really short.”

                “You still don’t get it. You didn’t see someone you’re close with die in front of you. To those people, those two were more than a colleague. They spent more time with them compared to us that’s why the impact is really something different.” Jay pointed out.

                “I guess you’re right. Till now, I still believe that my parents are somewhere out there. This hope is what’s making me strive to survive. Don’t you think I’m selfish?” Jake asked him.

                “No. If that’s the case then every one of us is selfish.” Jay answered.

                “What are you guys doing here?” Ethan asked them as he appeared from where he had been practicing his arrows.

                “Just letting the time pass by.” Jake said.

                “Let me sit with you.” Ethan said and Jake had to force himself to stay closer with Jay in the process.

                Ethan put his arrows and bow aside and sit with the two, just looking at the now inactive fountain, filling with moss and nothing.

                “I feel heavy.” Ethan admitted.

                “That’s because you didn’t sleep.” Jay said.

                “Same goes with you two. You think I didn’t see how much cigar have you lighted that night? The smell was everywhere in the room. “Where did you even get those?”

                “From Sky’s bag.” Jay said and the two fell silent. “I stole it before we leave because he annoys me and now I feel like it’s my responsibility to consume it.”

                He said this then pulled out a half pack cigar. Jake stole it from his hand and kept it in his pocket.

                “Hey that’s mine.” Jay said.

                “I guess not more.” Jake said. He then stood up and walked away from them.

                “You think he’s planning to use it?” Jay asked Ethan.

                “Nah… It’s Jake after all.” Ethan grinned and followed Jake as well inside.

                It was in the afternoon when Seven finally woke up. He wondered how it was so comfortable and homey. The feeling underneath his fingertips was warm and really soft. His gaze remained unfocused but he could distinguish things from a blur. The first face he met was that of Nicky’s. He also heard footsteps thundering in the room.

                Hiro was next and he started flashing this flashlight onto Seven’s eyes.

                “He’s conscious.” Hiro mumbled.

                Ava and Nicky was the only one in the room. The others were outside; listening to what was happening but Seven doesn’t know how much appreciation he was having for just being awake. He might feel too happy for being appreciated that much that he may cry when he found out.

                “He’s still not in a good shape but he’s slowly getting better.” Hiro informed Ava. “What hit him I think is this tranquilizers’ bullet that those group have been using. It cause paralysis to the subject and for the undead, the effect was immediate.”

                “I’m relieved.” Ava said. “I hope you recover soon.”

                She said this to Seven after rubbing his arm. She went out later with Hiro for some discussion about his research and the other guys went thundering the room after finding out that Seven was already conscious.

                “Is he responsive?” Sunny asked first.

                “What happened to him? What poison is it?” Jean asked.

                All of these questions were thrown to Nicky who only gave them a frown as an answer. He doesn’t understand things well but all he know was the fact that Seven was poisoned and had paralysis so that’s what he have told as answers to both Sunny and Jean’s poison.

                “It’s like a movie.” Jean said excitedly and Ethan was a bit disappointed.

                “No. It’s not fun Jean. You should wipe the happy face now.” Ethan hissed.

                “Sorry.” Jean quickly apologized.

                They were now inside Seven and Nicky’s room.  There was a double bed and Seven used to occupy the upper bank but now, he was occupying the lower ones owned by Nicky. The room was spacious enough to have two small couches, a fire place and a soft cushion benched put next to the wall. Every room has those. On the small table between the two couches was some lemonade and biscuits of random.

                “It’s such a sad weather.” Jean suddenly said. “Who would’ve thought that that would be the last day I get to spend with Aiki? She’s a cool person. I always thought she was scary but she’s not.”

                “She also gave us energy bars.” Sunny claimed.

                “Your memory of her sucks.” Nicky said from the same seat he has been seating, next to Seven’s bed and just watching him. “She taught us much stuff and though she’s always mean, she also sneaked more chocolate bars for me and Seven. She’s like an old sister. I still believe she’ll return like what happened to Hiro.”

                “We could only hope.” Jay said but despite the hopeful face Nicky wore, the rest who was there knows that there will be no way for Aiki to come back alive.

                “Those people use two kinds of guns.” Ethan suddenly said. “One is an arm alight and the other, the one with the tranquilizers. They mostly use the one with tranquilizers as it makes less sound.”

                “Ah shut it will you?” Jay threw the words towards Ethan. “Stop spreading the negative vibes.”

                “Sure…” Ethan surrendered and he didn’t say anything anymore.

                Then awkward silence fell in the room.

                It was only broken down when Seven suddenly spoke up.

                “You’re the one who started the negative vibe, Jay.” Seven said and all eyes found him. He was still closing his eyes as his vision was still swirling but his right hand was raised up with the thumbs up, it was the same gesture he gave when he was asked if things were fine on his end and sure enough, it was better.

                “Seven!” Nicky called out to him. Jake hopped onto his feet and looked towards Seven who, luckily was still alive. The others crowded as well and Seven began complaining.

                “Stop crowding near me, it’s disgusting.” He said nastily and the others’ reaction was to laugh. Since he was back with his nasty remarks, it means that he was getting better, at least for now.

--

                When Seven had fully recovered after a week of being bed ridden, it was obvious on his face that he was not happy to be limping around as the side effect of the drug towards him permanently limping on his left leg. It became paralyzed completely and at first, he was really depressed about it. He can’t go around without using a cane to help his walking and it took him some time to adjust to the changes that have happened in his body.

                He was supposed to be really negative about it but for some reasons, Seven was more appreciative. He was even thankful that the only effect he has was the limp and not completely losing both leg because of the poison.

                “Maybe because it was a graze, a rather large one though.” He said towards Nicky who was seen helping Seven wash the plates. Earlier, he saw Seven doing them but seeing his situation, Nicky volunteered to help him.

                He has been quiet all the time Seven was talking. He was repressing his thoughts.

                “Nicky? You good?” Seven asked and Nicky looked at him and only nodded.

                “I’m feel guilty.” Nicky answered. “I don’t know why but I think it is my responsibility to keep you alive. Nina’s gone and if you too will be gone, I guess I will join you guys.”

                Nicky said this while sniffling; he has been repressing his tears that were on the verge of falling. He misses Nina so much and seeing Seven arrive home, half-dead tortured him. Likewise, what he expressed was a mere blank emotion. He doesn’t want to be weak in front of people.

                Seven smiled and ruffled Nicky’s hair with his wet hand.

                “Hey!” Nicky complained.

                “You don’t do that Nicky. There is more to life.”

                “Coming from a suicidal jerk like you.” Nicky cussed and the two of them laughed. Even if Seven presents himself as a strong individual, Nicky knows best how he was suffering in secret. Even before going out there to stay with Sky, he had seen Seven cry in his sleep countless of times. He could hear his murmurs and how he was cursing onto people. He kept having dreams about his school and considering his different persona now, he thinks he knows how to fight back now.

                “Ah. Now that I think about it, have you seen Jake go somewhere? I need to have a talk with him.” Seven said.

                “What for?” Nicky frowned.

                “Just going to thank him for stuffs he helped me with. I feel indebted.” Seven admitted.

                “But how will you pay him? You don’t have money.” Nicky said and Seven only chuckled.