Human Interaction

Chapter 7

Song ~ Moments Passed - Dermot Kenndy

My dream ended abruptly, as I was shaken back into reality. My eyes opened, my eyelashes faintly batting against my lids when I blinked. I had laid my head on Kaiser's bed, debating whether or not I should get up. My muscles felt weak, just like my energy. I let out an exasperated sigh, groaning as I rolled my upper body of the hospital bed. What time was it? How long had I been asleep? I let out a loud yawn.

Glancing over at Kaiser's he was still sleeping, his hair ruffled from his night sleep, the strands sticking together in the way they do when a wash is overdue. In another time and place, he could have been one of those prep-school boys, he could have been one of us and yet he was left up top.

I scooch the chair I had fallen asleep on against the wall, taking in the clock on the wall I had slept for twelve hours and my stomach growled notify me that it was time for dinner. I had slept the whole day away; my hunger started taking me to the door, as I gave one more look over Kaiser.

I locked eyes with him from across the room, his eyes were the color of deep sienna, with a mischievous glint that seemed to reflect the corners of his mouth, which were fighting a smile. His hands still in restraints, as permitted for his safety. I walk towards him, calmly attempting not to get a rise out of him.

He trails his eyes to where he's bound to the bed, his eyes left in shock as he attempted to jerk himself from them.

"I'm sorry about that," I breathed in slowly, using my calm voice, "You left and then I found you on the floor burning up. Your fever was one-hundred and five, but you were delusional and kept screaming and tearing at the nurses trying to help you. We had to do it for our safety, and yours."

It seems like it takes a second or two for the new information to sink it, his eyes adjust from anger to relatively emotionless. He still doesn't answer, "I'll go get the doctor," I push away from my location before...

***

Akira looked sharply up as he took her hands into his, the dream felt so real to him; he just had to make sure.

***

They felt like sandpaper or perhaps stone, rough and unfinished. It suited him, I couldn't help but think, looking into his deep eyes, cheeks reddening. His hands were warm in mine.

"Please, don't." Kaiser voice deep with a smooth tone, drifting softly into the air, He dropped my hand and gestured for me to sit.

"Kaiser, Y-You need a check-up, an all clear," I stammerer on my words, my head out of lost from the quick handhold.

He glances over to his restraints, "Please, unbuckle me. I promise I won't leave."

The fear thoughts looped around in my mind until there was no room for anything else, he seemed to be calmed now and slowly my reasons to keep him pinned to the bed faded as I reach for his wrist removing the restraint and making my way to his four other limbs.

My hair cascade amongst his chest as release the last restraint and the I furiously tie it my hair into a ponytail, annoyed at the length of it. Kaiser remained in the bed, rubbing his wrist which had formed welts from him lashing out at the nurse, he didn't get it.

"We're only trying to help you," I speak again, a half lie; at least I'm trying to help him.

His eyes were darting back and forward, they were a deeper, more earthy brown, the softness of them turn hard as he attempted to get up from his bed. Ignoring my pleas to stay laying on the bed, he was nearly unstable as a baby taking its first steps.

Our eyes lock, as I placed my shoulder underneath his strong build to hold him up. he had lost a huge amount of muscle lost but his frame still held up. He took a step back, as we exchanged looks before I removed myself from his side.

"Kaiser, you can't move right now. You've been immobile for a while, please rest and I'll go get the doctor." I confront him before leaving, I'm depending on his trust right now and if he breaks mine then I guess I broke all my friend's trust for a Surfacer.

***

He liked her. Sometimes she'd look his way and he would pretend not to notice too much interest and that the whole night she stayed by his side. But when he did return her glance she didn't have to try to smile, it just came naturally. In those moments she would blush ever so slightly and he'd imagine her being his girl.

With one violent contraction, the congealed contents of Kaiser's stomach emerged with the thought of food, nothing being digested since; well he couldn't remember the last time he had eaten. He wiped at his mouth, acidic residue forming a shiny patch on his white long sleeve shirt.

Soon enough Kaiser heard a door open and shut, its creaking noise bringing a chill to his spine. "Evening Surfacer," A thick accent protruded out, as Kaiser glanced up to see a Doctor who seemed younger than him and with four other nurses approaching his beside.

'Was this a cruel joke?' Kaiser thought to himself.

"I'm glad to see you mobile, I sent Miss. Akira to the kitchen to fetch you some water. Your fever has seemed to go down, and you're still too weak to hold down any medication or solid food from what I can tell is in the bucket here. So I'll be injecting you with some high-quality fluids that'll heal you faster and you can be on your way." The Doctor gleams with a toothy smile.

He reaches to a table, "This a hypodermic needle." The Doctor continues, as a wide-eyed Kaser stares at the daunting needle, growing as Kaiser watched it.

"Like hell you are." Kaiser's voice aggravated as he lifted his arm, forming his fingers into a fist, but again his agile movement was far too slow. Six pairs of delicate hands seized him against the bed his back firmly pushed down as he struggles to regain strength and a nurse forces him to extend his arm. When the Doctor pressed his fingers on that spot, in the nape of his elbow the pain exploded up to his spine to the top of my head.

The Doctor said, "This will only hurt for a few seconds."

The feeling was sharp and tense, Kaiser never even heard of needles, he looked away at the wall, trying not to center his attention. However, his eyes swung back to it as if it was out of control. The tube with the medicine never grew. But the needle desired to be thrust into his poor, innocent arm. The doctor came back and plunged that needle into the sore place as Kaiser felt such quick pain vanish, the Doctor then banishes the weapon of a hypodermic needle as the Doctor laid the extra long needle right beside Kaiser on the table.

The Doctor confronted Kaiser, bringing his face towards him, "You better start getting better, and not taking advantage of Akira. She risked everything for you."

Kaiser shrugs the nurses off of himself, as they remove their hands off him. He growls before placing his long sleeve over the mark the Doctor had left from the needle. Kaiser knew he was in debt to Akira, and couldn't help but feel pissed that he allowed this to happen. He's grateful that he's alive, but at what cost?

"Good, I'll be back on run another check up on you in about a few hours. Take it easy, Surfacer." The Doctor walked out with a face like a brick. His movements were all sharp and with purpose, and his voice filled with distaste.

Surfacer, that word disgusted him beyond means. He was human just like them, he fought for survival and lived on his own and he didn't ask to be here.

Kaiser lays back down, his head tilting towards the ceiling when he hears the door click open again, and she appeared in the room, her emotions were not easily hidden on her innocent face. She gracefully walks over to the armchair, handing him his water before nestling her back against the spine of the chair. Her long hair gathers to a ponytail, cascading down her one shoulder.

He needed to stop being distracted by her beauty and ask her the most important question, "What is this place?"