Images in the Mirror-Part 9

Chapter Nine1

I'm not sure how long I was unconscious.  The last thing I remembered was holding onto Mike's hand for dear life and then everything swirling into oblivion around me.  I woke up in the infirmary with a feeding tube down my throat, an IV in my hand, a heart monitor on my chest and a catheter in…me.  My body felt bloated from the nourishment that it was being forced to consume.  I couldn't stand it.  I grasped the tube, drew in a deep breath and yanked, hard.  As soon as the tube was out of my mouth, I vomited.  I didn't force myself or anything, it was just because I was weak and the tube had hit my gag reflex coming up.  2

The commotion I caused by pulling the feeding tube out summoned a few doctors and nurses.  They all stood around my bed and stared down at me.  I was crying a little, just from the raw pain in my throat from ripping the tube out.  3

"Well, you really had us convinced that you were eating, Arachne."  One of the doctors told me.  "But apparently, you're a better actress than we imagined.  So…how long have you been scamming us?"  He asked, crossing his arms.  Well, he certainly didn't like to beat around the bush.  4

I opened my mouth and a ripping pain shot through my throat, a small squeak emitted and that was it.  The damn doctors just had to give me the tube, didn't they?  I crossed my arms and glared at them.  They continued to stare at me expectantly; I just kicked back and gave them a cool stare, pursing my lips.  When I got tired of them being around I lifted up my hand and patiently gave them the finger.  I wasn't in a hurry; I had all the time in the world. 5

The stare down only lasted about five minutes and they left me alone, telling me that they would be back later to weigh me and give me something to eat.  Yeah right, they could try.  6

I closed my eyes and drifted back off to sleep.  When I woke back up, one of the doctors was shaking me.  I growled and swatted at the hand angrily.  I was awake; he didn't need to shake me.  7

"Do you know why you passed out?"  He asked, listening to my heartbeat.8

Like I know anything about how my body works, jackass.  "No.  But do tell me, I'm dying to know."9

He gave me a look.  "You suffered from a mild heart attack due to you starving yourself."  He paused.  "The running increased your adrenaline and heart rate and in your condition…that's not a good thing.  Your adrenaline and blood pressure shot through the roof, causing you to have a heart attack."  10

I nodded, reality sinking in slightly.  I was still fat, and already, my body was giving out on me.  It was horrible.  He pushed a tray in front of me and ordered me to eat.  I groaned and lifted up the apple that was on my tray, crunching into it, juices flooded my mouth and I almost threw up on the spot.  I chewed it slowly, as though the more I chewed, the more apple would leave my mouth.  I swallowed finally and glared up at him.  "Happy?"  11

The doctor nodded blankly, "I'm going to let a few of your friends in, they've been chomping at the bit to see you since they heard you were in here."  He answered and I nodded.  12

Tenna, Kristine and Alexia barged in, each looking slightly worried.  I raised my eyebrows at them and smirked, "didn't think you could get rid of me that easily, did you?"13

Tenna sighed, "Oh thank God, you haven't changed any."  She threw her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly and squeezing all of the air out of my lungs.14

I grunted, "Can't breathe…leggo of me!"  15

She pulled away and blushed deeply, "my bad.  So what happened?"  She bit her lip nervously, chewing on it.  16

I shrugged, "heart attack.  Nothing major."  It wasn't hard playing cool when I said that, but I had to.  I had a reputation to protect; being a hard bitch wasn't as easy as it panned out to be.  17

She stared at me blankly, "nothing major?  Arachne-you could have died!"  She shrilled.18

I rolled my eyes, "that's why I'm here!"  I shouted back.  "If you guys are just going to stand there and yell at me the entire time, I suggest you leave.  Because I'm not going to deal with it."  My head ached and my stomach grumbled loudly.  I glanced over at the tray, teasing myself with food that I knew I couldn't have.  I couldn't eat, if I were to eat, then I would get fat, and all my hard work would have been for nothing.  19

My doctor came in about a half hour after they left, he tried to smile at me and then his face straightened up and became stern.  He began to take my blood pressure and listened to my heartbeat and things, making sure that I wasn't going to die on them in the middle of the night.20

"So…what's everyone's punishment?"  I asked finally, sounding as bored as I was.  21

His lips turned at the corners.  "Well, you've had all of their privileges taken away, and you're grounded for the next month."22

My eyes widened, "just for trying to go outside to have a cigarette!  That's insane!  People have gone totally AWOL in here and they've only been stuck in a level one!"  I shouted, outraged.23

"DON'T-yell at me."  He snapped.  I stiffened and drew in a breath through my nose loudly.  What a prick.  24

When he was finished getting all the data he needed, he left and I was left in the bed again, alone.  I sighed, "well this sucks."  I said to myself, sinking into the bed.  I counted the tiles on the walls until someone came through and turned all of the lights off.  I pretended to go to sleep when the nurse came around to make sure that everyone was asleep, as soon as she was gone, the thought of my sister hit me again and I swallowed hard.  I couldn't cry anymore.  I was Arachne Heale…I did not cry.  It was just something that I didn't do.  25

So why was I wanting to so badly?26