deranged [sequel to unlovable]

part 37

song :
• wolves - maldito
when you see the *** play :
• the sun's gone dim & the sky's turned black (rob simonsen nerve remix) - jóhann jóhannson
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the next two mornings are quiet. caleb's parents came to visit more often now.. they're absolutely crushed.
they ask how it happened and we can't give away much-- so the doctors were instructed to just disclose the injury.
we've kept our distance but they decided to open up access to the room to us now.
we continue to wait for him to open his eyes and this seems too familiar to my situation and what i went through.
i ask damien to give me a minute with caleb by myself.
he simply nods and kisses my cheek before leaving the room, shutting the door behind him.
i pick up one of his soft hands in mine.
"you know, i don't know how you went through this and the longer you take.. the more guilt & suffering i face. i can't imagine what you felt when i was in your place. listen to me, caleb.. you have a life here. you have people who love you, including me. you're going to be okay.. you're going to be happy. we can be the best crime-fighting duo the world has ever seen. please just open your eyes, i miss you too much already." i tell him, running my fingers through his hair.
the only sound in the room is the beeping of his heart monitor.
he's still motionless except for his slow breathing.
not even a twitch of his eyelids. nothing.
i lean my head against his stomach, "please open your eyes, caleb. i know the other side is tempting. i did it, i came back.. don't turn on me. stay. i need you. we all need you. we love you. your parents are worried. your family is worried. everyone from work asks about you. you are cared for.. just please open your eyes." i beg him.
the room grows silent and i let out a breathe in defeat. he's a stubborn one, isn't he?
i slowly stand up from my chair and walk towards the door.
i turn around in hopes to see him move or make a sound, but he doesn't budge.
my hand turns the doorknob and i walk back out to the lobby.
damien & caleb's parents talk by the front desk.
as i walk up to them, caleb's parents walk away and out the front doors.
"why did they leave?" i ask damien.
he sighs, "they're going to get his favorite things.. they're going to use them in his room & play his favorite music in hopes to get him to wake up quicker. the doctors aren't sure why it's taken this long, they told us they're guessing it'll be within the next few days."
i hope he comes back today. i want a big hug from him and i want to see him smile. i want to hear his laugh again.
i miss him so much.
damien & i decide on going to the cafeteria even though i'm not hungry at all.
i pick up an apple juice instead of getting a meal.
damien gets a club sandwich and a coke.
we find a small table in the corner of the cafeteria. the ceilings are so tall. one of the windows is a frosty tiled glass & it creates a beautiful blue glow in the room.
"you alright?" damien asks me as we sit down together.
i shrug & shake my head, "i don't really know. i just hate that this had to happen to him. it's my fault."
"he pulled the trigger--"
"he almost died trying to protect me, damien." i cut him off with a stern voice.
"okay, okay.. understood. got it." he says, taking a bite of his sandwich.
it's quiet for a moment until a questions pops in my head.
"damien.. what happens now? how does somebody quit this job? what do you want for our future?" i ask him.
he smiles, "i don't know.. quitting will be simple but you have to swear on an oath that you will forever leave us to secrecy. we've already made a lot of money and it wouldn't be a bad idea if we--"
my phone rings, cutting him off.
it's caleb's mom.
i mouth an apology to damien before answering, "hello?"
all i can hear are sobs on the other line.
"get here quick vanessa." she says before hanging up.
i motion for damien to get up & we sprint together, tossing our garbage away.
we sprint down the long hallway and rush back in the elevator to his room.
as soon as the doors open, we see his parents standing in the lobby.
caleb's dad holds on to caleb's mom as she sobs into his chest. ***
"w-what happened!? what's going on?" i ask, fear coming out in my voice.
caleb's dad just stares down the hallway at the stretcher being rolled out from caleb's room.
the sound of an echoing flatline rings in my ears.
everything moves in slow motion as they roll his limp body away.
i blink as tears begin to flow down my cheeks.
everything goes cold, my body turns to ice and i let out a blood-curdling scream.
i can't hear it over the ringing in my ears.
i try to run, try to get him back. wake him up and pull him off of that stretcher.
"no! come back! no!" i scream, not caring who hears me.
damien wraps his arms around my waist, holding me back.
he left me. he left me again and my heart is broken.
i'll never hear his voice again. i'll never see his smile or hear his laugh. i'll never get another hug. i'll never hear him tell a corny joke or tease me to piss me off. i'll never see those bright eyes or have a deep conversation with him. i'll never see him again.
i collapse to the floor in sobs. the air has left my lungs in this moment.
he's gone.

caleb is dead.

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fucking hell don't hate me please...

there's 2 more chapters & an epilogue.

happy easter.

thank you so much for reading.

xo
- adrianna