SILVER EYES (GXG)

Chapter 33: Runes Of Lies

The blood loss had been massive. They rushed her to the operating room and pushed me away amidst a collapsed medical bay. All rooms were full of injured officers. Cries and moans of pain filled the air. The hallways were filled with doctors sprinting back and forth to help the many wounded who kept arriving.

I couldn't slow my breath, nor could I stop my tears from sprouting at any time. I felt shattered. That painful image was stuck in my mind, replaying in a loop. Why, Michael, why?! The sadness and rage I contained blurred my sight. Had that really happened? It felt unreal. Could I have prevented it? My mind couldn't stop scanning for all the possible alternative realities. I could have solved it in many other ways! Stupid Grace! I wanted to scratch my skin violently until I drew blood. If anything happened to her... Ugh, I could never forgive myself.

Suddenly, my heart raced as if boosted by an unnatural force. It released a surge of adrenaline that coursed through my entire body. I tried to catch my breath, but my lungs blocked. I gasped as strongly as I could, but nothing came. My body failed to respond. A cold sweat washed over me as I collapsed to the floor. A nurse spotted me and rushed to my aid.

"Calm down, calm down," she said wrapping her arms around me.

I looked at her, unable to speak. The feeling of my heart threatening to give out consumed my mind at its rapid pace.

"Hey, breathe with me. You're okay. It's a panic attack." she said.

A panic attack? I had never experienced one before.

She helped me move to the side, where I could lean against the wall. Settling beside me, she took my hand and linked our Reg bracelets until a reassuring beep emitted.

"Grace, right?" the nurse said, reading the name that popped up on her bracelet. "Listen to me. It will pass. Trust me. Just let it happen because it will go away."

Her soft voice was comforting, and it made me feel better. Gradually, the tension in my chest began to ease, and my heart rate slowed down. The frenzy my body had been caught in seemed to recede with each passing moment. I took a deep breath, and finally, the air could penetrate my lungs. What the hell had happened to me?

"See? It's gone." The nurse said.

As I exhaled, tears mingled with relief cascaded down my cheeks.

"Let it all go, honey." She said softly as I cried.

I allowed myself to collapse onto the nurse's shoulder. She didn't pull away; instead, she gently stroked my hair.

"A lot has happened, it's totally natural to feel this way, don't hold it back." The nurse said empathetically.

That was true. A lot had happened. And the worst part was that I was the only one who knew. Michael had vanished into the darkness of the tunnels. After all this time looking for him... After all this time dreaming of finding him, of hugging him and laughing with him. After all the fear and uncertainty, and Erik's sacrifice, everything had swept away. And now all was reduced to nothing.

And Heather... Well, thinking about her was like feeling a hundred knives stabbing my heart. Each one provoked by a different emotion: sadness, guilt, rage... love. I couldn't erase her bewildered gaze when I pointed my laser gun at her. She had never looked at me that way. I hated myself so much!

The nurse glanced at my heart rate on her Reg bracelet while gently stroking my hair. "I like thoes numbers going back to normal. You're better now."

I rose from her shoulder and smiled at her. I had truly missed an empathetic person. Someone who didn't suggest that suppressing emotions was the best approach like everyone else did there.