Cream Knows Best - Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Vector's P.O.V
I was cleaning up the house, trying to make sure it wasn't too messy, mainly cleaning up garbage that was laying around in our rooms. Charmy's was a hassle to clean considering how much he had. After cleaning his room, I headed to Espio's. He had a few things but it wasn't too bad. That's when I saw it... hidden underneath his bed... a ripped-up photo of us posing.
A memory I held dear to my heart. I hurt him this bad... and now he's this pissed off? I don't understand what he ever saw in me...
I found some tape to repair the photo, left it on his pillow so he'd see it. A small tear fell down my cheek thinking about what I'd done to him. Where was he anyway? I understand if he was trying to avoid me. I mean, who wouldn't avoid me after this? Right as I grabbed the last of the trash and headed out, I heard rapid knocking on the door. Odd, wonder who that is. I thought as I walked to the door. But before I could walk into the foyer, whoever it was had already broke in anyway. "I forgot Charmy had the key!" one voice cried. "Thank god I remembered it! Vector! Are you home?" Charmy cried. He sounded so upset, along with the others.
"Hey! I'm here! Is everything cool?" I asked, wondering what in the world was going on. Suddenly, they all just started talking over each other. Trying to explain what was happening and why they were crying. Except I was having trouble understanding with them talking over each other. "Woah Woah! Slow down there! One at a time! Explain to me what's going on?"
"Mr. Espio took us on an expedition because we told him we couldn't go alone, he went with us, and we explored this cave!" Cream explained.
"Then we were looking at rocks and Cream was about to fall in! Espio tossed her to the side but he crashed into a bunch of rocks! We think he broke his leg!" Tails continued.
"But now he's trapped in there because his tail is stuck and we can't get him out! He's really hurt and we don't know how to help him!" Charmy concluded, tears coming out of all their eyes.
"Chew chew!" Cheese added.
He was stuck? Injured? Oh no... he probably left because of me... No matter! I have to save him! "Take me to him! We have to get him out of there!" I demanded. Quickly we were all out of the house, running to the tavern where they said he was trapped. I don't think I've ever run so fast in my life! What all happened? How was I going to get him out of there? Was he in a lot of pain? Gosh if anything I had to make this up to him!
Finally, we made it to the tavern they said he had fallen into. We hurried down the path that they said he was trapped and headed towards the ledge. "ESPIO!" we shouted, trying to find him in the dark. "Help! I'm down here! Please!" I heard the voice cry. I knew it was Espio. Something was wrong. Really wrong.
"Hang on! We're coming!" I shouted back, using my own phone light to help guide me down into the dark tavern to where he was staying. It was a small hole where it was really hard to see him without the light.
Shinning the light into the hole, I realized why Espio was so afraid. It was starting to flood. "Please! I'm trapped! I can't get out!" he whimpered, motioning to his tail that was stuck underneath a huge rock. "I'm coming! Hold the light for me guys!" I instructed, handing them my phone light. They nodded and held up their own lights for me to get a better look. As I jumped into the hole, there were other rocks guarding him against even trying to escape. I squeezed past them and got closer to his side. "Vector! I'm scared!" he cried, tears falling down his cheek.
"Hey hey! Look at me! It'll be okay! I'm going to get you out of here!" I reassured. I looked at how rapidly the water was starting to fill up. It was up to my waist. But for Espio, it was already up to his shoulders. "Alright, I'm going to try and lift this boulder off! Yank out your tail when you think it's loose enough!" I instructed, trying to make him focus on the mission.
He nodded his head and I began to push on the rock.
It barely budged. Espio tried pulling his tail out and it seemed to be working. The only thing I could do was keep trying. "C'mon Espio! Don't give up!" I encouraged. The water kept rising up though. It was now up to his neck. "V-Vector," he choked. "It's gonna be fine! I'm going to get you out of here! Just work with me okay?" I reassured. "That's not what I wanted to say!" he gasped, trying to breathe in the air before the water could consume him. I was confused about what he meant but continued to try and move this rock. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to chase you off like that! I should've let you continue to love Vanilla! I had no right to make you feel any different! But if I never told you... I'd regret it for the rest of my life. Even though I'm not going to get out of here alive, I knew I simply had to say something or you'd think I hated you. All I can say is... thanks for being my best friend..." he sighed, taking a deep breath before his head was underwater. "No... we're going to get out of here!" I cried.
Adrenaline pumped through my veins, helping me to push the rock with more force. But this boulder wouldn't move. What was I going to do? He's your best friend Vector! You can't fail him now! You can't let him die! I went underwater with a flashlight to help me see underwater where his tail was stuck. I hit and kicked the rock with all my strength. The boulder was starting to break apart, making it better where I could break it. But when I looked at Espio, he wasn't doing too great. Break you stupid boulder! You can't have him!
With one final kick, the boulder crumbled, and I was able to get him free. I gently held him in my arms seeing that he was losing himself... his skin was an awful grey...
Don't you dare die on me! This isn't fair to you!
I swam as fast as I could to the surface so that I could finally get out of there. Reaching the surface, I coughed up water that I had swallowed myself and gently put Espio on the ledge. Eventually, the three big kids helped me get him to the top of the tavern where he fell from. Once up there, I took a good look at him. He was still grey, now turning dark green, he smelled like death.
"Espio! Can you hear me! Wake up buddy!" I cried, feeling tears prick my eyes. I turned him on his side, clearing his airways from any water trapped inside his mouth. Water spilled out.
Nothing changed. "W-What do I do?" I cried, looking back at them. "Give him CPR! I'll go get more help!" Charmy cried, flying out of there as fast as possible. I looked at him, still the same color as before. I got into position the way I was supposed to, my hands halfway down his chest, and started giving firm pushes. "One! Two! Three! Four! Five!" I cried. Still wouldn't move... "One! Two! Three!" I cried again. "Try mouth to mouth!" Tails advised.
Anything to save his life at this point... I tilted his head back, put my lips against his, and started to blow air into him. I went back and forth from mouth to mouth and chest compressions. We still waited for help, Cream and Tails were crying, and I was beginning to blame myself for everything. "I'm sorry Espio! This was all my fault! If I had just spared you your feelings, none of this would've happened! Now you're here and I can't even do the simplest thing!" I wept.
After another round of mouth to mouths, I felt like giving up. "W-Who's going to make me feel like an idiot on a daily basis? Who's going to keep me and Charmy in order? Who's g-going to lead our missions? Who's going to be my best friend? Huh? You're the only one who's been able to put up with me! WAKE UP ALREADY! I'M NOT ASKING FOR A LOT!" I shouted angrily. Still giving him firm chest compressions. "I-Is Mr. Espio going to be okay?" Cream asked. For once I wasn't sure what to tell the kid. But I'd have to lie for now.
"He's going to. He has to!" I cried, not stopping. I was about to give up, but then-
"*gasp* *cough* *cough* Ugh..."
He finally coughed... he can finally breathe.
HE CAN BREATHE!!!
"ESPIO! CAN YOU HEAR ME?" I shouted, nudging him. He barely moved. His color was slowly returning to normal, but nothing was improving either. "E-Espio... please..." I begged. Suddenly, I felt him bump my hand. I held it against my face, trying to warm it up. He was still stiff from being in that water for so long.
Everything seemed to be better but he wasn't moving around. "We've gotta get him out of here." I said. I gently lifted him up from the ground, held him close, and then bolted to get out of there. All of us left the tavern, Charmy was now returning back, with a few friends that seemed concerned seeing us run out of the cave. "Vector! What happened?" Amy cried, seeing Espio in my arms. "Espio almost drowned! I got him breathing again but he isn't moving! He was underwater for too long! I don't know if he's sick or if something else is going on!" I explained.
Sonic approached me, coming close to my side, and put a hand on my arm. "Give him to me, I'll get him to the hospital!" he said. I didn't want to let him go. But if it meant he'd get what he needed, I'd have to do whatever it took.
"Alright. Just... please hurry!" I begged. He gently took him from his arms and sped off. All I could do was sit there and try to come to grips with everything that happened. What would happen to him now? Did I do enough to help him? Will the doctors be able to help him? I wasn't sure anymore. All I knew, was that this was all my fault, to begin with. If I hadn't been too quick to reject him, he probably wouldn't be all upset and maybe we'd be home right now and not all the way out here! Angrily I started punching the ground, taking all my frustrations on a bunch of grass. Blades flew up in my face as I kept hitting it. Nothing was helping since tears fell down my face as I blamed myself for everything. This is all my fault!
My best friend was hurt because of me. ME! "Vector! Enough! That isn't going to do you any good!" I looked behind me to see Shadow standing over me. Behind him, the four littles were staring at me, almost scared of me. I looked down at my fist to see blood dripping down, and it was stained on the grass, leaving a bright red mark. I sat down in defeat, tears still falling down my cheeks. "I'll help you through it okay? You need some time to relax." he added, placing his hand on my shoulder. I put my hand on his and got off the ground.
"Do you think he'll recover?" I asked. "If there's anything Espio can do, is pull off a miracle. We can only hope for the best now." he replied. I nodded my head and looked at the four kids who helped me get here in the first place. "Thanks for telling me. I don't know how else we could've gotten out of here." I sighed, patting each one of their heads. "We're glad you were home! Thanks for not being mad at us." Charmy said, holding onto me. "This wasn't your fault. Espio would do anything to keep you guys safe. Guarantee he'd do all of this again." I replied.
I hugged all of them tightly, knowing I could've lost all four of them. Thanks for looking out for them Espio... Once I let go, I watched Cream walk up to Shadow and hug him tightly. "Vector, you and Charmy should come with us. We could keep you company until we hear from the hospital." he said.
I looked at Charmy who was more than upset about everything. "It'll be okay Charm. We're going to get through this." I reassured, picking him up from the ground. We'd both have to be strong. "Come, we can all go together. Tails, you might as well come too. Who knows how long Sonic might be over there." Shadow said. "Okay, I don't have anywhere else to go anyway." Tails replied. Cream was being carried by Shadow who was more than happy to have her back. I let Tails hop on my shoulders and carried Charmy who was still worried about Espio.
We followed Shadow home so we could try and relax. But I couldn't relax. Not after everything that happened. I only wish I could take his place.