After midnight // Gala(Cameo)

"I'm nothing..." Jins is right. I am nothing. I have done nothing but hurt the people around me that I love. Poor Gala. She did nothing to deserve this. That creep... how did he even get to her. What lies did he feed her. Training her? What else did he do to her. Did he hurt her? Did he hit her or something? Did he use her like he did me? I cringe heavily and lean over, pushing on my stomach in order to drop my head into my hands. There, the water pools again. My vision acting as though I'm looking through a glass of water at the half lit floor beneath my feet. I take a deep breath, but it still hurts. I shouldn't be alive. Gala shouldn't be alive. Yet, here we both are. We are both breathing. Both injured, but alive. I think I'm more scarred mentally from this harrowing ordeal because I've no where to go now. I'm blank. I feel as though I'm being pulled down with so much weight. If I step down from this bed, I'll break through the floor.

"Kyanite?" I give a silent gasp. My head turns quickly, aggrivating my neck, so I have to hiss out and I bring my hand up to deal with it. I turn my body slowly to meet with the little girl in front of me. The tiny features of her face I can barely see from the light of the door. Her small nose. Full lips. Her hair seems to be in a mess that lays beside her because of the pool water. Pool water hair... never dries to look nice. Gala... my dear friend... I'm totally speechless. A moment ago, I let the words out as I felt them. Now that I hear her awake, she's taken all the words. I have nothing more to say. "What happened?"

What happened? You were nearly killed by my abuser. My bully. My nightmare come true. I slowly bring a hand up to my mouth and cover it. Once again, my head dips downward not caring to be gentle with my own body. This time, I dont conceal the tears that want to fall. It takes me a few moments before I feel like I'm able to say anything again. Before I look into Gala's concern filled eyes. I go to speak, but nothing but my cracking voice seems to come out. I cough, just slightly, trying to get my voice to work as it should before I start talking to Gala.

"You're okay, Gala." I tell her, because I want to tell her she's going to be fine. I dont want her to be scared, but my words are uncensored from this point on. "I've never been so scared in my life. I'm sorry. It's all my fault. It really is. There's so much in my past that has happened that I've never said before... the reasons... why it all happened. I never should have saved him cause if I didn't, you'd be okay. You wouldn't be in here."

My voice wavers the entire time I talk. Some words come out a bit dry causing me to cough in the middle, but I push through no matter what. I look down, and see the IV that is in my hand and I move it quickly to hide it. I don't want her to see it. I don't want her to know what he had done to me. I could have died and Gala would never have known. Since I'm sitting here, I don't want her to know at all. I'm doing my part to protect her. I'm doing my part to keep her safe. She tried to save me. That's what she's going to know and think.

"Gala... I almost killed Jins when we were little. That's what this is all about. You did nothing wrong, you hear? You did everything you could to save me. You're my little hero. You know that right?" I lean over, and let my face rest neatly on her shoulder, letting my hands move to either side of her to give her a gentle hug. Not tight at all. I'm all too afraid if I do put any amount of pressure on the girl, that I would break her. She looks so pale and fragile.

"The hospital?" My heart simply breaks when out of all the words that came out, she's just now starting to pick up on the fact that she's in the hospital of all places. It's hard to deal with. Is this the first time she's woken up or has she just been lingering in the darkness of the room for a while, unable to really put two and two together. Maybe she thought she was at home, sleeping in her bed and all of this is merely just a bad dream? A nightmare? My nightmare that she just happened to be in. There's no waking up from this though. All of this is as real as it comes. The needles. The smell. The uncomfortable beds and pillows. It has no comforts of home at all unless you have someone here with you to touch your hand or sooth you with their voice. In my case, it was Jeran's loud breaths that tried to comfort me. He took to the chair beside my bed, sleeping in it. I just hope that he stays asleep for a while. I don't want to be forced to go back to the bed right now. I've only just got to check on Gala when she was awake.

"I know you hate the hospital. I'm sorry..." Is all I can muster up. My explanation of what had happened seems to go through her mind. It swirls around the room. The feelings of what happened never going away. The weight of my words coming out seem to just surround me and push on my shoulders until I feel myself drawing over more and more. I'm unsteady. Unwilling to just let the blame on myself go for all of this happening. Her small and fragile figure just lays there without any knowledge past what happened in the pool room. How Jins ended up getting his hands on me because of the guys that raced to save her life. I wouldn't have it any other way. Her life is so much more precious than mine is or will ever be. She's never had to endure the torment I had.

She was meant to live more than I was. That is a true fact. The words that spilled from my lips that one time in front of Max is so evident and true. Some people aren't meant to be saved. Maybe, my own words are a curse? I was almost killed yet again. Twice, my life has been put on the line. Twice, I've been brought back from the beyond; the second time was nearly impossible to save.

What will the third time hold?

The next time will more than likely be my last. I just know it. The hunger games themselves? Is that my sentence? Perhaps, my life needs a safety line on it now and hopefully, with these people that I have somehow- consequently found, they may just be my saving grace. They've all went through so much to do what I needed them, too, without so much as just a desperate call for help.

"Yeah..." Her tiny voice cracks out when I call her my hero. I need her to realize that she is one despite everything that has happened. I lean down to give her an upmost gentle hug, just so glad that she's alive and right now, in the wee hours of the night, awake. When I had came in earlier with the assistance of Max, things looked a little more dire. Her tiny form was hooked up to more monitors. Her face was deathly pale and pained. Now, in the darkness of the room, I can't see her physical condition, but her voice breaks my heart more than ever.

Somehow, in the darkness, I can see the wetness forming at her eyes. Tears? I reach over with the upmost care, careful to keep my feet from slipping on the floor as I grab a tissue from the box and gently lean over to her. My fingers reach up with the tissue and catches the tears before they can fall. I'm the over protective sister now. I'm the guilty friend. I have done nothing but hurt her since the first time we've met. I've broken her arm. Cut her. And practically killed her. How can she even stand to be near me. Why don't she kick me out?

"Whatcha in for?" She doensn't want me out. I don't think. It's a casual conversation. I can hear that. I hear the way she's trying to be her usual self even if she is stuck in this bed. I don't want her to try to do to much. I only just want her to relax. So, in responce, I make a shushing noise and crumple the tissue within my hand. A sigh escapes me as I swallow hard against the lump in my swollen throat.

"Just precautions. Sore back. Had a terrible landing when you decided to lure the predator away from me. Hurt a lot. I'll be out of here in the morning. So, see. I'm fine!" I try to convince, but will she take it? Will she be able to recognize that rift in my voice as Matthew has or might she be too far in pain and medications that she'd believe anything?

I can't help but place my hand on hers. My fingers extend over the four tiny fingers, and curl around them. Her finger tips feel so cold. I turn to look at the monitor and look at the numbers. The saline that's running through her system keeping her hydrated and internal organs working just fine. How the blood pressure readings are still on the machine and even though I don't know what the number mean, the relatively low numbers aren't good. Not even her heartrate is fast at all. The casual check of her heart is only beating just under seventy. Did she lose that much blood in the water? Did the cut hurt her that bad? What else happened to her while I was being manhandled?

"How you feeling Gala? Hurting? Do you need anything?" A hiccup suddenly comes from within, and it sends a wave of unnerving fears racking my body. Again, I feel my fingers shaking. My body's reactions to seeing my best friend so hurt is tearing me apart. I keep my gaze on the girl and my eyes start scanning every possible visible part of her body. THough, my eyes rest upon her head, and a deep color is barely noticable in this dark room, but my eyes linger on it anyways. I study it as if it isn't real. A bruise?

"Gala... please tell me something. You don't have to, but I would like for you to." I sigh. This is going to be the hardest conversation I've ever had with someone becuase I know the Jins is. Getting close to someone. I don't think she'd keep something like this away from me. I know she won't. "Jins... never hurt you before has he? He's never tried anything? If he's done anything to you... I'll go straight to the peacekeepers right now."

"Morning? Take me with you?" Gala pleads with me in such a soft and gentle voice. It is something that I, myself, never want to hear from her. She's not soft and gentle. She's a rough and tumble girl that I've falled in love with as a sister. A younger sibling that I've always wanted because she seems to look up to me in ways I never noticed before. Why did she have to lure Jins away? Why didn't she listen to me and get out of there? If she had only done what I told her, I could have held Jins off long enough for her to get help, but she didn't listen. Does she ever? I can't contain a sigh that escapes me though my eyes still linger on the machines at this moment in time.

"I can't Gala. You need to rest and heal, okay? You know you won't get that at home. Hating the hospital is great and all, but you got to admit, they do a good job getting injured ones better, right? I'll be here everyday. Promise." I let that word slip out of my mouth. Promise. Promise. I will be here at the hospital everyday to check on her and Matthew. I just hope he's okay. Jeran wouldn't take me to go see him. I guess something must have been said to him about the way I reacted to coming to visit Gala earlier that day. I couldn't help it. It all got to be too much for me. Collasping under the pressure of seeing her then must be helping me now. It isn't that much of a shock but the medications to keep me calm is still lingering within my blood, it seems.

Concern over the small girls comes out, asking with formalities about her well being and if she desires anything to keep her well and comforted. She only responds by saying that she is cold. If I have to, I will rob the other bed of the blanket for her or if I have to, give her my own from my bed. She deserves it so much more than I do. That is a fact. The blanket will wait though because I've not had my time with Gala just yet. Seeing her awake, when earlier she wouldn't, is playing hard with my emotional stability. I'm more than scared that after all this has happened, the following days are going to be hard to deal with. Without Matthew to snuggle with or Gala to have by my side, I'm going to have to be the one with the strength to endure. How can I though? I'm just as broken as them... Their wounds are merely more physical right now. How can I help?

A moment later, I wrap my fingers around her and it's almost like the heat that radiates from my fingers fuels her some words that want to explain something. I don't speak nor hardly breath. I just listen to her faint voice. It's actually quite painful to do so, but I keep my face still and eyebrows furrowed. Her responce is what I crave in order to have a clear conscious from yet another thing that I don't need to feel guilty for.

"Only tricked me to invite you to meet him." She whispers out as she collects yet another pool of liquid at the bottom of her eyes. They stay there; unmoving. Forbidding to fall down her cheek as she waits for me to say something. I can't though. My throat is burning too much as I swallow hard against the swelling. Then something else comes out and it seems to make her fearful.

"No. He is locked up. I... I've heard he was. Detained. He won't come after you anymore." Is what I say, but I know that as long as he is alive, I will always have reasons to be fearful. The next time, no one will be around to refill my lungs with the precious oxygen it needs. The next time, the blade will cut deep within my skin, I'm sure. The next time I can imagine will be the death of me; at his hands.

I dip my head downward because I can't show her the emotions flowing through my eyes. I won't let her see the mirrored image of fear that she expressed when she asked if he was locked up. I dont' know all of the stories, but I do know that he is gone for now. At least we might be able to heal just enough without him threatening our lives again.

"Gala, I'm sorry to have kept you awake. You need you're sleep, I know. Rest for a minute, okay? I'm going to get you a blanket." I tell her and I push off from the bed and leave her laying there as I make it to the end of her bed and I cast a glance in her direction before reaching for the wall for support as I make my way to the door. Out in the hallway, one of the caretakers walks by and notices me immediately.

"Miss Ruze, what are you doing out of your bed? You need to get back, alright. Let me help you?" She states and with her dark skinned arm, she wraps it around my back, and one hand stays on my arm for support.

"No. Please. Don't make me go back to my room. Gala, needs a blanket. She's cold. Will you get that for her, please? I need to make sure she stays warm..." I tell the woman, and a flash of concern comes over her eyes for me and she gazes into the room that I'm standing in front of. She nods gently.

"You're friend is going to be alright, Miss Ruze. We're taking good care of her, but we can't allow you to stay..."

I push out of her grip and let my back gently find the wall as I back up. "Just a few more minutes, please? I don't want to leave her. It's my fault she's in here. He only hurt her to get to me. Don't make me leave her alone?"

The woman raises one of her hands and gives me a gentle smile. Even though regulations for the hospital isn't suppose to let her, she gives me a nod. "I'll get her a warm blanket. I'll be right back." She states and something in her vision makes want to retreat back into Gala's room. I do. Slowly, I walk back in and take the chair beside her bed. Only a minute later does the caretaker bring in a blanket and as she lays it on GAla, I feel the heat pulling off of it as though it just came from a dryer.

"Thank you." I mutter.