"Recording us?" A stranger's face entered Cole's vision. He leaned over her, a gun in his grip as he studied the female patient. Looking over her from head to toe.
Faint breaths escaped her lips as she tried to resist the cold grip that crept up each of her limbs. The man lingering over her looked years older, with wild hair tousled on top of his head and a beard. His light hair appeared as red as the flashing lights, but Cole guessed it had to be silver. Strands of his beard dangle below his chin as he speaks. He spoke with a strong accent, though his English was understood. The stranger's eyes are a deep dark, like looking in a bottomless pit. They wander over her vulnerable figure, taking in the sight of her dying state.
In the corners of her vision, Cole could vaguely spot four others wandering around the room.
"Little girl. What were you recording? Uh? You doing that for your friend...? Can't you see, she's abandoned you? Just like the others. Just like my boy..." He says with a hint of pain and resentment in his tone. "That selfish bitch should've never been a doctor... Isla let people die just to save you!"
Cole cries out from pain when he grips a fistful of her hair. Her scalp stung with pain, but Cole was too weak to do anything. She sobs, as it added to the horrible pain spreading throughout her body. Hot blood leaking from her shoulder.
"Tell me where she is!" The stranger shouts in Cole's face.
"Ah..." Cole gasped for air, her eyes pleading for him to stop as she reaches for his wrist. "Ah- Hahh" She can barely breathe and moving made it so much worse.
Cole grimaces, heat rushing to her head as she wanted to scream. The pain taking over as if impaled by the end of a spear made of hot steel.
"Cole!" Oliver's voice lures each of intruder's heads to turn to where the phone had fallen. "Oh god, talk to me! Where are you!"
"Destroy it." The man ordered someone to his left.
"Ol..." Cole parted her lips to speak but choked on her words.
"Relax." The stranger suddenly smiles over her as he sees pain glitter in her eyes. He let go of her hair, glancing toward the door distant shots echoed.
Tears spill from the corners of her eyes, disappearing into her hair. "It's okay." Went the stranger.
"Let the sleep take you… It will be easy. Don't fight it. I will find Isla..." He swears. "She'll know what hell looks like when I do."
The stranger eyed the door again. Cole couldn't tell what was going on as he seemed distracted by something.
After a long moment, he turns to look at Cole's weak state. "Pity..." He whispers. "All these years and this is how it ends for you... I always thought you meant something to her. I thought you were her daughter, but I see I was wrong."
With a sigh, the stranger leaned closer and pressed his lips to her forehead, whispering, "Sleep well, little Diana."
With that, the stranger disappeared, and the sound of footfalls crowded. Cole knew they were taking the equipment... Her vision was filled with red flickers as the noises around her grew chaotic. They looted, executed other patients, stole equipment and medicine.
It was the end…
Cole knew they would leave nothing left. No one alive. It was over…
Cole shut her eyes and endured the pain that was spreading.
Every infected patient, including Cole, had been mentally prepared for the end... Just not in this way... Not from violence...
The echoes of distant screams fill her ears. While her last moments of consciousness fade. Cole's mind slipped into a pleasant dream... It was bright and sunny. There were lush green surroundings with a flock of doves flying around. Cole smiled; she could feel the warmth of the sun. A feeling she'd forgotten during the years behind hospital walls. She looked down feeling cool water rush past her ankles. It was a stream. Crystal blue water flowed gently as Cole wiggled her toes in the sand below it.
Crash!
Cole lifted her gaze, only to find panicked doves flying this way and that. Her heart ached seeing them all leave.
Eventually, they were all gone, the bright sun beamed; until her vision went white.
A face appeared close to hers, but Cole didn't flinch.
He was... angelic.
Eyes like morning frost on green leaves, glistening in the sun. Firm honey-glow skin, blond hair like spun silk, blonde eyelashes, pink lips shaped like cupid's bow, a Grecian nose, and a strong jaw to perfect the beauty of his heavenly face... Looking at him made her thoughts drift, but a serious look on his face made her realize she was staring.
Even with a frown, Cole was still captivated. All he was missing was a halo and a pair of wings.
"Hey." He snapped his fingers, unaware that he already had Cole's full attention. "Can you tell me your name?" He questioned.
"It's... Cole". She spoke slowly, curious about why he was so close... and... holding her hand?
"Can you spell it?"
"Yes..." She took a breath, ignoring the pain that came with it. "C-O-L-E... Cole."
"That's really good." The angelic man suddenly smiled; his eyes watered slightly as he held onto her hand. "How about your birthday? Can you tell me?"
"It's... August... the seventh."
"Good, just keep talking to me alright? Don't fall asleep."
Cole blinked in confusion as the angelic stranger glanced beside the bed.
(Wait… bed?)
Cole lifted her head realizing the white light wasn't the sun at all, it was just a light in the ceiling.
"Lie back." He gently pressed her forehead until she relaxed against the pillow. Cole glanced around and saw she was on oxygen, three men in plain clothes were tampering with equipment; and behind the stranger there was a curtain of plastic with shadows moving behind it. They looked like soldiers lingering in a separated part of the room. Some chatting, while others just linger.
"What's going on?" Cole's breathing grew heavy as she began to panic. "Where's R-Rue? Where's everyone?"
"Don't move." He warned as Cole was beginning to stir. She peeled away sticky pieces with wires attached to her temples. She tried to pull the ones on her chest; when her wrists were seized. "Cole stop moving. You will rip your stitches." He warned in a harder tone. However, Cole's gray eyes were staring at his hands. They were stained with… blood... so were his clothes.
She looked around, the others had similar stains mixed with dirt and rips on their clothes. Their empty looks were enough to make Cole wary. All of them appeared to have been through hell, and Cole could feel they would not hesitate to tie her up.
She screamed anyway.
"Rue! HELP! Rue!"
"Shh!" This time the pretty man grew angry and shoved Cole back against the bed. She felt a sharp sting in her chest when he did. Cole moved her head and avoided his hand that was trying to cover her mouth. "Rue!"
"Stop screaming." The pretty man says in a snarl-like tone. "Or do you want to draw every fool within ten miles to find out there's more meds for them to steal?"
Cole froze, remembering the chaos. Then she started fighting again, though weakly as the man holding her down was much stronger. She pushed at his chest and arms. Eyes watering when he didn't budge. She gritted her teeth in frustration. "I don't know you! You're definitely not a doctor! RUE!" Cole screams for Rue again as she pushes at his chest.
"I AM a doctor." He argued, but Cole wasn't buying it. He was wearing tattered clothes, smelled like gunpowder, sweat and smoke. Though, a clear mask protecting his face was similar to a doctors.
(Wait… His Mask!)
Cole got an idea and reached for it. She held it and watched as the angelic stranger visibly shivered. His grip loosened as he spoke. "No. S-S-Stop… J-Just hold on a minute."
"Tell me everything or I break this!" Cole demanded. "Where's Rue? What have you done to her?"
"I- I don't know who you're talking about."
"We don't know anyone named Rue." Another stranger spoke from the left, making Cole tense. The others ceased their tampering and looked to the bed, holding up their hands with caution. The 'doctor' doing the same as Cole held a grip on the corners of his transparent mask. "Let him go… Please".
"No." Cole refused and questioned the pretty man. "Where am I?"
"Florida", He quickly answered. "I-It's just a house we modified. This room is clean."
Cole glanced around at the room. Her gray eyes were less blurry with the white lights beaming on everything. She had no clue why a bunch of thieves would modify a room for a patient. All the equipment was intact and functional. Cole could hear the continuous beeps of the machine at her bedside. Confusion swirls in her mind.
(First, they shoot me, now they want to keep me?)
"Let him go, girl." A man glared from the right. Cole froze as her gaze landed on the end of a silver revolver. He leveled it at her head. "Unlike Vincent, I don't mind losing another patient." The man gave her a serious look and kept his finger on the trigger. Cole's heart raced, remembering the crashing sound of glass and how it rained over her head.
Red lights… shadows… glass rain… a cold smile… lips pressed to her forehead…
"For fuck's sake! ERIS put that away!" Vincent's voice was heavy and deep as thunder. Moving his hand in front of the gun. "She's just scared… hey". Cole flinched when his other hand grazed her cheek. Her grip on his mask grew tighter even though Vincent was gently caressing her chin. "Just look at me. Ask me anything you want".
Cole's gray eyes lock with his earthy green ones. She visibly swallowed, trying to remember what she was going to ask.