Bounty, Chapter six: awake

Instructions

I awoke in a dark room, with a soft blanket draped over my shoulders. I had a horrible headache, and my mouth tasted like cotton. I groaned and sat up, intending to find the nearest water source. Looking around, I saw that I was surrounded by medical instruments, beeping and whirring as though they were speaking some foreign language. I looked down to see that I was in a white hospital gown, and there was a good chance I was unarmed. I couldn’t remember how I’d gotten there. The last thing I could recall was a weird ship popping out of the ground. Oh no. I thought. Am I a prisoner? I scanned the room again, and was surprised to see Hanin. He was sitting on a bench on the wall, looking down at his feet. His hair was disheveled, and there were dark circles under his eyes, as though he hadn’t slept in days. He whirled around and saw me sitting up. He sighed in relief, and suddenly hugged me. I felt my face turn to red. I felt something drench my shirt, and realized he was crying. I awkwardly reached around and patted his back. He finally stepped back and wiped his eyes. He was smiling. Not a smirk, not an eyeroll, not some irritating knowing look, a real, genuine smile. It was probably the most handsome I’d ever seen him. Handsome? I thought, where did that thought come from? Oh crap. Oh no no no no. Not this again. I cannot seriously have a crush on this guy. Aaaaaaargh noooooooooo whyyyyyyyy. I shoved the thoughts back to the shadows of my mind and forced my panicking brain to focus. “Hanin, where are we?” I asked, “How did I get here?” “You might want to sit down for this.” He replied. “I am sitting down you idiot.” He turned pink. “right, right, sorry. You weren’t doing so well so I kind of got thrown off guard.” “wasn’t doing so well? What happened?” then suddenly it hit me. The gun. The man. “I was shot!” I realized with a jolt. “That man tried to kill me! The man that you called.” I tried to rise menacingly, but a sharp pain jolted through me and I went crashing back onto the mattress. “hey, hey, take it easy. You’re not in any danger-“ But I wasn’t listening. I threw a pillow at a piece of equipment and sent it crashing to the floor. “ohhhhhhhhhh crap. Jackie is gonna be SOOOOOO mad.” “How dare you try to kill me! I thought we were Allies! I went back to save you, almost got disfigured by your robot pirate friend, and THIS is how you repay me?” “Please just let me explain-“ A teenager with skin the color of chocolate, blue and pink hair, and a look of rage burst into the room “DUDE! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY MEDICAL EQUIMENT?” “Jackie please let me-“ “THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THAT YOU’VE BROKEN ONE OF MY INVENTIONS! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW EXPENSIVE THAT IS?” “Jackie-“ “AND ITS NOT THAT HARD TO AVOID! LOOK AT ALL OF THIS EQUIPMENT-LESS SPACE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING, KICKING THE MACHINES OVER?” “JACKIE, THE PATIENT IS AWAKE!” The girl known as Jackie stopped and turned toward me. “Oh!” Jackie looked at the fallen machine, then back at me. “Ooooooooooooooooooh” “Sorry about that.” I mumbled. “Hey, you didn’t know, its fine. Besides, I’m the one who should be apologizing. Not only did one of our agents tranquilize you, but you had to lug this idiot around.” “Hey!” Hanin protested. “I’m not an idiot, I’m just annoying.” Jackie sighed. “Ain’t that the truth.” “Wait, agents? Tranquilized? What’s happening?” Jackie whirled toward Hanin. “Did you answer any of her questions?” “Well I tried to, but then she started yelling at me!” Jackie sighed and turned back to me, a pained smile on her face. “Once again, I apologize on behalf of my adoptive father.” I exploded. Literally. Well, maybe a bit figuratively, but it sure felt literal. “YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER?” I screamed at the same time Jackie screamed “YOU DIDN’T TELL HER?” Hanin sighed. “Well, I was planning on telling you later, but yes. Jackie is my officially adopted daughter.” “WHAT ARE YOU GONNA TELL ME NEXT, YOU HAVE A WIFE?” I shouted. “STOP KEEPING PEOPLE IN THE DARK!” Jackie screamed. “My ears are bleeding.” Hanin muttered. Once again, the door burst open. In popped an Asian man with thick dark hair, high cheek bones, and wide, surprised dark eyes. With a jolt, I recognized him. He was the man who’d shot me. “What is all that noise?” he asked, then spotting me added, “oh, you’re awake. Good.” He knelt by my bed, and it took all of my will power not to kick him. “I would like to formally apologize for shooting you in the head with a stun gun. I thought you were an enemy, and wish I had reacted in a better fashion.”