"Come in! We're upstairs! Help us!" Zach yelled.
The door flew open and footsteps thudded through the house. Zach was soon gazing up at two armed officers. Their expressions were grave as they took in the scene. The female officer studied Lucy's blue lips and gave him a sympathetic smile. Seconds later the EMTs pushed in, dumping their stuff next to Lucy and assessing her wounds. They spoked in garbled medical terms Zach didn't understand. He heard oxygen and IV mentioned before being escorted from the room by the female officer. She led him downstairs, gently seating him at the dining room table.
Zach kept his gaze on the door, not wanting to miss them bringing Lucy down. The officer kept pulling his attention back to him, quietly asking Zach questions in a smooth voice that soothed the soul. He stuttered his way through most of it, feeling shaky and ill-equipped for the task. He got a few details wrong, then had to shake his head and repeat himself.
A stretcher was carried down the stairs and Zach lurched from his seat.
"Is she okay? Is she still alive?"
The paramedic nodded, but didn't look overly hopeful as Zach spotted his fragile girl. Her face was engulfed by an oxygen mask and there was a big needle shoved into her arm. She seemed agitated and restless. He wanted to comfort her, but didn't want to get in the way of the paramedic holding a clear bag over her with his free hand. They bustled out the door, leaving no room for him. She was shoved into the ambulance before he could even ask to accompany her. The doors slammed, the sirens started blaring and she was gone.
Zach braced his hands on his knees, wanting to hurl all over the carpet.
"Zach." The officer quietly approached him. "Let me drive you to the hospital. We can continue the questioning there. Is there anyone you'd like to call?"
"My Uncle Alex."
He actually kind of wanted his parents, but that wasn't an option right now. Uncle Alex would be the perfect support during questioning. He had the evidence, and the proof that William Tenner was guilty as sin and Lucy was an innocent victim defending herself. He'd love to know how she did it.
As he followed the officer out of the house, he spotted the ambulance turning out of their street and could only hope that he'd have the chance to ask her.
With a sickening sigh, he pulled out his phone and called his uncle.
Chapter 33
LUCY
"Hello Lucy."
A gunshot rang out.
Glass exploded around my face, stinging me. One piece plunged into my side, driving a searing pain through my core. I jerked, pressing my hand into the wound and trying to stop it.
"Hello Lucy." The sickly sweet voice repeated my name, a dark malicious tenor running through the words.
Gunshot.
Searing pain.
Glass.
"Lucy."
I squeezed my eyes shut. I didn't want to open them and be faced with that cold glare again.
"It's alright, Lucy. It's over."
The voice was changing.
"Lucy. You did good."
Dad?
I opened my eyes and there he was, smiling at me with that pride I used to bask in.
"I love Lucy." He chuckled.
"Dad," I whispered.
His eyes glowed warm before he turned away from me, pulling someone into his arms and resting his cheek against her head. She wrapped her arm around his waist and glanced over her shoulder once to gift me a tender smile before walking away.
"Mom! Dad! No, wait, I want to come with you!"
They didn't turn back to acknowledge my cries, just kept walking.
"No, wait, please! Come back!"
"Come back, Lucy. Time to wake up, honey." A searing light drove into my senses as the soft female voice over-rode my visions.
My eyes fluttered open and I winced.
"There you are." She smiled.
"Where am I?" I winced, the pain from my dream returning. I reached for my side and felt a gauze bandage.
"You're in the hospital. You've come out of surgery and you're gonna be fine. We'll keep you here in ICU for a few days to monitor you, but you don't have anything to worry about, sweetie."
Pulling the watch from her pocket, she held my wrist. Her face was serene as she did her count or whatever it was that she was doing. I studied her soft black curls as she wrote down some numbers on a chart next to my bed.
"The doctor will be by to check on you soon. For now, you need to get as much rest as you can."
I closed my eyes, feeling nauseous, scrambling for memories that seemed distant and fuzzy.
"How are your pain levels?"
"My side hurts, but so does my hand." I lifted up my bandaged hand, feeling confused.
"You have a deep laceration on your palm from the glass."
"Glass?" The foggy images pushed into my mind. As they began to crystalize my breathing grew rapid and I gripped the sheets on top of me.
"Hey, it's okay. It's over." The nurse patted my clenched fist. "You're safe and nothing can hurt you now." Her smile was sweet as she gazed down at me. "From what I understand, you are a very brave girl and your quick thinking saved your life."