A light flared at the end of the gun. An invisible hand hit me, knocking me further off balance, and caused a burst of heat where it had jarred me. The boom of the gun going off echoed around us.
Ahgred gave an inhuman cry and moved around me. I watched the terror on Brian’s face grow as Ahgred stepped through the door. Locked in fear, Brian didn’t try to run. Ahgred sank into Brian.
I fell back onto my butt struggling to breath. Whatever had hit me knocked the wind out of me.
Ahgred, in possession of Brian’s body, lifted the gun to fire it once more. Brian crumpled to the floor, sightlessly gazing at the ceiling.
Ahgred had killed Brian, and I understood why as I collapsed onto the cement. A fine tremor started in my hands and worked its way through my limbs to consume me. Brian had shot me.
“He is fortunate to have you,” Ahgred said nearby. I blinked at the stars swimming above me. “He felt your pain and struggles to return. I can ease your pain, for a touch,” Ahgred offered.
I laughed. A dry coughing sound that brought a wave of pain. “No deals. Never again. What will be will be,” I whispered and closed my eyes.
Chapter 21
His voice pulled me from the darkness.
“Tessa,” he said softly touching my face.
I forced my eyes to open not believing what I heard. Morik leaned over me, looking wan and worried. Yellow dominated his eyes.
“You died,” I accused weakly.
“Not quite. Lurel took me before I bled out. I’m sorry I was gone for so long.”
In the background, I heard sirens. “You need to leave,” I told him.
He shook his head. “Never again.”
I wanted to argue more, but the cut-off wail of the siren distracted me. Instead, I whispered the words I should have said weeks ago.
“I love you.”
He closed his eyes briefly, a pained smile on his face as he clasped my hand.
Closing my eyes, I listened to the voices approached. Morik released my hand. Someone started tugged at my shirt and talking to me. I answered until they pushed on the sore spot. Then I cried.
My mom came rushing into my room with a huge smile and tears in her eyes. She didn’t wail about my condition or ask how I felt. She knew I’d live. That’s all that mattered. I wondered what the hospital staff thought of her reaction.
“He’s in the waiting room,” she said kissing my forehead.
“Can you talk to the doctor and see if he can stay here with me tonight?” I asked weakly.
She nodded and touched my hand, her smile never leaving her face.
“Everything’s good now, right?” she asked quietly.
A nurse came into the room before I could answer. They started talking about when I would be discharged.
Brian, in his fear, hadn’t taken time to aim. Or maybe he’d aimed, but his shaking hand messed it up. Either way, he missed anything vital. I’d have a nasty scar and need to wear a splint for a while. The stitches pulled every time I moved a little.
The police pieced together the story they needed. Brian, a bully from my past and the reason behind my switch to a new school and our relocation, tracked me down to finish what he started. I asked about Clavin during the interview, expressing my concern over his well-being. They didn’t tell me much, but promised to check in on him. I hoped that he would recover from Morik’s uninvited influence in his life.
During the interview, I cried for Brian. What would have happened if I’d chosen him last fall instead of shunning his attention? I would have most likely saved his life. Well, extended it anyway. In the process, I would have condemned our daughter to the same life I’d led up until Morik.
I regretted what happened to Brian, but couldn’t regret my decisions. My stomach did a crazy flip thinking of Morik.
“Morik, mom?” I said reminding her.
She and the nurse disagreed on what was best for me and left the room still debating Morik’s presence overnight. A few minutes later, he walked through the door wearing his ball cap and yellow glasses.
My lip quivered at the sight of him.
He bent and kissed me softly, bumping a few of the tubes connected to me. “Don’t cry,” he begged.
“It’s a good cry. I can’t believe you’re here,” I whispered.
The nurse strode into the room and started explaining the rules to Morik. No messing with my tubes. She’d apparently witnessed the kiss. No giving me anything to eat or drink. If I ask for anything, get a nurse. No trying to sleep in the bed with me. Duh.
He listened to everything with a serious focus promising the nurse he would cause me no duress. I already knew that.
Sleep tugged at me. I closed my eyes listening to their conversation.
Equipped with medicine, Morik and mom, the nurse wheeled me out the hospital doors just after dinner a few days later. The colors of another setting sun decorated the sky.
They helped me in the car. I flinched several times. Morik sat in the back with me, one arm wrapped around my shoulders. I rested my head against his chest listening to the steady beat of his heart. How I’d missed that sound.