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Word count: 2220
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Gabriel

I hug Payton close for what feels like forever, her rocking back and fourth in my laptop repeatedly. Nothing I say or do reassures or calms her down.

Seeing her in such a state, now a little more worse off than she was before is slowly breaking my heart. I don't know much more of this is I can take which is selfish to say, but it's true.

I have inner demons too. Who am I to think I can look after her? I can't.

"Payton, it's going to be okay." I tell her, gently starting to play with her when she slides off my lap and hits the wall beside us with one her hands, balled up. "No!" I cry, grasping it.

"No, stop!" I hear a voice cry and I dee it's Holly spriting over to us. "Let go of me." Payton says amongst tears, her face scruncing up in pain.

"Payton, Payton, look at me." Holly begs her, trying to turn her around to face her, but Payton is stubborn and she begins to cry harder.

People are starting to look at us. She's making a scene... But I can't really blame her at all for a multitude of reasons.

"Holly..." Payton manages, her breathing rapid. "Payton, I need you to breathe for me, okay? Remember what I taught you in.

Breathe in, 5 seconds. Then breathe out, 5 seconds."

Payton's crying too hard. "Payton, I need you to try with me, okay?"

After some coaxing, Payton calms down enough to stop crying, but she's not any less distressed.

Payton cuddles up to me and I wrap an arm around her. "Holly, what happened in there? That was our room." I ask her.

"I know..." She says. "It's not safe out here for Payton, and I'll be harassed out here too." I tell her.

"I know." She says again. "So, what the fuck is going on?" I demand.

"I'm sorry. That was an unexpected emergency call. A teenage boy attempted suicide."

"Where's his family?" Payton whimpers. "Likely what everyone else has turned into." Holly responds and Payton starts to shake.

"Payton, I'm sorry-" But Holly doesn't get to finish as a Nurse pokes their head out the Security door, beckoking her.

"Ah, shit. Look, I'm really sorry. It's not long till the afternoon, I sware. Umm, if you can just manage to chill out here for just 3 more hours, an ambulance will be here for you I promise, Payton and the admitting facility, organizing private car transparent for you, Gabriel." She pleads.

"Okay." I tell her. "I-I'll try." Payton stammers nervously.

"Thank you. I'll have someone bring a snack and a drink out for you both. I have to go." Payton says, darting away.

"W-wait, can I call someone?" Payton asks, too late that Holly doesn't hear her. "I'm sorry. We can ask her or someone else next time." I tell her and she nods softly, curling up in a ball in the corner.

I look around me. Not many people are staring thank god so I lie down too and gently move next to Payton:d back. I place a arm over her stomach. She grips my hand tightly. "It's okay, you can squeeze if it helps." I tell her, but she doesn't say anything, shaking.

---

"Gabriel, Payton.

Gabriel, Payton, wake up..."

I groan, rolling over onto my back, opening my eyes. A nurse is above us. "What time is it?" I ask.

"It's been about half an hour. You both fell asleep. I have lunch for you both and something extra for Payton." She says. I wake Payton up.

The nurse hands us our food and some water, but there is also Payton's weighted blanket she was using.

The Nurse helps Payton to sit up straight against the wall and lays the blanket out flat for her across her knees. I settle next to her and we both tuck in. The nurse waves goodbye, offering a sincere smile, but not before telling us transparent will arrive for both of us at 3-4 p.m, but they don't know the exact timing and will try and gain confirmation.

"How do you feel?" I ask Payton. "Fine." She retorts. "Do you really?" I respond.

She shrugs. "It's okay to not be okay." I point out. "I know. Karl would tell me the same thing all the time. Look, I'm just done, alright? I don't want to think anymore and I can't think about what just happened. It was scary...

He was bleeding, Gabe."

"I know."

"So, let's not talk about it."

"What do you want to talk about then?"

"Gabe..."

"Yeah?"

"Will you please promise we'll call eachother all the time and everything once we're seperated?"

"Of course! I'm not going to leave you in the lurch. I... I don't want to be the type of guy who does that to people... Anymore."

She nods softly. "Holly will help you settle in you know? You won't be left in the middle of a new envroment, unprepared."

"I know." She says. "It's just I've never been to a psych ward before, and my first time, it's also involuntary."

"It's not the end of the world."

"I know, but-"

"And the alternative is one day you overdosing on meds or harming yourself or even attempting suicide."

She doesn't say anything. "U-umm, Mr Gabe Foster?" A voice rings out.

"Deal with them." Payton snaps, turning away from me to look out the window. I catch a glimpse. The streets are full of military and local law enforcement presence now.

They're hanging around like a bad smell. "Mr Foster?"

I tuen and look at the speaker. It's a teenage girl with her friends behind her. The head girl is clutching a notebook.

"Would you like a autograph?" I ask them, trying to smile warmly. They all nod excitedly. "Who do I make it out too?" I ask.

"Casey, Sadie, and Maddison." Casey says and I write a small nessage to them, signing off with my signature.

"Thank you!" Casey adds on. "It's no trouble." I tell her. "C-can I ask you a question?" The girl to the left of Casey speaks up.

"Sure." I tell her. "And which one are you? Sadie or Maddison?"

"Sadie." She grins. "We're so glad you're alive. We we're all having a sleepover together and we're actually watched you're tour DVD's. My parents brought us here. I-I hurt my ankle, but I'm okay." She says. I look down, there's a clear crisp bandage around her ankle.

"Ah, thanks. I'm glad you girls enjoyed my DVD's and I hope your ankle gets better, Sadie." I tell her. If Casey and Maddison's parents haven't come to collect them, I fear... the worst had happened.

"Will you perform again soon?" Sadie adds on. "I hope so. It just won't be right away though. I'm going to take a small... Vacation first actually."

I don't know how much they know about what's going on outside. They only look to be 11 years old, all three girls. "Where too?!" Maddison beams.

Hospital's can be cold sometimes, but also stuffy. "Umm, maybe somewhere cold or warm?" I answer.

"The snow?" Casey beams. "The beach?" Maddison squeals and Sadie asks, "Both?"

"Yes, why not both!" I answer sheepishly. "Gabe..." I hear Payton whisper, becoming fed up from behind me. "Can I ask another question?" Sadie beams.

I nod.

"Is it true what they're saying?"

"Is what true?"

"That you and your manager aren't working together anymore?"

"It's complicated, but I'm sure we'll work through it." I lie. What am I supposed to say?

They seem satisfied with that answer.

"M-me now?" Maddison stammers. "Go ahead." I smile.

"Who is that girl? There's a few photos of you guys online."

The internet is working? Well, I wouldn't know. Holly confiscated my phone. "Are you both a couple? Celeb Watch said you we're!" Casey chimes in.

"Gabe." Payton says harsher when I see a group of adults come over. "Girls, that's enough. Please leave Mr Foster alone." A man says, arm around a woman.

I see Casey and Maddison's face light up. "Mum, Dad!" They both squeal, running to some other adults. I breathe a sigh of release. They're parents are dead...

The adults all lead their children away. "Payton..." I whisper, turning back to her. She's lying down, curled up, shivering.

"I feel sick." She says.

"I'm sorry you feel sick. The anxiety's getting a bit much for you out here. Three squealing pre-teens."

She nods. "It was quieter in the room, Holly held us in."

"It was, wasn't it?" I smile, moving her fringe aside when I feel maijorly sick all of a sudden.

I bring a hand to my stomach and mouth. My stomach is churning and I feel bile rising up my throat. I manage to my feet and I see Payton sit up, tears in her eyes. She's worried.

"Gabriel?" She says and I stagger away from her, but I can't hold it in. When I open my eyes, it's horrible.

This will make the news. Payton's shaking and the receptionist is in a tizzy, calling someone.

I don't feel like I'm going to be sick again. I touch my forehead and my skin is drenched in sweat, my hair sticking. I didn't feel this darn awful a moment ago...

My throat is burning and dry, yearning for water. I feel dizzy. I squeeze my eyes shut for a second and when I open them, I'm horrified to see the room is bathed in a dark purple colour, but all I can think about is water. I sit down, and reach for my water. Payton bring's it over to me.

"Thank you." I manage weakly and her expression looks awkward. "G-Gabe..." She says as I take a drink.

"I'll be okay. I just feel off all of a sudden."

But she looks at me more weirdly.

"Are you okay?" I ask her.

"Y-you're growling..." She says. "What do you mean? I am speaking English. Or would you prefer I switch it up and speak Spanish instead?" I joke sarcastically.

"Hola."

She starts to tear up and moves away from me, backing into the wall when I feel weird all of a sudden and it's like it hits me. I'm seeing purple, thristy, was sick and she says I'm growling?

Something's wrong with me. I can't see her pretty carrot hair, lush green eyes, everything smells like burning flesh and the water tastes rancid. I spit out and when I look, I see more undigested food come out, but this time, there is particles of blood.

My heart starts to beat wildley. Something is wrong, really wrong.

"Payton, I don't want you to be scared, okay?" I speak, struggling to stand and I collapse onto my knees like every ounce of strength is gone.

She starts crying and I hear her scream a bit. I look down and see veins buldging in my hand. They look black. "Payton, it's okay." I tell her, trying to crawl towards her when I get a sudden urge, craving.

Flesh, blood, brains... I bite my lip, my tongue licking. What is wrong with me? But I don't care. It's like this urge is taking priority over everything else.

I crawl towards the lump of food infront of me when I see six lumps of food to the left of me run towards me. One raises a small pot plant and it's lights out for me.

---

I feel weird, coming too. What's happening? I groan, feeling metal around my wrists, my arms behind my back.

I open my eyes, various colours a shade way too bright. I hear walkie talkies. Security? They're holding me down face first to the floor.

I wrack my brain for what happened. While I try I see Holly wearing a mask and she places one over Payton's mouth for. She's too afraid to move.

"Payton, are you okay? Holly, what's wrong with her?" I call out and I see Payton's eyes widen. Holly turns to look at me, alarmed.

"His not your boyfriend anymore, ok? We have to move. I'll take you somewhere safe." She says to Payton, pulling her to her feet, dragging her to pass through the doors leading into the ER.

"Holly, where are you taking her? What's wrong?!" I call out, seeing Holly drag Payton with ease past the doors, Payton's weighted blanket in one hand.

Payton just looks numb like she's not really there. She's just looking at me, eyes blinking, then she dissapears fron view.

"Did they get back to us?" A guard asks. "Yeah. Said drag him to the upper floor, quartine him.

They said not to kill him. This isn't like anything we've seen before." Another guard responds.

"What?!" I shout. "Kill me? No, no, no!" I panic. "I'm alive, I'm... Am I infected?" I breathe, but they ignore me. Then I feel a sharp needle pierce my neck.

I can't fight to stay awake. If I'm going to die, I want Payton to be the past thing I remember and I manage to picture her in my mind.

But all I can picture is Holly dragging a masked Payton away.