Chapter 10

                                    

                                          
My eyelids flutter open, and I am instantly hit with waves of pounding in my skull. Nausea churns in my stomach, threatening to rise up with every breath I take. As my eyes start to focus, I see that I am lying in the infirmary, the scent of antiseptic hanging in their air. 
Thank God for the nearly burned-out lights, as anything brighter would have made it near impossible to keep the bile down. As my vision adjusts, I notice several familiar faces gathered around me.
Captain Levi stands at the foot of the bed, his arms crossed tightly over his chest and a storm of anger brewing in his eyes. Beside him, Armin is sitting with a worried frown, his eyes are red-rimmed presumably from a lack of sleep. 
"You're awake," Armin sighs with both relief and exhaustion.
"What happened?" I croak out, my throat dry and scratchy, "How long was I out?"
Levi's response is nothing but a grunt before he turns on his heel and strides out of the room, the door slamming shut behind him, sending a jolt of pain shooting through my skull.
I attempt to push myself up, but a wave of dizziness washes over me, forcing me back into the bed. Armin moves to my side to adjust the pillows and tuck the sheets gently back over me. 
"Easy, Gail," he murmurs, "You just relax and I'll fill you in on everything."
I nod begrudgingly, allowing myself to sink into the softness of the pillows.
"What was that all about?" I give a nod toward the door.
Armin hesitates for a moment before responding, his gaze flickering with uncertainty. "He was worried," he says simply, though the weight of unspoken words hangs heavy in the air.
Memories of the battle flood back to me in fragments, and this time, my nausea has nothing to do with the pain. I remember the abnormal Titan, Armin frozen in fear, and the overwhelming sense of exhaustion right before I lost consciousness.
"And the others? Are they..." I can't bring myself to finish the question out of fear of what Armin might say.
"They're fine," Armin responds, quickly ending the discussion, "And to answer your question, you have been out for nearly a day."
"A day?!" I question, the realization hitting me like a physical blow, sending a lance of pain shooting through my skull.
"Easy," Armin warns, "Yes, a day. But, the healers say you're going to be okay. Just a concussion."
Relief floods through me, but I can't shake the unease that gnaws at the back of my mind. If the Captain hadn't been nearby, I could have easily died. We all could have easily died out there.
I shake the thoughts off, allowing myself to feel grateful that I'm alive -- that Armin is alive. And as I drift back into blissful sleep, I can't help but cling on to the hope that somehow, we'll find a way to endure.