Between friendship and duty (part 4)
The next thing Kent sensed was the distinctive hospital smell. He’d always hated hospitals. He was lying on his stomach despite the fact that he also had wounds there. The hospital gown and blanket was now there to shield him from the world, but nothing could shield him from the memories flooding back. Kent felt the tears sting in his eyes once more. Shaking violently; he grabbed the sides of the bed and buried his face in the pillow, only lifting his head a bit when he had to gasp for air.
“Em?” he heard a familiar voice and turned his head to the side, and the tears now springing from his eyes were tears of anger.
“You?! Why didn’t you come to the apartment? You didn’t even try to do anything! After what I did for you!” Kent yelled at Mark who sad there with a look of pity on his face. It disgusted Kent who had too many thoughts to battle with to be overbearing with his friend who would probably have been killed on sight, had he entered the apartment.
“I- I’m sorry, Em. They were after me not you. I didn’t think they’d do you anything. I’d bought us food, but when I heard their voices I hurried out of the apartment and further up the stairs before they could see me. When they searched the home I fled, and it wasn’t possible for me to return. And I couldn’t get the police for obvious reasons. I’m sorry.”
Kent’s anger flashed up once more at his friends excuse. He really didn’t feel like accepting apologies. “Is MY life of that little importance to you? You couldn’t risk prison for your best friend’s life? Really?!”
“No! But how could I know they would…”
“They sent you a message from my phone! But you know what? They send you another message as well. I was appointed the task of giving it to you, and right now I do it gladly! I’m the example, so you know what awaits you, only you’ll not live to tell the tale!” Kent spat at his friend.
“Are you cooperating with them now?” Mark asked in surprise. He was getting angry with Kent as well which only angered Kent even more. He didn’t have any right to be angry with him. “But I’ll tell you what then. If they ever get to me, I’ll tell them of your part in this and they’ll come back for you, so you better help keep them from me.”
“Hah! Maybe it’s just time for me to go to the police with all of this! They’ll not stop bothering me about it anyway!” Kent sneered, and found that he actually meant it.
Mark’s expression turned from anger to shock. “You wouldn’t!”
“Well I don’t have much to lose now, have I? If they’ll be after my life soon enough anyway.”
Mark grinned wickedly. “No!” He said calmly. “You really wouldn’t. Don’t forget I know where your sister lives, and at any suggestion of you ratting me out, we’ll see what will happen to her. Maybe I’ll just pop over to her house now. See you, my friend!” He put a sarcastic emphasis on the word friend and left the hospital room without as much as a second glance back at Kent who now on top of his guilt, his memories, pain, and humiliation, could add the feeling of betrayal. There was nothing Kent could do. He’d threatened the person Kent loved most in the world. The person he would do anything to protect, even if it meant obeying his former friend’s wishes. He didn’t have a clue of what to tell his colleagues when they got there.
A sudden pain from the newest wounds brought tears to his eyes again, everything that had happened over the last few days clotting up in his mind. He felt angry at how small and vulnerable he was in this entire situation, and that really didn’t help him, when Riley, as the first of his work mates, came there to see him.
“Kent?” a sadness to her caring voice sounded in the room. “I hope it’s alright for me to visit, but we heard what had happened even though it wasn’t on duty, and I’m so sorry.”
Somehow the last words fuelled Kent’s pre-existing anger and he growled. “Yeah well, I am too!” before turning his head away hastily letting his tears soak into the pillow and off of his face.
Riley kept her maternal caring voice on. “I understand that Kent. It’s unfair that it should happen to you. Look if you don’t want to talk about it, we can talk about anything you like, just say the word.”
“Maybe I’ll say the word for the nurse to escort you out. I’m not in the mood for talking,” he said bitterly his head still turned away. Her caring voice just reminded him of how small and vulnerable he was. How anyone would pity him.
Riley sat still for a moment. “Alright - we don’t need to talk. Just know that I’m here for you.”
“Well that’s a comfort. You’re here for me. If I don’t want to talk and you’re just going to sit there, then you might as well not be here.”
Riley didn’t take this too kindly. “Look love, I’m coming here in my spare time as your friend, and though I respect that you’re feeling bad about the situation, I don’t want to be approached this rudely when trying to show my support.”
“Can’t you just show your support elsewhere? Don’t your kids have a football game or something?” Kent snapped again, still looking the other way. He knew he was being unfair to Riley who really wanted him the best, but he couldn’t muster any sympathies at the moment, and he found it was a rather good way of keeping her from asking any questions relating to what had happened.
“Very well then. I hope you’ll be in good health soon. Goodbye!” Riley said keeping up her good manners, cause she knew he was having a tough time, while still mad at the way he treated her, and quite shocked about it too. It wasn't like him.
He couldn’t bring himself to care about her though, and soon he was alone with his thoughts again which was not helping him in any way.
He wasn’t to be alone like that forever though. The nurses kept checking up on him. At one point they had to change his bandages and Kent yelled and cursed at the nurse. He didn’t want anyone to be near him, didn’t want anyone to be in the same room as him, didn’t want to be alone. He didn’t know what he wanted. The nurse was sweet and patient and really tried to make him understand why she had to do what she was doing, but he snapped at her, twisting his upper body, even though he was in pain, to glare at her, and it ended with her leaving and coming back another time. By then, Kent had just had a moment and his pillow was soaked in tears, so not wanting to reveal that to the nurse, he buried his head in the pillow, and let her do, what he knew had to be done.
And eventually the inevitable happened.
“Kent?” the sweetest of voices could be heard. Kent’s heart dropped in his chest. He’d hoped this confrontation wouldn’t happen. Chandler was his superior, but he’d never felt so inferior to him, as he did lying there with all his issues and guilt.
Kent looked up at his boss not letting his face reveal neither pain, sorrow, anger, nor joy.
“I came here as soon as work allowed me to. Are you alright?” Chandler asked looking thoroughly at Kent - only for a brief moment, but Kent still noticed it.
“No I am not,” he informed his superior not wanting to sugar coat anything. He hoped he could contain himself and not be as harsh with Chandler as he had been with Riley, but he already felt angry and bitter again.
“Oh,” Chandler had hoped for the sugar coated answer. “Well, do you hurt? Do you want me to call the…”
“I can do that myself. Why are you here?” Kent asked getting straight to the point.
“I’m here as your friend, but I am also your boss…”
“Of course,” Kent muttered under his breath. Here came the questions.
“Who were the people who attacked you? What happened?” Chandler asked.
“I can’t tell you, sir,” Kent answered looking down.
“What?” Chandler seemed confused.
“I don’t know them.”
“But they were in your home? Oh very well, you must remember what happened. Did they say anything?”
“I got attacked… and they hurt me and left me there. I was able to call an ambulance. Then I blacked out,” Kent said telling the truth but leaving out the things he wanted to talk about the least.
“And you’ve no idea why?”
“No.”
“None at all?”
“No, sir.”
“And they didn’t give you the faintest clue? Did you see them?”
Kent couldn’t pretend he didn’t, as most of his wounds were on his chest, so he faked pain instead.
“Argh… Sorry sir, but…” he panted for extra effect. “Could you please call a nurse? My chest hurts.”
Chandler didn’t hesitate one second.
“Of course, I’ll just-” He hurried out the door, and the nurse was in there swiftly to check up on him.
“I’m sorry, sir, but he seems in too much a pain for visitors right now. Maybe if you could come back tomorrow.”
Chandler gave him a long worried look before heading down the hall, leaving Kent alone once more. He’d overcome a hard challenge. Not giving anything away to Chandler was a tough task, but not as tough as actually figuring out what he could do in his situation. They would want him to press charges against the attackers, but he couldn’t do that. If they were caught, it would lead to Mark which could end badly for his sister.
Kent felt powerless and weak. He had been so prepared to turn himself and Mark in while pressing charges towards his attackers in that brief moment. After what had happened, he was convinced this was the right course of action, but now his sister’s life was threatened, and the only thing that could make his life worse than it was right now was if something happened to Erica. Kent couldn’t bear the thought. His friend knew him well, knew his weakest points, and this threat was extra effective when he was lying helpless in a hospital bed with nothing he could possibly do to help her. Any sign of the police getting involved and who knew what Mark would be capable of doing. He could only hope to get better and spend his days keeping his friend safe from the people who’d done this to him. How could he imagine this ending in anything but a bad way?
Exhausted from the pain and the hopelessness of the situation he was in; he fell into a restless sleep filled with nightmares. He awoke in a cold sweat panting from sheer horror of what his unconscious mind had tortured him with. He’d slept for under an hour and he still felt exhausted, but he was too scared to try to sleep again. He buried his head in the pillow trying to think of something to keep his mind off of reality but without any luck.
“Em?” a concerned voice suddenly rang through the hospital’s busy noises. Kent looked up from the pillow and met his sister’s worried gaze. She quickly walked over to him. “Em! Are you okay? Will you be alright?” She asked deeply concerned with him.
Kent put on a smile for his sister. If there was one person he would accept concern from, it was her. He couldn’t even begin to fathom how he would be feeling had it been her lying in his place, and what must she be seeing right now? A shadow of her brother, wounded and scarred, mad and sleep deprived.
“It’s going to be fine! There’ll be no permanent damage, just a lot of nasty scarring,” he said still keeping up his smile. She let out a sigh of relief.
“Oh Em, I’m sorry I couldn’t make it earlier, but after I’d heard about it, your friend, Mark, stopped by and asked me to take care of your cat while you obviously couldn’t stay in your apartment, and I had to deal with that practically, and I’m so sorry. I brought you a book, some magazines and lots of chocolate to pass the time here though!” she explained, and Kent momentarily lost the smile. What a cunning plan. Now Mark had the perfect excuse to visit his sister. He’d already sorted that out. Where was he now? Waiting outside the hospital looking for any signs that he’d warned his sister? He felt the panic rise within him.
“That’s very kind of you, Erica,” Kent said putting on the smile again, but his change of expression hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“What’s wrong, Em?” she asked, her voice thick with concern.
“Nothing. I just really appreciate that you’re here,” Kent said forming a plan in his head. If any of his colleagues arrived while Erica was there, he could tell them both the truth. His colleague could keep his sister safe from Mark, and they would be on the case and everything would work out for the best, even if Kent was an accomplice to Mark, this was really one of the things that bothered him the least. The truth would probably shock and even hurt certain people, and Kent’s life would be turned upside down, but his sister’s and his own safety were more important.
Erica gave him a cautious smile back.
“So where’s Mansell? Is he with you?” Kent asked hopefully.
“Mansell?” Erica laughed. “What? You’ve warmed up to him lately have you?” she teased referring to the day off Kent had taken. Kent let out a huff of air. “But no, he’s not. I’m so busy this week; I probably won’t even have time to see him.”
Kent cursed inwardly. “Oh right, I was just wondering. Some of my other colleagues have been here, so I thought he might be with you.”
“Honestly, even if I did have the time, I wouldn’t have suggested for him to come along. I didn’t know how you were feeling, and thought it would be best if it was just me.”
“Yeah, thanks!” Kent said appreciating the thought, even though it didn’t go well with his current plans. “What is it that’s keeping you so busy?” he asked in an attempt at chitchat. Maybe he would be lucky and someone would pass by before she had to leave.
“Oh, it’s work. I don’t want to bore you with that. I have to get back to it soon anyway - I don’t want to bore me with that,” she laughed, but the grin quickly faded from her face when she noticed her brother’s expression. She was already planning to leave, and Kent found his new sprung hope fading away.
“You’re already leaving?” his voice almost broke. His emotions were running away with him. He didn’t have any other way of protecting her.
Erica worriedly grabbed his hand. “Why, I have to. Em? What’s wrong?”
Kent tried to draw a big breath to calm himself down, but he stopped mid-breath choking back a sob. He knew he must be a pathetic sight, but maybe it would keep Erica there. He was prepared to throw everything, dignity, self-respect, everything away to keep his sister there. Keep her safe.
“Just please don’t go! I’m frightened, Erica,” of what might happen to you. But he kept the last part for himself, as the tears were forming in his eyes. He saw the effect it had on Erica, and could see that she had to recollect herself before replying.
“Em! I’m so sorry. I will be back. I promise to be back. You’re my brother and I care so deeply for you! You have the best colleagues - they will be caught as soon as possible!” she said giving him a reassuring squeeze of the hand. She obviously thought he’d already pressed charges, because why wouldn’t he have?
She was about to turn around, and Kent took that as a sign that he was leaving. In this moment he had the feeling that if he let her leave now, he’d never see her again.
He grabbed her wrist before she could go anywhere. “Erica!” he pleaded. She turned around in shock.
“Emerson!” she said loudly; clearly confused by this action.
“Please, Erica, I beg you!” Kent remembered how little effect those words had had the last time he’d begged for something, but he wasn’t going to give up.
“Alright, I’ll go there and check with my boss to see if I can get out of the late meeting, and then I’ll be back, okay?” she said attempting to free her arm, but Kent held on tighter. Panicking further, he sobbed as he once again begged for her to stay. Through the crying his grip on her wrist became less firm, and she stepped back and out of his reach, still worryingly looking at him, not wanting to leave him when he was in this state, but still knowing that she had to eventually.
When Kent noticed she’d stepped away, he mistook it for her leaving there and then and figured he had to take a chance. He flung his upper body over the side of the bed reaching as far as he could to reach his sister, but the sudden and violent movement of the upper body ripped his wounds open anew. The pain made him lose control of his upper body and had his sister not been there to support him, he would have fallen off the bed.
She frantically called for help, and when it was discovered what damage he’d done to himself, Erica was sent away so he could be tended to. Between the pain in his chest and seeing his sister go the latter was the worst.
“Em?” he heard a familiar voice and turned his head to the side, and the tears now springing from his eyes were tears of anger.
“You?! Why didn’t you come to the apartment? You didn’t even try to do anything! After what I did for you!” Kent yelled at Mark who sad there with a look of pity on his face. It disgusted Kent who had too many thoughts to battle with to be overbearing with his friend who would probably have been killed on sight, had he entered the apartment.
“I- I’m sorry, Em. They were after me not you. I didn’t think they’d do you anything. I’d bought us food, but when I heard their voices I hurried out of the apartment and further up the stairs before they could see me. When they searched the home I fled, and it wasn’t possible for me to return. And I couldn’t get the police for obvious reasons. I’m sorry.”
Kent’s anger flashed up once more at his friends excuse. He really didn’t feel like accepting apologies. “Is MY life of that little importance to you? You couldn’t risk prison for your best friend’s life? Really?!”
“No! But how could I know they would…”
“They sent you a message from my phone! But you know what? They send you another message as well. I was appointed the task of giving it to you, and right now I do it gladly! I’m the example, so you know what awaits you, only you’ll not live to tell the tale!” Kent spat at his friend.
“Are you cooperating with them now?” Mark asked in surprise. He was getting angry with Kent as well which only angered Kent even more. He didn’t have any right to be angry with him. “But I’ll tell you what then. If they ever get to me, I’ll tell them of your part in this and they’ll come back for you, so you better help keep them from me.”
“Hah! Maybe it’s just time for me to go to the police with all of this! They’ll not stop bothering me about it anyway!” Kent sneered, and found that he actually meant it.
Mark’s expression turned from anger to shock. “You wouldn’t!”
“Well I don’t have much to lose now, have I? If they’ll be after my life soon enough anyway.”
Mark grinned wickedly. “No!” He said calmly. “You really wouldn’t. Don’t forget I know where your sister lives, and at any suggestion of you ratting me out, we’ll see what will happen to her. Maybe I’ll just pop over to her house now. See you, my friend!” He put a sarcastic emphasis on the word friend and left the hospital room without as much as a second glance back at Kent who now on top of his guilt, his memories, pain, and humiliation, could add the feeling of betrayal. There was nothing Kent could do. He’d threatened the person Kent loved most in the world. The person he would do anything to protect, even if it meant obeying his former friend’s wishes. He didn’t have a clue of what to tell his colleagues when they got there.
A sudden pain from the newest wounds brought tears to his eyes again, everything that had happened over the last few days clotting up in his mind. He felt angry at how small and vulnerable he was in this entire situation, and that really didn’t help him, when Riley, as the first of his work mates, came there to see him.
“Kent?” a sadness to her caring voice sounded in the room. “I hope it’s alright for me to visit, but we heard what had happened even though it wasn’t on duty, and I’m so sorry.”
Somehow the last words fuelled Kent’s pre-existing anger and he growled. “Yeah well, I am too!” before turning his head away hastily letting his tears soak into the pillow and off of his face.
Riley kept her maternal caring voice on. “I understand that Kent. It’s unfair that it should happen to you. Look if you don’t want to talk about it, we can talk about anything you like, just say the word.”
“Maybe I’ll say the word for the nurse to escort you out. I’m not in the mood for talking,” he said bitterly his head still turned away. Her caring voice just reminded him of how small and vulnerable he was. How anyone would pity him.
Riley sat still for a moment. “Alright - we don’t need to talk. Just know that I’m here for you.”
“Well that’s a comfort. You’re here for me. If I don’t want to talk and you’re just going to sit there, then you might as well not be here.”
Riley didn’t take this too kindly. “Look love, I’m coming here in my spare time as your friend, and though I respect that you’re feeling bad about the situation, I don’t want to be approached this rudely when trying to show my support.”
“Can’t you just show your support elsewhere? Don’t your kids have a football game or something?” Kent snapped again, still looking the other way. He knew he was being unfair to Riley who really wanted him the best, but he couldn’t muster any sympathies at the moment, and he found it was a rather good way of keeping her from asking any questions relating to what had happened.
“Very well then. I hope you’ll be in good health soon. Goodbye!” Riley said keeping up her good manners, cause she knew he was having a tough time, while still mad at the way he treated her, and quite shocked about it too. It wasn't like him.
He couldn’t bring himself to care about her though, and soon he was alone with his thoughts again which was not helping him in any way.
He wasn’t to be alone like that forever though. The nurses kept checking up on him. At one point they had to change his bandages and Kent yelled and cursed at the nurse. He didn’t want anyone to be near him, didn’t want anyone to be in the same room as him, didn’t want to be alone. He didn’t know what he wanted. The nurse was sweet and patient and really tried to make him understand why she had to do what she was doing, but he snapped at her, twisting his upper body, even though he was in pain, to glare at her, and it ended with her leaving and coming back another time. By then, Kent had just had a moment and his pillow was soaked in tears, so not wanting to reveal that to the nurse, he buried his head in the pillow, and let her do, what he knew had to be done.
And eventually the inevitable happened.
“Kent?” the sweetest of voices could be heard. Kent’s heart dropped in his chest. He’d hoped this confrontation wouldn’t happen. Chandler was his superior, but he’d never felt so inferior to him, as he did lying there with all his issues and guilt.
Kent looked up at his boss not letting his face reveal neither pain, sorrow, anger, nor joy.
“I came here as soon as work allowed me to. Are you alright?” Chandler asked looking thoroughly at Kent - only for a brief moment, but Kent still noticed it.
“No I am not,” he informed his superior not wanting to sugar coat anything. He hoped he could contain himself and not be as harsh with Chandler as he had been with Riley, but he already felt angry and bitter again.
“Oh,” Chandler had hoped for the sugar coated answer. “Well, do you hurt? Do you want me to call the…”
“I can do that myself. Why are you here?” Kent asked getting straight to the point.
“I’m here as your friend, but I am also your boss…”
“Of course,” Kent muttered under his breath. Here came the questions.
“Who were the people who attacked you? What happened?” Chandler asked.
“I can’t tell you, sir,” Kent answered looking down.
“What?” Chandler seemed confused.
“I don’t know them.”
“But they were in your home? Oh very well, you must remember what happened. Did they say anything?”
“I got attacked… and they hurt me and left me there. I was able to call an ambulance. Then I blacked out,” Kent said telling the truth but leaving out the things he wanted to talk about the least.
“And you’ve no idea why?”
“No.”
“None at all?”
“No, sir.”
“And they didn’t give you the faintest clue? Did you see them?”
Kent couldn’t pretend he didn’t, as most of his wounds were on his chest, so he faked pain instead.
“Argh… Sorry sir, but…” he panted for extra effect. “Could you please call a nurse? My chest hurts.”
Chandler didn’t hesitate one second.
“Of course, I’ll just-” He hurried out the door, and the nurse was in there swiftly to check up on him.
“I’m sorry, sir, but he seems in too much a pain for visitors right now. Maybe if you could come back tomorrow.”
Chandler gave him a long worried look before heading down the hall, leaving Kent alone once more. He’d overcome a hard challenge. Not giving anything away to Chandler was a tough task, but not as tough as actually figuring out what he could do in his situation. They would want him to press charges against the attackers, but he couldn’t do that. If they were caught, it would lead to Mark which could end badly for his sister.
Kent felt powerless and weak. He had been so prepared to turn himself and Mark in while pressing charges towards his attackers in that brief moment. After what had happened, he was convinced this was the right course of action, but now his sister’s life was threatened, and the only thing that could make his life worse than it was right now was if something happened to Erica. Kent couldn’t bear the thought. His friend knew him well, knew his weakest points, and this threat was extra effective when he was lying helpless in a hospital bed with nothing he could possibly do to help her. Any sign of the police getting involved and who knew what Mark would be capable of doing. He could only hope to get better and spend his days keeping his friend safe from the people who’d done this to him. How could he imagine this ending in anything but a bad way?
Exhausted from the pain and the hopelessness of the situation he was in; he fell into a restless sleep filled with nightmares. He awoke in a cold sweat panting from sheer horror of what his unconscious mind had tortured him with. He’d slept for under an hour and he still felt exhausted, but he was too scared to try to sleep again. He buried his head in the pillow trying to think of something to keep his mind off of reality but without any luck.
“Em?” a concerned voice suddenly rang through the hospital’s busy noises. Kent looked up from the pillow and met his sister’s worried gaze. She quickly walked over to him. “Em! Are you okay? Will you be alright?” She asked deeply concerned with him.
Kent put on a smile for his sister. If there was one person he would accept concern from, it was her. He couldn’t even begin to fathom how he would be feeling had it been her lying in his place, and what must she be seeing right now? A shadow of her brother, wounded and scarred, mad and sleep deprived.
“It’s going to be fine! There’ll be no permanent damage, just a lot of nasty scarring,” he said still keeping up his smile. She let out a sigh of relief.
“Oh Em, I’m sorry I couldn’t make it earlier, but after I’d heard about it, your friend, Mark, stopped by and asked me to take care of your cat while you obviously couldn’t stay in your apartment, and I had to deal with that practically, and I’m so sorry. I brought you a book, some magazines and lots of chocolate to pass the time here though!” she explained, and Kent momentarily lost the smile. What a cunning plan. Now Mark had the perfect excuse to visit his sister. He’d already sorted that out. Where was he now? Waiting outside the hospital looking for any signs that he’d warned his sister? He felt the panic rise within him.
“That’s very kind of you, Erica,” Kent said putting on the smile again, but his change of expression hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“What’s wrong, Em?” she asked, her voice thick with concern.
“Nothing. I just really appreciate that you’re here,” Kent said forming a plan in his head. If any of his colleagues arrived while Erica was there, he could tell them both the truth. His colleague could keep his sister safe from Mark, and they would be on the case and everything would work out for the best, even if Kent was an accomplice to Mark, this was really one of the things that bothered him the least. The truth would probably shock and even hurt certain people, and Kent’s life would be turned upside down, but his sister’s and his own safety were more important.
Erica gave him a cautious smile back.
“So where’s Mansell? Is he with you?” Kent asked hopefully.
“Mansell?” Erica laughed. “What? You’ve warmed up to him lately have you?” she teased referring to the day off Kent had taken. Kent let out a huff of air. “But no, he’s not. I’m so busy this week; I probably won’t even have time to see him.”
Kent cursed inwardly. “Oh right, I was just wondering. Some of my other colleagues have been here, so I thought he might be with you.”
“Honestly, even if I did have the time, I wouldn’t have suggested for him to come along. I didn’t know how you were feeling, and thought it would be best if it was just me.”
“Yeah, thanks!” Kent said appreciating the thought, even though it didn’t go well with his current plans. “What is it that’s keeping you so busy?” he asked in an attempt at chitchat. Maybe he would be lucky and someone would pass by before she had to leave.
“Oh, it’s work. I don’t want to bore you with that. I have to get back to it soon anyway - I don’t want to bore me with that,” she laughed, but the grin quickly faded from her face when she noticed her brother’s expression. She was already planning to leave, and Kent found his new sprung hope fading away.
“You’re already leaving?” his voice almost broke. His emotions were running away with him. He didn’t have any other way of protecting her.
Erica worriedly grabbed his hand. “Why, I have to. Em? What’s wrong?”
Kent tried to draw a big breath to calm himself down, but he stopped mid-breath choking back a sob. He knew he must be a pathetic sight, but maybe it would keep Erica there. He was prepared to throw everything, dignity, self-respect, everything away to keep his sister there. Keep her safe.
“Just please don’t go! I’m frightened, Erica,” of what might happen to you. But he kept the last part for himself, as the tears were forming in his eyes. He saw the effect it had on Erica, and could see that she had to recollect herself before replying.
“Em! I’m so sorry. I will be back. I promise to be back. You’re my brother and I care so deeply for you! You have the best colleagues - they will be caught as soon as possible!” she said giving him a reassuring squeeze of the hand. She obviously thought he’d already pressed charges, because why wouldn’t he have?
She was about to turn around, and Kent took that as a sign that he was leaving. In this moment he had the feeling that if he let her leave now, he’d never see her again.
He grabbed her wrist before she could go anywhere. “Erica!” he pleaded. She turned around in shock.
“Emerson!” she said loudly; clearly confused by this action.
“Please, Erica, I beg you!” Kent remembered how little effect those words had had the last time he’d begged for something, but he wasn’t going to give up.
“Alright, I’ll go there and check with my boss to see if I can get out of the late meeting, and then I’ll be back, okay?” she said attempting to free her arm, but Kent held on tighter. Panicking further, he sobbed as he once again begged for her to stay. Through the crying his grip on her wrist became less firm, and she stepped back and out of his reach, still worryingly looking at him, not wanting to leave him when he was in this state, but still knowing that she had to eventually.
When Kent noticed she’d stepped away, he mistook it for her leaving there and then and figured he had to take a chance. He flung his upper body over the side of the bed reaching as far as he could to reach his sister, but the sudden and violent movement of the upper body ripped his wounds open anew. The pain made him lose control of his upper body and had his sister not been there to support him, he would have fallen off the bed.
She frantically called for help, and when it was discovered what damage he’d done to himself, Erica was sent away so he could be tended to. Between the pain in his chest and seeing his sister go the latter was the worst.