Chapter Text
It was bright, maybe even a little too bright, when Kate opened her eyes. She left the curtain open again in her room, and the light seemed too amply by the off-white color of the walls. Maybe that was what people meant by hospitals being unpleasant.
Kate liked to think as much anyways, even though she knew that it was more than the color of the rooms. Hospitals just seemed to have that air about them. It housed the sick and injured, sometimes the air could be even a little spoiled. Chemicals, Kate would like to blame, but that alone wouldn’t spoil the air.
Death, Kate reminded herself, death is what spoils the air that the living people breathe.
Its morbid Kate guessed, but it’s the mindset she’s had since she – since she. Kate shook her head.
No time to dwell on such a thing as that, Kate thought, I’m here. I’m alive thanks to Max, I shouldn’t need to dwell on what could have been.
Still a shiver runs down her spine all in the same. Had Max not saved her, Kate would have ended up as a cold body against cold hard concrete, and possibly all over the internet if her Blackwell peers had it their way.
Death’s the final stage in life, people live out their lives and when it’s time they’re buried or burned. That only made Kate pray after Max’s intervention. Max, her friend and personal angel, had saved her. She’d like to believe it was God’s plan – but sometimes even she has had trouble acknowledging it.
Was God real? Kate wasn’t completely sure, but prayers were hard to break – and Kate has tried her best to keep it up. She did it for her father, his love for her. She did it for her sisters, they look up to Kate. She did it for Max, who saved her in more ways than just the obvious one. Kate even prayed for her mother, just in spite of her.
But still Kate was left unsure. She’s alive, has been in the hospital for nine days now, but she can’t get herself to that level of love just yet for the Holy Spirit. She forgave of course, she wouldn’t be Kate Beverly Marsh without holding on to what she was taught – in some aspects, and it had helped her cope.
“Hey, Katie,” her nurse, Miss Kimberly, called from her doorway – drawing Kate from her thoughts. “I’m glad to see you’re up early.”
“Good morning, Miss Kimberly.” Kate said politely, pushing herself to sit upright and cranes her neck just so to look at her nurse. “I forgot to close the curtain last night, and the light got me.”
“Were you up late again sketching?” Miss Kimberly asked with a kind smile.
Kate felt her face flush in embarrassment. While it was true she had spent time sketching in her book, she hadn’t thought the staff knew her well enough to know that.
“Am I that obvious,” Kate felt her voice squeak a little, coming out more small and high pitched than she had expected.
“Not at all dear,” Miss Kimberly assured, raising her hands up a little and her smile intact, “I’ve seen your work, and I figured you spent your time sketching when you don’t have visitors to entertain.”
“It’s soothing,” Kate admitted as much, her cheeks still flushed, but not as bad as before. “Entertain doesn’t seem like the right word,” Kate also adds, rubbing the back of her neck. “I only talk when talked to, and it’s often filled with odd silence.”
“It’s something to adjust to,” Miss Kimberly nods her head in what seemed to be agreement, Kate’s not exactly sure. “You’re my first stop, I should probably head out to see Dakota next, but would you like anything for breakfast today?”
“Just some chamomile tea and a pancake?” Kate asked, knowing her voice sounded hopeful.
“Nice try, Katie.” Miss Kimberly chuckled, “I mean within the hospital’s own cafeteria.”
“Wishful thinking,” Kate grumbled, puffing her bottom lip out in a pout. “I’ll be fine with a bagel and chocolate milk.”
“Now that can be arranged,” Kate heard the sigh in Miss Kimberly’s voice, and watched Miss Kimberly’s shoulders slump. “I really hope you’ll eat actual cafeteria food before you leave here. Not sure how anyone can start their day with a bagel.”
“I would if I could stomach the food,” Kate shrugged, feeling slightly guilty at admitting it, but knew it was better to be truthful.
“That’s understandable,” Miss Kimberly sighed, again. “Most of you kids are all the same when it comes to the food, I hope we get better funding to make the food more…bearable?”
Kate only grinned at Miss Kimberly, conveying that she hoped as much too. When the air seemed to be occupied by the silence between them, Kate watched Miss Kimberly dip her head – indicating that she was taking her leave for now and Kate gave her a small wave in turn.
Kate was now left alone with her thoughts, but she did not let herself dwell on anything. Instead she decided it was time to get up, and change into something clean. She only has another week left in the hospital, she should start getting back on her normal schedule.
Besides Kate would feel restless if she only sat in bed all day. Slowly Kate picked out a simple gray sweatshirt, dark blue denim jeans, black socks, underwear, and her brown boots. She carried them all to the bathroom to take a shower and get ready for her day.
Maybe sitting in bed all day wasn’t a bad thing. Kate wanted to think as much when Miss Kimberly made her rounds again, only she didn’t have Kate’s food. Kate had to do a double take to make sure her eyes were working.
Instead of food, Miss Kimberly was side by side with – even though Kate’s eyes still didn’t want to believe it – Victoria Chase. Kate looked back and forth between the two, noticing how uncomfortable Miss Kimberly had looked beside the scowling blonde. It still made Kate’s heart flutter, although she’d assume it was because she knew how mean Victoria could be.
Still Kate allowed herself to smile, albeit nervously. “Miss Kimberly, Victoria,” her voice almost faltered, “what a surprise?”
“Yeah, well.” Victoria grumbled, Kate watched her shift from foot to foot. “I said I’d visit after the last time I came by didn’t I?”
Oh, Kate realized, Victoria actually meant she would stop by again. This would be the fourth time.
Out of all her visitors only Max, Max’s friend Chloe, and Victoria had visited Kate the most. Her family managed to visit her twice and some of her friends stopped by once before the week got a little hectic. Still it had surprised Kate, given her past with Victoria.
“I – I remember,” Kate smiled, despite the nervous bubble in her chest. “I just didn’t think you’d be back so soon?”
“I could leave if you want.”
“She can leave if you’re uncomfortable.”
Kate swallowed thickly when Victoria looked directly at Miss Kimberly, who seemed to look back at Victoria unfazed. It was still early in the morning, just a little past eight. Kate remembered during one of Victoria’s visits, when Victoria chose to be a little more open, that she mentioned she wasn’t exactly a morning person.
Kate believed it of course, thinking back on all the times she shared a morning class with Victoria, and had seen firsthand at how catty Victoria could get. Slowly Kate shook her head, deciding it was best to not turn Victoria away when she had gotten up early to see her.
“No it’s fine Miss Kimberly,” Kate said, allowing herself to relax and smile slightly. “Victoria is good company to have, she’s just not a morning person.”
Miss Kimberly didn’t seem to believe it, but shouting drew her attention away from Kate. Kate, herself, didn’t know what the shouting was about, but Miss Kimberly seemed to spring in action – leaving Kate and Victoria alone.
“Well, that was weird.” Victoria finally said, walking into Kate’s room and closing the door behind her. “I hope you don’t mind but I brought us some food.” Victoria gestured to the bag in one hand and the tray with two drinks in the other.
Kate felt her heart swell at Victoria’s thoughtfulness, and her stomach grumble a little. The noise was not lost on Victoria, and Kate heard the all too familiar click of Victoria’s tongue.
“Glad I stopped at Two Whales then,” Victoria smirked, causing Kate to blush. “You wanna eat at the table or on your bed?”
“Table.” Kate managed to get out, slipping off of her bed. “Thank you for bringing me some food Victoria.”
Kate did not miss the dust of pink on Victoria’s face when she looked away, nor did she miss the way Victoria’s brows furrowed slightly. Finally, after making her way over to the table, Victoria looked at Kate, and placed the bag and tray down.
“I was hungry, and didn’t want to be rude.” The words didn’t hold any bite to them, but it still made Kate feel a little flustered. “Also the cafeteria food here is awful, so there is that.”
Kate only nodded her head, taking a seat at the table the same time Victoria dug into the bag for the food. “I got you a pancake with some bacon, if that’s cool. Joyce, the waitress, was even chill enough to give me syrup cups.”
“That was nice of her,” Kate said, smiling kindly when Victoria hands her the plastic container that holds her food. “I asked Miss Kimberly for pancakes this morning, so you’ve delivered me exactly what I’ve been craving.”
“You told me how much you missed your dad’s pancakes in the morning, so it was the least I could do.” Victoria grumbled as she opened her own container, keeping her gaze focused on her food.
“Y-you remembered that?” Kate asked, feeling slightly in awe at the thoughtfulness coming from Victoria. “I told you that our first visit after I – after I…”
“After you cried thinking I was going to be a bitch to you,” Victoria added, after taking a bite of her food. “It’s okay, I haven’t exactly been the best to you.”
Kate could only nod her head, drizzling the syrup on her pancakes. She wanted to say something – anything to convey that she doesn’t think that now, but there are still times when she doubts it. Kate can only seem to focus on picking up her fork, and taking a bite of her food.
Kate was grateful that Victoria doesn’t say anything either, simply allowing them to bask in the silence that resides within Kate’s hospital room. When her throat began to feel particularly dry Kate tentatively grabbed the drink with her name on it.
Slowly Kate took an unsure sips of it, before realizing that it was chamomile tea.
“Is it the right kind of tea?” Victoria finally asked, drawing Kate's attention to her. “I had to give Caulfield some shit before she told me you liked chamomile tea. She wasn’t wrong was she? I’ll pay her a visit if she was.”
“You don’t have to,” Kate answered quickly, waving her hands at Victoria. “Max and I often have tea dates and talk, she got it right when she told you I like chamomile tea. Honestly I thought you were some kind of mind reader when I took a sip of it.” Kate allowed herself to smile and bloom at the fact that Victoria, despite everything, was trying. “I’ve been wanting chamomile since I’ve been here or well any tea really, so thank you very much Victoria.”
Victoria flushed deeper than she did earlier, it would seem so to Kate, and does not say anything right away. Instead she picked up her own drink, and proceeds to drink from it – choosing to look at the wall as she does. Kate can only feel her heart flutter again, feeling happy that she can make Victoria blush. Kate wasn’t sure if she should say more though, not wanting to press her luck with Victoria or somehow end up irritating her.
Instead of saying anything Kate takes a moment to appreciate how nice Victoria looked. Her hair was slightly ruffed, face looked freshly cleaned – like she showered before grabbing their breakfast, and her outfit was simple. A black v-neck shirt, blue shorts, and white converses. It made Kate slightly happy that she didn’t dress up like she normally did at the Academy, and it felt like she was seeing the real Victoria under the young woman she’s made herself to be.
Kate felt her face heat up at the realization that she staring, knowing that it was rude of her to, but luckily Victoria doesn’t notice. Mainly because Kate looked away upon hearing shouting. The door to her room bursts open, revealing Miss Kimberly heaving in the door way. It caused both Kate and Victoria to stand at the sight of her, especially because her uniform had blood splatter on it.
“Hey, Katie,” Miss Kimberly said, her voice wavering, “There isn’t much time. I need you and your visitor to leave.”
“Leave?”
“Doesn’t she have to sign paperwork?”
“T-that’s not important now,” Miss Kimberly nearly shouted, looking back into the hallway crazed before looking back at Kate and Victoria. “Collect your things now and leave, I have to warn the others. I don’t have time to explain anything besides not to trust anyone with a bite mark on them.”
Kate felt her heart pound against her rib cage, only half sure on what Miss Kimberly meant. She didn’t exactly have much time to question her on it either, because Miss Kimberly had hurried away from her door – possibly off to warn another patient.
Kate didn’t miss the blood on Miss Kimberly’s arm or the fact that it looked as if someone bit a chunk out of it.
“That was weird shit,” Victoria finally said, “think it’s a prank, I mean the blood looked fake so.”
“No,” Kate answered, moving around her room quickly – gathering her things. “Miss Kimberly hates pranks, as much as she hates rudeness. Can you grab my sketch book?” Kate had asked while gathering the rest of her photos and putting them in her book bag.
“Kate you can’t be serious,” Victoria groaned, even though Kate saw from her peripheral vision Victoria grabbing her sketch book. “There’s paperwork to be filled out and don’t you still need – ”
Victoria’s voice died down by the scream emanating somewhere down in the hallway, Kate felt her heart seize a moment, before slinging her bag over her shoulder and grabbing Victoria’s hand.
“I’ll tell you in your car?” Kate’s voice sounded raw, even to her own ears, and low. Victoria only nodded her head at Kate, gripping Kate’s hand tightly. “Just stay close to me, and then help me find your car because I’ll be lost after that.”
“Okay.” Victoria only managed to say, Kate knew that she was focused on the hallway too.
Kate didn't give herself time to think, knowing she was leaving some belongings behind in the room they’re in, and pulled Victoria along with her. They quickly leave her room, both notice the blood smeared on the walls, and grip onto each other’s hand a little tighter.
Kate for her part, doesn’t stop and sob. She’s frightened, there was no denying that, but she can’t falter with Victoria near her. They rush passed people screaming or being chased by others covered in blood. It looked like something out of a horror movie, and Kate was quickly losing her nerve.
They made it out of the hospital without being detected for whatever that was worth, and Victoria quickly sprang into action, leading Kate to her car without question.
Once they made it, Victoria fumbled for her keys – looking shaken by what they had seen. Kate wanted to reach out for her, and felt that she needed to. But couldn’t out of fear that she might upset Victoria by the unwelcomed touch.
Everything was happening so fast. Their visit, the meal, Miss Kimberly – the blood. Kate exhaled sharply when Victoria bent down for her keys, noticing Miss Kimberly not too far behind her.
Except she didn’t look like Miss Kimberly. Her mouth was covered in blood, her eyes crazed. Kate wanted to scream, but her voice lodged into her throat almost painfully. The only thing she could do was react, by pushing Victoria out of the way by the time she noticed Miss Kimberly moving.
“What the f – ”
Kate ignored Victoria in favor of swinging her bag at Miss Kimberly’s face – hard, sending a silent prayer for forgiveness for what she was about to do. Without even missing a beat, Kate swung her bag again, knocking Miss Kimberly down, and giving Kate enough time to grab the scissors in her bag.
“Unlock the doors,” Kate said sharply, her soft voice raw as she slammed the sharp end into Miss Kimberly’s head, “now, Victoria we can’t stay here!”
When Kate removed the scissors, she looked up to see other people like Miss Kimberly slowly exiting the hospital and she rushed over to the passenger door of Victoria’s car. Thankfully Victoria had listened to her, and she was able to slip inside. Neither bothered with seat belts when Victoria’s car peeled away from the parking lot. Neither knew what to say at first. Kate had reacted by baser instincts, self-preservation and had also saved Victoria’s life.
It still shook her a little, as she looked down at the blood. The adrenaline had finally left, and with her clean hand Kate had covered her mouth.
“Fuck, no.” Victoria nearly yelled, “No, no you don’t. Not in my fucking car.” Kate doesn’t mind the swearing right now, and is all too happy when Victoria pulled over – after already being a ways away from the hospital to let Kate relieve herself of breakfast. “Fucking great,” Victoria groans, “why couldn’t you fucking do that after you scissored the bitchy nurse?”
“Too many coming out of the hospital,” Kate gasped after pulling herself back into Victoria’s car, shutting and locking her door as she does. “Not much time for that when we needed to get away.”
“We still technically need to,” Victoria griped, glaring at the road ahead of them. “It’s great that the hospital is basically an hour from Arcadia Bay, but how do we know it’s not the same there?”
“We don’t.” Kate admitted, going to fumble with Victoria’s radio as Victoria put her foot on the gas. There is a bunch of radio stations basically playing regular music, it baffled Kate a little at how no one seemed to be aware of what exactly happened at the hospital. “No one is talking about it. Shouldn't there be like a warning or bulletin on the radio or a safe zone?”
“I don’t fucking know,” Victoria nearly snapped, Kate can tell by the white of her knuckles that she’s still reeling. “Look maybe the cost is clear in the Bay, but what exactly are we going to do if it isn’t?”
“It doesn’t matter if the Bay is like the hospital, we just need to get to Blackwell Academy to collect some clothes and find a safe spot.”
“God you sound like one of those survivalists.” Victoria said, with less bite.
“My dad taught me and my sisters a few things on surviving.” Kate admitted, holding onto her bag tightly. "That thing at the hospital and with Miss Kimberly,” Kate swallowed thickly, feeling guilty, “There was talk around the seventh night into my stay there Victoria, about a patient who came in with a bite on his shoulder. I only remember them saying he died and that was it, but by the next day one of the nurses commented on how he woke right up.”
“That sounds like some zombie bullshit,” Victoria nearly spat, but she only seemed to keep her gaze on the road. “He comes in with a bite, died, but wakes up hours later. Smells like some d-rated zombie bullshit.”
“How do you explain the hospital then or Miss Kimberly?” Kate questioned her, knowing it sounded farfetched, but it just fit.
“Honestly I don’t know and I don’t want to fucking know.” Victoria admitted, her voice sounded smaller than usual. “Just thanks for saving me or whatever.”
Kate only nodded her head in response. When she saw the sign that said ARCADIA BAY 30 MILES, Kate knew that Victoria had listened to her.
She only prayed that she wouldn’t have to kill anyone again anytime soon.