I ran to the nearest building in search of something to warp around his arms and hopefully his whole body. The blood in my body felt as if it was rising up. Hayden is still unconscious from minutes ago when we were searching for him, now everyone is finding a way to wake him up. It didn't take me long to think of something to help control his blood from streaming out, the idea that I could use the white towels that I stumbled upon while walking around the building in the far left corner could assist on compressing the bleeding.
The gush of wind becomes violent as it hits against my face due to how rushed I am. The door of the building slams against the wall as I push myself into it— not noticing that that the door was already pried open. The clashing of my knee accidentally hitting the door as I slowed my pace down to grab the stack and head back.
When I made it back, he had already woken up and grunting. I kneeled down and threw Finn half the stack, "Quick use those to wrap around his arms! Tight." The white pieces of towels aren't big but was enough to be able to wrap around and tie into a knot. The red color of the blood bled through the white in dots. Everyone had already finished wrapping what was left and sat him up right. The tension had already calmed down enough for us to cool off, keeping Hayden under our watch. We carefully set off to find something for him to drink, knowing that he is still half awake.
"Seriously, what happened to him." it wasn't even a question anymore, it was a statement– something that anyone would have asked. Finn cleared the tools out of the shed so we were able to get to the fountain.
"We wouldn't really know even if we tried to, what we know is that he was hurt in some way. We didn't notice him any earlier so we could at least see a part of what happened. Who knows what he did the whole day," Ace knew as much as we did, but there is a way that I thought felt too obvious. Asking him wouldn't hurt right?
Although, when we found him standing at the entrance, he was standing in what I would call fear and traumatized. I wasn't really sure about the traumatized feeling but I would believe that whatever happened to him, it left him a state of shock. If we asked him, would he be able to provide us anything? There is always trying. Mix of agitation and hope bubbled inside me.
"Okay then, let's ask him instead. When he wakes up. There shouldn't be a problem right?" the look of uncertainty between all of us made me more anxious— and more agitated. We didn't always keep our concern to ourselves when it comes to others. But this time, it felt like we had to be concerned.
Finn also accepted the idea with a shrug, "Okay, what's any harm in trying. We would know a lot more about what's with him and hopefully this whole damn game."
"I don't understand why we feel so hesitant to talk to him now after we found him earlier. In bad condition."
"We shouldn't start by asking him what happened but where he was first. Therefore, if we couldn't get anymore after that, at least we know where to look," we slide the cans of water out from the fountain to carry them back to the others. We found empty clean cans lying around and supposed that's a way we can hold our water.
We had decided to leave Candice and Ash in charge to watch over him while we went out and find water for him, just in case he wakes up. The distant chattering coming from the both of them had been close enough to tell me that Hayden hadn't woken up yet. Chase leaning against the wall beside Candice, who just looks like about to give up and sit back down. I shouted for them to gain their attention and come help us carry some of the cans that were about ready to hop off my arms.
"Has he woken up yet?"
"Barely, we were only able to get him to open his eyes though. He wasn't responsive as much but it was a bit better from earlier," Candice chucked along with Ash. That at least replenished hope in us that he was going to be alright. Just with a little more time.
"We were hoping he would have woken up already.. "
"Same here. Any reason why?"
"Well, we were thinking of asking him what's going on with him. Hopefully, we are able to know something that could help us finish this game," my legs trotted over front of Hayden over and carefully placed the cans of water down on the ground, "We don't know how much he will tell us. We will try our best to help him. He's our friend you know." I didn't want to make the atmosphere any more heavier than it was already, with the hope from everybody— We are going to be okay.
Finn walked over and reached to place his hand on my shoulder to affirm me, "Don't worry! Just wait till he wakes up and then we will talk with him," he gives a thumbs up to me and along with everybody. That is what I like about him, no matter what happens, he will always try to find the best in it. I appreciate it. Bailey appreciated it. Knowing that Chase will probably say that he doesn't makes me chuckled a bit. The whistling of the wind running straight into us created a feeling that every bad feeling in me is being blown away.
With the leaves branches on the trees around us rustling with confidence, we sat around enjoying out usual chats. Anything to help us pass the time while Candice tends to Hayden and making sure he wakes up soon. Repeated shuffling of his unharmed leg should wake him up. Sometimes leaning in closer to hear him slowly breathe along with checking his pulse on his neck, which surprisingly learned from watching those cheesy how to save a life videos.
"So Candice, how was your date with that boy going on so far?" the question left her dumbstruck as to where did it come from. Of course, we still meant it as if we haven't spent sometime being.. here. We had already started bursting out in laughter before she even caught on with narrow eyes at Ash.
"Oh Come on, it went alright okay?! He asked me out right before I had 'tripped' and spilled juice all OVER him. I'd call that a half— success," she bursted out with sarcasm all over her, simultaneously rolled her eyes as she was proud of that fact. If this wasn't the fifty fifth time she flinched her head back from the mental shock, it is now. We burst in laughter so loud that we are sure if it didn't woke up Hayden, then we don't know what will.
We took turns exchanging stories about each other— and teasing it, like we always would do back when we hung out with each other before all this. A warm feeling warms inside my body as I felt the same feeling I always would get when I enjoy the times with my friends. The smiles from everybody felt so fragile and easy to break, but it was there. When we caught ourselves here, we weren't so calm and so used to it either. But we weren't panicking about it either. That would always make me question how and why we are still here. I miss those times.
"Okay... Alright, How about you Ace? How did your science project do with the fair— during like the last week of school," I definitely spoke with an emphasis on the last sentence to tease him and break his barrier with his reserved kind of personality.
The wheezes and laughter erupted from the others "Nerd—"
"—am not a nerd! I care about my school work, unlike someone here," he slightly tilts his head towards Ash. Which he looks around confused and at Finn, everybody bursted into laughter again, "It's you silly."
He still gives a confused look with an eyebrow raise, as he actually knows that he was talking about him, "me?" which provokes Ace more with anger, "I was just kidding Ace calm down, I do care about school. I just..."
Finn starts beatboxing out of nowhere to interrupt his line of speaking, to stir up more trouble with him. Everybody joins along on then and adds their own beatboxing, with me only humming along.
"Wow, what the fuck." Which finally aroused him into a fit before blowing off his steam by walking away. We calm down to an awkward silence that grew slowly before everybody went back to check up on Hayden.
We took turns to shake him awake— slowly and cautiously of his wounds. It wasn't until Finn's jab on his stomach with his fingers that jolted him awake. He clutched his arm tightly as we quickly hold him still from slamming himself against the wall behind him. The look on his face if someone was waking up in cold sweat. The slight panic rose upon me, and upon everyone else, as if nothing had changed from before he was like this. It was better from before though. We handed him the cans of water as he chugged it down, letting the water drip out of the can and onto his shirt.
We waited until he cool down and become responsive before we started executing the questions we had planned to ask him, first letting him breathe. "Hayden. Where were you? Before we had found you," I started off the chain of questions that are waiting to be asked. With mixes of concentration and anticipation as evening leaned closer, giving him some time to collect himself. He started.
"I was at.. the stone walls next by.. the school," he had finally said, playing with the towels wrapped around him. The school building... the building that he, himself, had shown me before. The memory and recalling of that building remind me that this is the second time is ever mentioned, but why now? It already even seems that me and him is the only ones who know about it. Everybody else stumbled with confusion and uncertainty whether what he said was true. It was an idea to ask him questions, so I couldn't just dismiss what he said, no matter whether it was a lie or not.
"Wait, what do you mean east wing?"
"We never found a 'wing' around here before," Ash looked around from where he was standing to ensure that he didn't miss anything from where he was right now. It wasn't a big of a surprise for anyone else, as the others are more hinting that they want to know about it.
"I've seen it before. He must be talking about what had happened with him there."
"So, what if that wasn't the only location he had been at? Is it?"
"Well, it doesn't sounds like he could be talking about anywhere else. Is there?" Although I wanted to ask him more to make sure, it wouldn't be fun to invoke Hayden to tell us anymore than that. Call that determination.
His head slowly could decide whether it is nodding or is it shaking, but it does seem that he was meant to shake it. I exhaled an exasperated sigh, and the bit of relief blew over me, it would be helpful if he wasn't anywhere else other than there. I know that is lazy considering we have gotten close to used to being here. I still would like to go home.
It wouldn't hurt to ask a couple more questions than a single question of where was he. I wanted t ask more directly— what had happened? I was hesitating if it would be like playing with a double edged sword, but I would take the risk. He did seem like he was going back to his normal self, it wouldn't be like walking on legos.
"What happened to you over there," there was a moment of pause of hesitation coming from him as his eyes peer around me and into Ash the most, which I knew he was behind me. He brushed the patches of grass beside him and letted out a response that isn't quite helpful.
"I guess you guys have to look around the wing first," he had replied to everyone, "see for yourself." It felt quite dull of a response, he didn't really sound confident in his words, but it was his words after all. I stood everyone up, Hayden having the energy to get up himself, still sightly limping on his sides a bit.
"Let's go."
I didn't have the time to explain to everyone that he had showed me that place more than a few days ago, so I took this chance to bring everyone along to show them. I will also be able to have time to investigate what happened there.