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Chapter Forty Nine

Stephanie and I left for the hospital, saying goodbye to the few police officers who walked us out of the building. Stephanie insisted we go to back, saying something about a miscellaneous text she received from Doctor Hansen as a good reason. I wanted to take her home before it became too late at night, but she said it would be okay and her mother wouldn't mind. Reluctantly, I let her drag me to the hospital with a determined smile on her face.

I'm surprised she still even has the energy to move.

Walking into the hospital, I looked up lazily, seeing Doctor Hansen waiting to greet us.

"Welcome back, girls!" He said, waving us over. Stephanie excitedly walked over to him, practically jumping up and down, and I trailed after her slowly. Unfortunately, Doctor Hansen followed up with a comment, putting me under the spotlight. "I suggest we hurry it up back there, Meredith! This is very important!"

I grumbled under my breath, and Stephanie grabbed my hand, letting me know he didn't mean to insult me in any manner. I looked up at her, blatantly unsure. She didn't say anything else and followed Doctor Hansen. We were rushed up to Ryan's room, and I couldn't help but notice the swarms of nurses and doctors around the room. The energy of a familiar attribute hit me, and when I sensed it, it felt smaller than what I was used to feeling. The Dilation attribute. But possibly.. weaker?

"Why is there a Dilation attribute being used here?" I asked suddenly, speaking up.

A Dilation attribute... like William Kei's. To... shrink the wound? My eyes widened, and I suddenly ran through the hall, with Stephanie following after me, laughing when she saw that I realized what was happening. I pushed past the doctors and nurses, falling into the room clumsily. A female doctor was standing beside Ryan's hospital bed, having a conversation with him. The commotion of doctors and nurses scolding me must've made them aware of something happening, because they stopped their conversation to look at me standing in the doorway.

"Ryan..?" I asked, calling his name quietly as I breathed heavily.

"Meredith!" He cheered in delight. "I was just talking about you!"

The female doctor finished shrinking his wound with her attribute, starting to wrap his chest in bandages to cover it up. My eyes started watering, and Stephanie held me up from behind before I could fall onto the floor.

He's.. okay.

"Oh come on, Meredith," Stephanie said in a soft voice, smiling. I peered over my shoulder at her, and her eyes were glassy as well, but she held it in. "I told you this was important, but don't break right now. Go on."

My legs trembled as I stood up straight, running into Ryan's open arms. He laughed lightly as I started crying, hugging him as hard as I could but gentle enough to not hurt him. The female doctor began conversing with Doctor Hansen about his condition, but I didn't pay any attention to that. Stephanie hugged her brother as well, and I felt so emotionally weak next to them and their smiles. I couldn't stop crying, and just as I finished empty with my tears, a police officer walked into the room. I was too busy discussing schoolwork with Ryan and didn't notice him until Doctor Hansen said something.

"Meredith, an officer is here to see you," he said, holding his clipboard tightly.

I turned around on my chair, seeing a police officer standing solemnly at the doorway. His expression read unsteady. I recognized him as one of the first few to help us with arresting William Kei, and I stood up, nodding to him. "Did something happen?" I asked, confused.

William Kei and Dexter already have their sentences planned out— nothing else needs to be taken care of.

"I'm afraid something did happen, Miss," the officer sighed, frustration and stress falling onto his face. "I can't explain because your father insists he be the one to do that. He said something about enough emotional trauma, so I can't blame him." His hands glowed blue, and he added, "I'll teleport you there, but I have to stay here for the same reason."