—-10's POV—-

I'm in my home kitchen and it's nearly dinner time. I think about what happened earlier..

Well that..was close.

I start to think about Five's reaction to me when I said that I didn't know. Why was she acting so aggressive, and has she been staring into Nine's window like I was? Speaking of Nine.. how is he right now? Maybe I should call. I don't want him to feel lonely.. what am I feeling right now..? It feels like.. like..

Ding!

Oh. The food in the microwave is ready. I stand up, take it out from the microwave and grab a spoon for the bowl. Mmmm. The soup smells really good. I put the spoon aside and bring the whole bowl to my mouth, slurping until it was dry. I put the dishes in the sink, get my phone and head upstairs to my room. It's nice and cozy.. oh wait. I still need to call Nine. I dial his number and wait. After a few seconds, he answers the call.

"Hello Nine. How are you? Are you ok?"

"I'm fine."

"Are you in the ICU?"

"No."

"Have you been—"

"ACHOO!"

".. was that you?.."

"..yes. Listen, Ten.. I.."

"What?"

"Nevermind.."

"Is it ok over there—"

"I don't have time."

..and he hung up. What does he mean by that? Is his schedule just full, or.. is his time alive running out?

AGH! Not again, not again! I quickly suppress my thoughts and lay down.

Before I know it, I'm asleep.

—-9's POV—-

I can't sleep. It's noisy. The hospital machinery is noisy. And my head is full of thoughts. My head is noisy too. And suddenly..

"Ah..ACHOO!"

Well.. my mouth is noisy too.

What's the point of grabbing that alcohol bottle and putting it on my hands when I would just sneeze again later..?

What's the point of being here anymore..?

What's the point of taking medication..?

What's the point of trying..?

I don't know the answers to those questions..

Because the truth is, I'm just going to die here. No-one will even know. No-one will notice. No-one will care.

And late in the night I fall into an uneasy sleep.

—-10's POV—-

I wake up to a cloudy day. I pick up my phone and check the time. Hmmm.. I think Nine would be awake by now. I dial his number and wait.

No answer.

I try again. No answer.

I try once more. Nothing.

What is happening over there? Is he ok?

—-9's POV—-

I wake up after being taken to the ICU in my sleep..

..It's getting hard to breathe..

..I have a ventilator pushing air into my lungs..

..I feel so weak..

..The antibiotics aren't helping..

..I should have come to the hospital two weeks ago,

when I first felt it..

..when I first hid it..

—-10's POV—-

I try again. Nothing.

I try again. He answered!

"Oh, Nine! I was so worried about you—"

"This is not Nine. This is Zero, the doctor."

"Where's Nine?"

"He was transferred to the ICU last night. He is currently suffering ARDS, conjunctivitis and sepsis."

"Will he be okay?"

"Sad to say, not many survive this stage of COVID-19."

I hang up on her, noticing tears in my eyes. I lay, face down on my bed.

—-9's POV—-

..I can hear the doctors and nurses around me.. but not clearly..

..my vision is blurry..

..it hurts.. everywhere..

..I can't breathe..

..has my time run out?..

...