IV: Desesperación ("Imogen")
Lightning struck him multiple times as his body jerked aggressively, his breathing had become ragged and the air in his lungs was getting thinner and thinner. His eyes seemed to well up with tears as he gritted his teeth not letting out a single yelp, just groans.
"You're doing a good job, Yi Qingyan, you can do it. I know you're strong, you seem to have been through much so I know you'll be able to take this on." I whispered, I bit my sleeve and ripped it, it made my gum bleed a bit from the force, however I still wrapped it around his mouth to let the 'vel' stay inside his body.
Vel is the power force inside your body, it's spiritual. It maintains your body in a dormant state if you're the 90% of the population that doesn't acquire 'Artes' in their whole lifetime. The other 10% of mankind have managed to acquire and awaken their Artes, which is a more physical demonstration of Vel. For many it's difficult to obtain, but for him who's almost literally felt a near life-death experience it was a more abrupt awakening.
I've investigated his family just a little bit to make sure none of his parents or siblings work for Imogen's dad. I would've noticed nevertheless if he had acted strange or out of place. I'm assuming the doctor knew this considering he has no injuries anymore, his paper also says he'll be here for 2 months. I bit my lip roughly until it bled wiping it with my index finger, I quickly removed the cloth from his mouth and gulped.
"I'm really sorry for what I'm about to do. Even I do not know if what I am doing is right, but I want you to know you can kill me after Imogen is safe and sound." I hesitated for a bit until I swiped my finger across his lips and it slowly seeped into his mouth. He mashed his teeth together, I could almost hear the inaudible screeching, but he was still just groaning.
...
"Hmm...I see." He was heaving and he began to sweat profusely, I knew the pain. Your heart feels like it's being ripped to shreds inside your own chest. Your organs get shredded inside of you and your stomach tears itself apart only to rebuild itself into an entirely different thing, the thin layer over the eye also gets ripped and reconstructed by the 'vel'.
"It'll be over soon before you know it," I said as I tried to soothe him, knowing it would really be to no avail but still tried nonetheless. I bit my lip anxiously and reached out for Imogen's hand while Qingyan laid on my thighs, the air that he breathed everyday seemed to suffocate him now. Who knew that with just a light touch he would be awakened.
"Ay...Chihuahua, no te salve la vida para que te murieras..." I hissed in a desperate attempt to make him wake up, perhaps he wouldn't understand me, or maybe he won't hear me. Anxiety clawed cruelly at my heart as I watched him grit his teeth until one of them fell, his hands reached out for anything at all to relieve his pain. He looked like a helpless dog wandering on the streets of starvation- it was a simple call for help.
I remember feeling this way too. Being so desperate I mean. It was something I didn't quite understand when I saw other people do it shamelessly but now I understand it. I mustered up all the courage and determination I had left and let go of Imogen's hand to grab a hold of his.
"I know I'm overstepping my bounds, but I wanna be friends." I smiled as I placed his hand in my own and he began to smash his nails into my the back of my hand ruthlessly, I pursed my lips slightly and looked away for a second to look back at him as he struggled to keep in his screams.
No one had walked into the hospital room or even heard all the noises, everyone was going on about their day as usual. If anyone ever found out, the government will try to either imprison them or use them. Lots of "heroes" are like that. They would rather get used and use the government in return.
It's smart until it throws you into a large amount of debt.
"I..." I heard a small yet deep voice start to speak again, it was his. He looked up at me and saw my expression. I'm not sure what expression it was that I had but he seemed shocked and tried to get up again.
"You can't. Stay still for a bit. All your muscles have been reformed slightly due to your immense amount of Vel outburst just now. I'll help you to your bed," I say leaving him still in a state of shock, "How...do you know?" His voice was strained almost as if he'd been shouting the whole time, for some reason it made my heart skip a beat for a bit.
You're crazy for thinking that, you idiot. Focus. I shook my head with a bright smile on my face, "Don't worry I'm not a snitch," I giggled as I placed his arms around my neck, he seemed to be lost in a trance and didn't notice until I got up and he started to look at me in horror.
"Wh-what are you doing?! This..! Th-this isn't right! Put me down!" He tried shouting but his voice cracked midway and he began to flail his arms desperately, I started to slowly lose my balance and almost dropped him.
"W-wait! Don't do that! you might-"
THUMP!
The guy fell to his knees and looked up at me with the reddest face I'd ever seen in my whole 19 years of existence. Delicate tears welled up in his eyes as he looked up at me and wiped them away and started speaking with the weakest and most regretful voice ever, "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to..." I turned stiff and a rose pink colored my cheeks slightly as I blinked it away, reaching out my hand to the weeping boy.
"Be…more careful next time." I smile wryly, though it really wasn't my intention to make it out like that.
"O-okay." He nodded bashfully as he took my hand and still kept his gaze away from mine. He seemed rather…anxious.
He keeps twiddling with his fingers and he avoids eye contact. He seems like an anxious person, these types of people tend to be unpredictable when you least expect it… I grab his phone from the floor and hand it to him.
"So…was everything ok in there?" I worriedly picked him up in one fell scoop and placed him on the bed.
He looked me in the eye and then averted his gaze, "Was I supposed to see something?" He asked deflecting my question with another.
Well isn't he quite smart. I chuckled and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Usually people see their worst nightmares, or so I've been told by those that do awaken."
"Oh. Has that happened to you before?" He asked out of curiosity, I could feel his eyes on me despite not being able to see them properly because of his broken round glasses. He looked like the definition of a nerd- Probably is one too.
"Hmm well you never know," I smiled pretending to be deep in thought, but some things are better left off unknown. "I've been meaning to ask," I began to have doubts, to free those doubts you must test one's trustworthiness, "Why are you staying in this hospital? Were you perhaps injured?" I looked at him with a worried expression on my face, I didn't know. Whether this guy was a friend or a foe.
I don't trust fiends.
His own brown orbs met my own black ones, his stared into mine for a while in silence until he let out a sigh.
Jeez that scared me…
"I almost died when I threw myself off my school building. I was fed up with those pieces of sh*t that I could care less about myself as well so I decided to off myself, is that a good explanation?" He raised an eyebrow, he was quite a difficult personality to understand.
He's shy one moment and fearless the next. Is he not afraid I'll end up turning him in with the government or what? I chuckled to myself and nodded.
"That was good," I said as I noticed him gulping, I raised an eyebrow at his response and gave him a wry smile.
He's quite interesting.
"You probably shouldn't be showing off this power to anyone, well not unless the population of people with powers increases." I laughed lightly until I heard shouts and screams from outside.
I jinxed it didn't I? Hah…I let out a heavy sigh
"It seems there was an accident." Qingyan replied in response to my sigh, he's quite witty.
"I'm going to the bathroom." I said as I got up and started to head out until I felt a tug at my sleeve.
"Why are you leaving? Especially right now, as soon as you heard that there was ruckus outside you sighed and apart from that you reacted quite strangely." He looked at me in all seriousness, I was in complete shock, I thought I had maintained a smile through the whole thing. Did I frown unconsciously? Was it my gaze? No it can't be. I didn't even flinch. I guess I was right not to underestimate him. "Why are you laughing?"
"I'm happy can't you tell?"
He shuddered and furrowed his eyebrows further, "Who are you?"
Wow…he's a tough nut to crack. I beamed at the boy. His gaze was stern and steady, there was no wavering or hesitation in neither his actions or words.
"Do you wanna know?"