Something big stepped over me as the third man took off running, moving so fast he began to blur. Whatever it was, it flew faster than any creature of this world and overtook the man’s blurred form in a fraction of a second, ripping him to pieces. What was left of the last man’s body was tossed in a pile with the others. White flames came from the thing that flew, and when it was finished, even the concrete around the thing looked clean.
It turned and flew suddenly toward me. I probably would’ve flinched if I’d had the muscular control to do so, but I just lay there as he landed next to me. It was a man. A man with wings. He placed his hands gently on my head, and a warm glow filled me. The pain disappeared, and as he pulled away, he brushed the hair out of my face. His face… It was like a remembered dream. I should know that face, but I couldn’t place it. I felt truly whole and safe in his presence, utterly peaceful even as I desperately clung to my consciousness and the memories of what had just happened.
“It’s okay, Danielle. You’re safe now. You never need to fear me. You called me, and I came. I’m so sorry I was too late for your mother. But I will always come when you call.” He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead, and then I heard footsteps running in our direction, and sirens in the distance.
Over the winged man’s shoulders, I saw Mr. Lee. He stopped by my mother’s body and said a prayer, making the sign of the cross, then he turned to us. The winged man didn’t acknowledge him, only began to give orders. “You saw nothing. They’ll assume it was a hit and run. You came when you heard a crash and a scream and found the girl passed out and her mother already dead. The police will believe you.”
“What do we do about her memories? Her story will not match any hit and run.”
“I’ve taken care of that. When she wakes, she will remember nothing. Call me if she needs me.”
“She needs you now. She’s just lost her mother. Someone has been watching her, probably the same people that just killed her mother and came for her. More will come. She needs protection.”
“I cannot stay long. My presence attracts the attention of far worse things than these men. I have seen her with the boy. He will keep her safe for now. I will return when I can.”
Mr. Lee nodded and said, “Yes, sir.”
Then the winged man leapt skyward, and with another whooshing sound and bit of wind, he was gone. A large crow landed in the alley nearby, regarding me curiously as the blackness closed in, cocooning me in its blissful ignorance. The last thing I heard was the loud caw of a crow before the darkness claimed me.
14
Dani
Lights. So bright. Flashing in front of me. No, they weren’t in front of me. They were above me. I was lying down. I blinked several times, trying to clear the fog as I attempted to look around. There was something beeping next to my head, and I couldn’t focus on anything beyond the sound. I felt like panicking, but I was just too tired. The darkness started to creep back in, and I felt myself drifting off again.
No. I needed to stay awake. Where was I? Hospital room? Yeah, that must be it. I could hear voices passing in the hall, and then I managed to zero in on a familiar sound. Was that Charlie? It sounded like he was talking to someone.
“What the fuck were you doing? This was my op!” he whisper-yelled. His voice sounded wrong though, hoarse and broken, but everything felt a little hazy, like a dream. “I am not too close! I could’ve brought them in without any casualties. Now we’ve lost three advanced operatives, and she’s lost her mother. We’ll be lucky if she recovers from this.” What was he talking about? Nothing he said was making any sense.
I heard the sound of metal and glass shattering against something and sliding across the floor, then heavy, rushed footsteps heading my way. I guessed Charlie was coming in, but the sound of the footsteps continued to get louder and louder, closer and closer, until the sound of every step was pounding in my ears. But still no Charlie. He’d sounded like he was right outside. Maybe I was still asleep.
The steps stopped, and I grabbed my head, covering my ears as Charlie asked a nurse when they were taking me for an MRI. Their voices were so loud! It sounded like they were right next to me, screaming at the top of their lungs! I pressed in hard on my ears, desperately trying to drown out the noise: the voices, the beeping, footsteps and an alarm from the hall as several people rushed past in response to some emergency. Tears began to seep out of the corners of my eyes, and I felt like my eardrums would burst. Then the cold began to seep in, and the pain, followed by merciful nothingness.
I drifted in and out of consciousness and dreams I could only sort of remember. Deliciously pleasant dreams of Charlie, terrifying dreams of men in black storming my house, blood and concrete, and a man with wings. Shadow was there through every dream, right by my side, even in the oddest scenarios. He watched me with sorrowful eyes until, eventually, he stood and licked my face then woofed once. He wanted me to get up, to wake up. Part of me knew these were dreams, knew I was hiding, and knew he wanted me to get up and get on with it.
“Sorry, boy. I’m coming home.”
He threw his head back and loosed a haunting howl. Then I closed my eyes and opened them to fluorescent lights. I swear I could still hear the howling, but it slowly faded into the sound of the machine beeping beside my head. I took a deep breath and tried to look around, only managing to lift my head just enough to see Charlie in a chair next to my bed before collapsing back onto the pillow.
“Dani?” I turned my head toward his voice as Charlie leaned forward and took my hand. His eyes were red and swollen, his face tear-stained, and he smiled through a sniffle as he took my hand. “Hey, there, you.”
“Hey,” I whispered.
Charlie sniffled again. “Do you know where you are?”
“Yeah. How long have I been out?”
He hesitated briefly, taking a deep breath, then said, “Three days.”
I swallowed. “Three days?”
Seeing the panic on my face, Charlie immediately jumped in. “I’ve asked Mrs. Scott next door to watch Shadow, and I got a spare key to her. You aren’t hurt that they could tell. You just wouldn’t wake up, and they didn’t know why—” His voice broke, and then he stood, dropping his forehead to mine.
I squeezed the hand I was holding and managed to bring my other hand up to cup his face. I stayed quiet until he was calmer, giving him a chance to release everything he’d been carrying the past few days. I had taken the step to wake up, but now I had to face what came next. I couldn’t really remember how I’d gotten here, but I had a horrible knot in my gut. I pulled back slightly, and Charlie lifted his head and looked at me. I only had broken memories mixed with dreams, but I dreaded the next question with all that I was.
“Where’s Mom?”
The look on his face said everything I needed to know, confirming the growing emptiness in my stomach. Charlie could see the recognition on my face too, and he shook his head and said, “I’m so sorry, Dani.”
I felt the tears streaming down my face before I felt them well or fall, and Charlie pulled me up, climbing into the bed with me and wrapping himself around me. The tears became a flood, and the flood became a tsunami as wails and sobs of grief and rage and utter devastation ripped from my throat. I heard the door open at one point and felt Charlie shake his head slightly. Then the door closed, and we were alone.
I cried forever, at least that was how it felt. I cried until my tears were all dried up and my sobs were dry and ragged and painful. Charlie held me, rocked me, and cried with me. And when I was finally too tired to continue, I laid quietly in his arms. He’d shooed away several nurses and doctors while I grieved, so once I was calm, he pressed the call button, and a nurse appeared. He helped me to sit up, propping me against his chest so that the nurse could examine me when I refused to let go of him. I couldn’t let go. Charlie was the only thing tethering me to this world and this reality right now.
When she had finished checking me over, the graying nurse looked up and
smiled kindly. “The doctor will be with you in just a moment. Buzz me if you need anything.” She nodded at Charlie and turned and left.
I turned just enough to rest against Charlie’s chest, and we lay there silently until the doctor arrived.
“Ms. Shade, it’s good to see you finally awake.”
I smiled weakly at her, wishing it was as good to finally be awake.
“I’ve been going over your results. Blood work, MRI, EEG, EKG all look great. We didn’t find anything wrong physically that would explain why you were unconscious. The best I can tell, the emotional trauma seems to be the only culprit. Your friend here tells me you’re on some medication, but I’ve been over your results several times, and I haven’t found anything out of the ordinary. Can you tell me what medication you’re on and what it’s for?”
“Honestly, I can’t pronounce the name of the medicine. The disorder is very rare. I don’t even know that it has an actual name. My brain isn’t producing something, and I’m on a replacement. My doctor said you’d have to test for it specifically to see it, and all the paperwork is at home. I’ve never really had to deal with any of it. My mom usually takes…”
I couldn’t breathe. I just suddenly couldn’t force any air into my lungs, and Charlie leaned me forward, wrapping his arm around my middle to support me and rubbing my back. “It’s okay. Just breathe, Dani. Breathe.”
Finally, I managed to pull in a breath, and then another. Once I was breathing normally again, the doctor continued.
“Take your time, but when you’re ready, can you give me your doctor’s name and phone number?”
“I don’t have his number, but it’s Dr. Halston here in Knight City. I can get the number for you once I get home.”
“I know this is hard, Dani, but I need you to tell me what you can remember about the accident.”
“Accident?”
“Yes. When you and your mother were hit. Can you remember anything?”
“I don’t… It wasn’t an accident. There were men in the alley. I think… Or maybe that was a dream? It’s all very fuzzy still. I remember shopping and going to see Mr. Lee, but then everything else is just… It’s like I can’t grab onto it.”
“Okay. Don’t worry. A little retrograde amnesia isn’t uncommon with a trauma like this. Your memories will likely come back, probably in flashes, so for the next few weeks, it would be better if you weren’t alone. It can be quite jarring and distressing when they resurface.”
“I’ll be staying with her,” Charlie volunteered.
“Very good. We’d like to observe you overnight, make sure you sleep and wake naturally after such an extended period of unconsciousness, but given your test results, as long as tonight goes well I’m inclined to say you can go home tomorrow. I’m very sorry, Ms. Shade. Please, let me know if you need anything.”
“Thank you, doctor,” Charlie said, and then she turned and left, and I collapsed into Charlie’s chest, letting the emptiness and the cold claim me as I drifted off in his arms.
That night I dreamt of the alleyway, men in black, tumbling bricks, and a man with wings. And when I woke the next morning, the memories of my dreams were just as broken as my memories of the accident. Though I still wasn’t convinced that was what it had been. The nurse did her first check of the morning, then she left and came right back with discharge orders. The doctor followed shortly after her, but it was obviously just a formality. She didn’t see any further indications of possible neurological symptoms, and physically I seemed to be in perfect health, not even a bruise to show.
Once we finished going through everything, I signed my discharge papers, and Charlie pulled out some fresh clothes he’d brought for me and drew the curtain so I could get dressed. I was almost ready to be on my way when a woman from the hospital administrator’s staff came in with additional paperwork. For Mom. They needed to know what I wanted them to do with her. When I looked at her like she was speaking a foreign language, she continued to explain herself. I needed to pick a funeral home. I’d have to sign paperwork there, and then they would come and get her and help with any arrangements I wanted to make for her.
They needed me to sign, taking responsibility for her remains, and then she handed me a bag containing her purse with all of her stuff still inside. I stared at it, not quite comprehending what I needed to do next, and Charlie reached around me and took the bag, thanking the woman. Then she left, and I sat quietly on the edge of the bed as Charlie rounded up our belongings. He pulled my keys out of my purse and pocketed them, then he placed my paperwork, purse, and dirty clothes in the bag with Mom’s purse. He looped an arm under mine and guided me to stand, then led me out of the hospital and to his car.
“What do we do about Mom’s car?” I asked suddenly as he opened the passenger’s side door for me, panicking at the idea of leaving any of her things behind. Her things needed to be gathered, they needed to be brought home, kept safe—
There was a sudden loud crash as a trashcan nearby fell over, the lid slamming into a car nearby and trash flying everywhere. It pulled me from my panic spiral, and Charlie looked over at the can in surprise, narrowing his eyes and solemnly regarding the surrounding parking garage. He turned back to me, his expression softening.
“It’s already back at home, safe and sound. And I brought your prescription here. We opened the capsules up and put the liquid under your tongue, but there was only enough for a few days. You took the last one yesterday, so we’ll need to get you a refill. I didn’t have the doctor’s number, and the pharmacy wouldn’t talk to me about your stuff, but I’ve taken care of everything else that I could. And I’ll be here to take care of anything else that comes up. You’re not alone, Dani. I’m not going anywhere.”
I nodded and smiled weakly, then sat down in the car, fastening my seatbelt as Charlie threw the bag in the back seat. He walked around and climbed into the driver’s side. As we pulled away and exited the garage, I looked out my window at the trashcan now laying on its side and at the dent in the car from the impact of the lid. It wasn’t even that windy. As we pulled away, a large crow landed on the trashcan and cawed.
15
Dani
During the ride home, I was silent. I pulled my feet up in the seat, wrapped my arms around my knees, and stared out the window as the landscape flew past. I felt like I’d switched off. I wasn’t just numb; I couldn’t feel numb. I couldn’t feel anything. I stared at the landscape as we sped past it, but I didn’t really see it.
Charlie informed me that the police would be coming by later that day to take my statement. I nodded lazily, and he tried to engage me in conversation a bit. He asked me what I remembered, but I just shook my head, and then the tears began to fall. Charlie reached over and placed his hand over mine where I was clutching my own legs, desperately trying to hold myself together, but I could feel it happening. I could feel myself coming apart at the seams.
When we pulled onto my street, I could see Shadow waiting on the front porch. He launched himself toward the car as we pulled into the drive, and the door thudded as he hit it full force. I smiled despite myself.
“Get down, you monster! I can’t open the door with you jumping all over it!”
Shadow backed away and sat down, so I released my seatbelt and opened the door. He was on me as soon as I cleared the doorway, and I dropped to my knees to give him a proper greeting without being knocked over, considering that he outweighed me. He cleaned my face enthusiastically, washing away the tears that were already falling. I buried my face in his thick, soft fur, and Shadow laid his head over my shoulder as the car door swung shut next to us. Charlie grabbed my bag from the back seat, and I heard a beep and a click as the trunk of Mom’s car unlatched and popped open. He grabbed all the bags left in the trunk from our shopping trip, then he stood dutifully by the front of the car, giving me time to finish greeting Shadow and grieving with him.
When I was somewhat calm again, I ruffled Shadow’s furry mane and stood. Charli
e reached for my hand, keys out and bags in the other hand, and the three of us walked to the front door together, side by side.
When we got there, Charlie let go of my hand to slide the key into the deadbolt and then the lock on the doorknob.
“The alarm people came and installed an alarm the day after. I had Mrs. Scott oversee that too. After everything that happened, I thought it was still… what your mom would want. You’ve got thirty seconds to enter the code before the alarm goes off, so I’ll run in and turn it off. Then we can reset the code to whatever you want it to be. I’ll be right back.”
Charlie turned the knob and pushed the door in, then he took off for the hallway leading to my mom’s room as a loud extended beep sounded throughout the house. I just stood there. I couldn’t take the step I needed into the house. I couldn’t. This was my mother’s house, our house. My hands began to tremble, and the shaking worked its way into my arms and legs. I put one hand on Shadow’s back to steady myself, and he stood there next to me, supporting me, not moving an inch as I had yet another in the string of meltdowns that defined my life the past two days. If I went into the house without her, it was real. She wasn’t coming home. I wasn’t waking up. And I just couldn’t do it yet.
The gentle breeze around me began to die down, but it managed to stir a pile of leaves in the yard as a loud caw grabbed my attention. I turned and looked out toward the yard. There were two large crows sitting on the powerlines above the street, watching the house with their strange, avid, avian curiosity as the leaves danced below them. I watched the crows and they watched me right back.
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