Last One Standing

Questions with no answers

Pinks POV

It was silent for a beat. Chloe and I stared at the sleeping girl In front of us as if she were a treasure we thought we'd never find.

She looked pale, ill, like she hadn't moved on her own in days which I know she hasn't, and it shows. Her lips were dry and slightly cracked and she seemed so small.

The heart monitor beeped a steady rhythm, her chest rose gently. Chloe's eyes started to water, naturally. I didn't know what I was feeling. Not really.

It was a mix of many emotions I couldn't name. I didn't think mom would actually let us see her, especially not after I completely snapped at her.

That's not like me at all.

Mom looked somewhat annoyed. like this isn't how she wanted her night to turn out. I wasn't trying to upset her, but what else was I supposed to do?

Chloe was—and still is, a mess. I was tired of waiting for something that wasn't guaranteed to come. So I just took matters into my own hands.

"You may continue, doctor." Mom said, taking a seat on the couch. "Oh, right. Before or after you snapped at me?" Sarai asked with a passive agressive tone, one that made everyone's eyes grow a little bigger.

It was silent for a moment before she cleared her throat, regretting her words instantly and beginning to talk about Red's condition.

"Both of the surgery's she's had were a success. The last one clearly harder than the first." She read off the clip board in front of her.

"The ammount of blood lost caused her to go into cardiac arrest. But with a lot of work and patience, we were able to stabilized her just until we were finished with the surgery." I listened to her words, barely understanding what any of it really meant.

"So, she should wake up shortly. At least, the sedation should wear off. She was already asleep when we took her in. There's not really any given time for when she'll wake up." Her comment through me off.

"Wait—she won't wake up?" I asked, finally turning to her. "She should wake up. She will. Just give her time. The wound she suffered from was traumatic and her brain is still taking its time to process it all." She responded. But nothing that she said made me feel any better.

"Do you have an estimate on when she should wake up?" Chloe asked. Sarai paused, clearly thinking before speaking. "The sedation should wear off in a few minutes. Maybe 30." I gave her a slow nod.

"Can I go now? I've got other patients to go through." Sarai asked after flicking her wrist to see the time on her watch. Mom nodded and with that, the steps of the doctor grew faint and distanced.

Mom stared the both of us down. I felt her eyes glaring at the both of us from the seat she was sitting in. I didn't know if she were angry or just questioning herself, or me. For once I feel like I barely know who my mom is.

She'd never keep me from Red during an incident like this. She'd never forbid me from seeing her, or look down on me for getting Chloe help.

I don't know who this person is. But I don't think it's my mom.

My mom's nice and so kind hearted. She goes out of her way just to make sure people feel special or comfortable or not suffering. She hasn't done that since the games started. It's all really confusing, I don't let myself ponder too much on it because I have bigger problems. I know that if I just sat and wondered, questioned everything, I'd probably lose my mind if I haven't already.
...
3:00

We sat there for hours. Comfortable silence. Chloe's eyes never left Reds sleeping state.

Mom sat silently in the same spot in the couch. She hasn't said anything since the doctor left. She just kind of stared at Red. Like she was pondering about something that couldn't be figured out with a simple thought.

Maybe she was thinking about her past actions. Regretting what these games have done to her daughter. Or maybe, she just doesn't care. Which doesn't sound like her. It doesn't sound like mom to just not care about us, to leave us wondering what kind of person she is because I know what kind of person she is. Or at least, I thought I did.

She's supposed to be that kind hearted mom who'd set the world ablaze just to make sure her daughters are safe. The type of mom who lets you sleep in her bed at night when you've had a nightmare. The mom that makes sure you're always fed, always happy, and when you aren't she's already there.

That's how it felt.

When the games first started, I didn't question a thing. I thought maybe she was just oblivious to everything that was happening inside the woods.

But now? I don't think that was ever the case. I think she knew exactly what she was doing and what she was getting all of us into. She knew that we'd be damaged physically and emotionally after each game and yet she still proceeded.

It's one thing to put a bunch of random kids in danger. But her own daughters? The dots don't add up. I just know for a fact she isn't the mom I thought I knew.

I just can't wrap my head around what the switch up was caused by. Was it me? Red maybe? It wouldn't explain why she'd need to get a handful of other kids though.

I try to brush it off my shoulder like an unwanted dust particle, but I can't get it off my mind. I can't preoccupy my head even if it's in a whirl of chaos. The thought of her actions always circle back.

I don't know what to do.

I don't know what to think.

As I watch the my sister in front of me who I haven't seen in days over a fatal event that could've been avoided I question life so much my head literally starts throbbing.

Mom got up, she said she was going for a little walk. She said she needed air, whatever that might mean in her case.

When the small clicks of her heels grew faint, I dropped my head in my hands, letting out a sigh as if I'd been holding it in since we sat down.

"This all could've been avoided." I muttered. The reality of it hit hard, the truth of it was like a reality check. Chloe didn't respond, her hand with the soft cast overlapped with Red's, her thumb gently brushing her knuckles back and forth.

"I've told myself that every day since they cornered her in the woods." She breathes out, a small voice and a breathy laugh that was intended to lighten the mood.

My eyes started to sting. The lump in my throat started to form. It hurts. And it's stupid that I can't stop crying. Even when I think I'll be fine and I try to look to the bright side of whatever is going on, it never lasts long.

That isn't like me. It's not like me to feel this sad all the time. It's not like me to snap at my mom or question everything about everyone.

I just want things to go back to how they were.
...

When mom came back, she told us we should go get rest. That we looked exhausted and something about sleep being important when Chloe and I refused.

Chloe looked heart broken to leave Red, again. She wanted to stay until Red woke up, she said she was scared that Red would wake up in an empty room.

Mom basically shrugged it off and said she would be okay, that we all would be, and I highly doubted that statement.

Then, Chloe asked if we could come back in the morning. Mom hesitated just to say she didn't know, and left us on a to-be-determined. Which was great.

We went through all of that, just for this to potentially be our last time seeing Red until she wakes up. When's the chapter when Chloe and Red are happy with each other again? When they're confessing their love for each other and making out all the time.

When's the chapter where I'm not questioning myself as a person, my mom and the world I'm living in. Because I hate whatever is going on.

I hate not being able to see my sister wake up. I hate knowing the cause of her current state. I hate seeing Chloe struggle to take care of herself because she's too fixated on Red.

I hate it all.
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It gets better I promise