Hated By All, Loved By Four

✯•✿Cold Evaluation pt 1✿•✯

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ*:.:..:...VALERIA'S P.O.V...:..:..:*Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ



I can’t put into words why I froze up the way I did in the water. I suddenly couldn’t move my limbs, and a part of my brain that I didn’t know still existed didn’t want to die through drowning. After I lost consciousness I seemed at peace with it. I don’t understand my own brain, I’m confused by everything I’m going through. With finally had to face the trauma of what happened to me that day.

My brain is splitting in two right now. The drowning could be considered as an attempt, my ankle hurts. I see myself being bumped to level three. Because I’ve barely been here for a week and I think I’ve been injected three times. That isn’t good. For me. I blew out a short breath as I sat on the bed in the hospital building. Malcolm brought me here because while he was tending to me one of the monitors arrived. Having been alerted by my bracelet.

So now my therapist has to evaluate me, ask what happened, make some notes, and what not. Mal refused to leave. I was dressed in some clothes a nurse gave me. I did sign up for the swim club though, simply because Kaito told me to. I already pissed him off by making that f*****g mistake. I don’t want it to all be for nothing.

It’s only once a week. I continue to control my breathing. I still feel the cold water. The liquid filling my lungs. The feeling of death coming closer to me as my vision blurred. I’m still coughing up some of it.

The nurse is out of the room waiting for my therapist. I feel nervous. Really really nervous. I know Malcolm doesn’t have a good relationship with Professor King, or Doctor King in this case. Although I don’t know why.

I just know he has a good reason for it. If Malcolm represents what’s left of the good in this world, and he’s not the type to just hate on somebody then him hating Doctor King with no sign of him ever forgiving him is all I need to know that Maddox is the one in the wrong.

The thing about Malcolm though, he didn’t ask me what happened. He held me to his chest and merely whispered to me that I was okay. And I was alive. He made me do some breathing exercises. He focused on caring for me rather than finding out why. I love that. It’s been so long since someone actually gave a crap about my life.

Even the angry Kaito had saved me, even though he looked like he hated it. He still did it. I appreciate that so much. Even the most spite-driven people can give a crap about me. But my own family doesn’t. What an oddity.

The door opens, and the man who defines sophistication enters. A short nurse scurried behind him. His eyes immediately lock on Malcolm.

“f**k no. Are you a therapist now? Out of all the things you could be, you’ve finally come into the therapy world. You can’t save anyone. Get the f**k out.” Malcolm roared. He stepped in front of me and right into the doctor’s face. Doctor King is tall. I’m guessing at least two inches taller than Malcolm. His height feels more profound due to his slightly slender build.

He’s not slim, or built like a dancer. That would be Sebastian but he’s also not full of muscles like Malcolm. I have no doubt Mal can put the doctor flat on his ass but Maddox doesn’t seem scared.

He smiles at the angry alpha. “Malcolm, are you still mad about that little misunderstanding?”

“If you f*****g undermine what you did, I will cross every boundary and kill you right now.”

“Tsk, I know you’re better than that. Let’s not make a scene in front of the frightened woman.”

“You’re not touching her. You and your manipulative, slimy, creepy, hands are not getting anywhere next to her. Your type of people only makes traumas worse. What she needs-”

“- Is her therapist. I won’t touch her, I just want to ask her some questions. If you don’t let me I might have to increase the dosage on her ankle bracelet. Would you prefer that?”

The threat works, and it makes my heart feel something because Malcolm doesn’t want my treatment to be bad. He’s such a good person. It’s quite unnerving how someone like him exists in the gloominess of this world.

Malcolm sighed. “Fine. Ask your questions.” He folded his arms over his chest, still standing between me and Doctor King.

“How can I do that with you here? This is a private matter.”

“Valeria, do you want me to leave?” Malcolm asked without looking at me. I shook my head, and the doctor’s eyes tracked the movement.

“I see.” He doesn’t lose his smile though. “Miss Vanguard, can you tell me what happened?”

“I applied for the swim club, I dove into the water and I was doing fine... swimming for a good three minutes until my body seemed to freeze. Unable to move anymore.”

“So you didn’t jump in attempting to take your own life?”

I shook my head firmly. Maddox’s expression darkened, and he turned to Malcolm.

“It would seem when her body froze up, the bracelet must have tracked her surroundings, noticed the water, and thought was trying to drown herself. Injecting her with the medication would have added to her paralysis as it doesn’t go well with water.”

Malcolm’s presence suddenly seemed to get larger. “So what I’m hearing is that you people nearly killed her?”

Maddox nodded, the man had no fear. No secrets truly. “It would seem so. We may need to swap her to a collar just to be safe, or reprogram her bracelet to be specific about what counts as an attempt while giving her the option to add an emergency contact.”

That doesn’t seem so bad.

“Miss Vanguard, I’ll contact you with further information. I am terribly sorry this happened. I can’t imagine how you must have felt. Trauma might have caused the initial freeze, but it was our fault the rest happened.”

I really did try to move my limbs. I couldn’t. I couldn’t move anything. Not even my eyelids. Whatever they have in those injections is strong. It doesn’t go well with water, what does that even mean? That I was given three times the normal dose because the bracelet thought I wanted to drown myself? How was that supposed to help me?

“We won’t let this happen again. I hope you feel better soon. I offer my sincerest apologies.”

“You don’t feel anything, Maddox. What would you know about sincere apologies?”

Doctor King side-eyed Malcolm. But his expression was unreadable. He moved his gaze back to mine, peering at me over the top of Malcolm’s head. It wasn’t a good vantage point seeing as I was shorter than Mal, with only a few inches between us I was effectively blocked from him having a good view.

“I am sorry. I don’t control the bracelets. But we will design one specifically to fit you. I believe thanks are in order. Were you the one to save her?”

Malcolm nodded yes. At first, I felt confused about why he would do that, but then it suddenly became clear. This was to protect Kaito. If they thought Kaito was saving someone who knows how that might be interpreted. They might take him down from a level five... which he very much still is. Although I don't believe anyone should be graded based on their trauma. But I’m guessing it’s something Kaito wouldn’t want to broadcast. The doctor gave him a slight nod, before making his exit after saying once again that he would contact me.

I’m sure it was hard for him to try to make a conversation with Malcolm here. I felt safe with Malcolm though, so I trusted his judgment slightly even though he was still a bit of a stranger. I do believe that Maddox doesn’t have any secrets. He’s sort of an open man, which isn’t a good quality for a doctor. And a vampire.

It just means they’re proud of what they’ve done. Which can’t be a good thing for a man who believes he’s a god. But at the same time, I am curious about what soured him to Malcolm.

Mal stayed while the nurse removed my ankle monitor, telling me that a new one would be given to me in the next seven hours. And a licensed doctor would be there to personally place it on. I’m guessing this means Maddox will be the one to do it. She wrapped a bandage around the spot where the ankle bracelet had been.

My leg looked a bit swollen. I was exhausted, remnants of that injection filled my system. I don’t think it works this fast for me. The last two times there were hours between when I felt the pain and when I actually passed out. This further convinces me that it had tripled the dosage this time. Again this wasn’t helpful.

Malcolm carried me on his back since I was stumbling over my own two feet. He took me to his place instead of mine, telling the nurse to have the new bracelet delivered there. She looked like she wanted to argue. But she got paler when Malcolm growled at her. Like her eyes flashed before her eyes.

She agreed to inform my therapist.

I fell asleep halfway through the walk back. But I awoke once we arrived. Sebastian wasn’t around. It had been more than three hours since I’d seen him. The time at the hospital wasn’t short. They drew blood, checked my vitals, and prescribed me additional medication.

Malcolm brought me to the couch where he placed me down. I found a small piece of paper on one of the pillows. I pulled it off and read it out loud without thinking.

“Hey, Mal, I went over to Kaito’s place. I get the feeling he shouldn’t be alone. Call me once you read this.”

Malcolm hummed softly. He pulled his cell out as he got me a bottle of water and something to numb my headache. I felt a bit better after taking them than I did when the nurse made me take the new medicine.

Mal left to grab some blankets and better pillows. He made a soft nest for me on the couch, ensuring I was comfortable.

“Sleep, okay? I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

I blinked, confusion marring my features. “Where are you going too?”

“I need to see Seb and Kaito. They both had slightly bad days, and I have to make sure they’re okay. Do not open the door if anyone knocks, I have a key so I won’t bother knocking. Okay?”

“Ok.”

I watched him leave before shutting my eyes. I wanted to ask why Sebastian couldn’t stay here, this is his home. But it occurred to me that they’re still a trio. And as nice as Malcolm is, he won’t endanger those two.

I’m a walking problem, I can sense it. It was still nice of him to leave me at his home. It’s nice to be taken care of.