by M A Roth
Chapter Eight
Abigail
I could feel warm liquid run down my face. No air could reach my lungs. I fought, but nothing came. Blackness overtook me.
“Abigail,” a soft voice called my name, pulling me awake. I opened my eyes, getting an eye full of my black hair. From the pressure on my head and what I was seeing, we were hanging upside down.
“Blake, are you alright?” I asked, turning in his direction, a sharp pain bit into my forehead, making me wince.
A loud thud filled the car. “Yes, just hold on,” Blake said, now out of his seat. “On the count of three, I’ll open your seatbelt, okay?”
“Okay.” I swallowed and braced myself for the fall. I fell, letting out a scream as my ribs protested with the impact of hitting the floor. My hands went to my side as I found it hard to breathe. Blake crawled out his window, the glass shattering.
“Wait a second!” he said, but I wanted to get out. He removed his jacket stiffly, looking like he was in pain and laid it on the ground beside the window, covering as much glass as possible.
“Okay, come on, be careful.” He sat back on his hunkers, looking in at me.
I crawled out, letting go of my side. The pain was almost unbearable, but I needed to get out of the car. I could feel the bite of the glass under the jacket as I made my way out of the window. We both sat there for a moment, stunned. My side ached, but it was a bit easier to breathe and my head pounded. I reached my hand up, and it came away slick with blood. The little boy entered my mind. I got up too quickly and stumbled, falling onto the road.
“Abigail, what are you doing?” Blake followed me, moving slowly, his leg seemed to be bothering him. I couldn’t see a cut along his denim jeans, but I didn’t inspect any further, I needed to find the boy.
“The boy… the little boy we hit!” My heart pounded, “Where is he? Oh god, don’t say we killed him.” I stood again in the middle of the road, doing a full three-sixty, but no one was in sight.
“Check the ditches, Blake. He might be hurt!”
Blake grabbed my arms and shook me, igniting the pain in my side. I winced, but he continued to speak, “What are you talking about? There was no boy, Abigail. You just pulled the steering wheel right out of my hand!”
My breathing became ragged. “I saw him… the boy, and you saw him too. He was on the road. We swerved, but I’m not sure if we hit him.” My words sounded hysterical, even to my own ears, but through my whole speech, Blake just continued to shake his head.
“No one was on the road.” He looked concerned now.
“I know what I saw!” I pulled my arms free and started to look up one side of the road for anything. He was real. He was a person. He had feet. I paused in my thoughts. Did I see his feet? I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t sure if it was just his body. My body was shaking from shock or fear, I didn’t know, but I kept looking.
“We crashed. No, we’re fine. Honestly, just some minor cuts. She’s in shock. I’m not sure what happened. Can you send someone down here, now? Maybe Daniel. He can calm her down.”
I didn’t know who Blake was talking to, but I didn’t care, I needed to find the little boy. I searched the other side of the road.
“Abigail, get off the road now. What if a car comes!” Blake said, looking at me as if I was a mad woman.
“No, I need to find him first!”
Blake stormed over, grabbing my arm; and tried to drag me to the other side of the road, causing the pain in my side to burn. This time, I let out a strangled cry, one that he ignored.
“No one is there. It’s all in your head.” He practically roared it.
Tears filled my eyes.
“I know what I saw. Please, let me look for him. He could be dying!”
Blake shook his head in denial. “Fine, I’ll look this side and you take the other, but if we don’t find him, I don’t want to hear you mention this again!” he said.
I nodded my head in agreement, not meaning a word of it.
There was no sign of the little boy or anything that would suggest he ever existed, no shoe, no footprints, no blood. A car pulled up, Father Peter and Zee moved towards us.
Zee didn’t say anything but pulled me into his arms. He could feel my distress. Father Peter went to Blake, who had sat down again.
“What happened?” he asked.
“A dog ran out on the road, I tried to avoid it, but I couldn’t,” Blake told the lie so easily… but why?
Zee’s body stiffened before he turned to Blake. Taking huge steps, I raced after him.
“You almost killed her because of a dog?” His anger was so intense, radiating off him.
I could see Blake cringe.
“Zee, stop!” I said, resting my hand on his arm and then I flinched at the movement. My side was getting worse. He looked down at my hand then back to my face with worry, concern, and fear. “I’m fine,” I said.
“Let’s get both of you to the hospital for a check-up,” Father Peter said.
“No!” both Blake and I responded in unison. I hated hospitals and Father Peter knew it.
“Yes!” he answered back while pointing to the car.
Zee helped me into the back seat and slid in beside me. I looked up as Blake got into the front, our eyes meeting briefly. Why did you lie? I thought to myself. It made no sense!
“Your ribs are broken,” Zee whispered to me.
“It’s okay. I’ll get sorted at the hospital,” I said, but Zee was already moving his hands to my side, I looked in the rearview mirror to see if either Father Peter or Blake were watching.
It was too risky, and I shook my head at Zee to let him know, but he didn’t seem to care. He closed his eyes, his hands pushing deeper into my ribs. I let out a hiss, biting my lip until the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. Then the pain was gone. My ribs were healed.
“Thank you,” I mouthed to him, but he wasn’t done.
He took off his jacket.
“Should I turn down the heating?” Blake asked with a little too much suspicion in his voice.
“Yeah, that would be great,” Zee said, not fazed at all by Blake.
What was wrong with him? I had never seen him so careless before! Father Peter was focused on the road; his only mission to get us to the hospital safely. I glanced in the mirror again, but Blake was facing stiffly forward. Zee placed his hand on my forehead and I could feel the cut knitting itself back together. He examined it. Once he was satisfied the cut was closed, he started cleaning off my blood. I couldn’t understand why he was taking such good care of me and doing it so openly.
I pushed his hands away, feeling claustrophobic and confused by all his fussing. He still hovered over me, searching my face, neck, and hands for any more marks. I grabbed his hand, making him look at me. My stomach fluttered when his intense blue eyes met mine.
“I’m okay,” I whispered, needing to calm him down, but his eyes searched mine. I held my breath, finding it too much with him this close, so I dropped his hands and looked away.
He sat back and stared straight ahead, looking rigid. I followed his line of vision and my breath caught in my chest when my eyes locked with Blakes. Had he seen? If he had, he didn’t mention it.
We arrived at the hospital and had to wait for an hour before we were called in. I was sent straight to the x-ray department. Nothing was broken as I knew, just a couple of bruises and scrapes. A neck brace was given to me for whiplash.
“Now, Abigail, we are just going to take a small drop of blood,” the nurse said as she looked at Zee, who stood tall beside me and wasn’t budging. “Could I ask you to leave for a moment?” she smiled sweetly.
Zee turned to me.
“Yes, I’ll only be a moment,” I reassured him.
He left.
“You have a very protective boyfriend there, dear,” the nurse said as she pulled the strap tight around my arm.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I replied as the needle found its mark.
The
nurse smiled, as if to say, sure, he’s not, before she screwed a small bottle onto the end and let it fill with my blood.
“The doctor will be back to you in a moment. Just relax,” she said as she pulled the strap off and gave me a small cotton bud to stop the bleeding. When she pulled the white curtain back, she let out a little squeal; Zee was standing there.
He gave her a sweet smile. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said.
I looked at him.
The nurse left, throwing glances back at him until she walked down a corridor and out of sight.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” Zee said, not looking at me.
He pulled the curtain. I peeked out and watched him as he went down the same corridor the nurse had gone. I wondered what the hell had got into him. I sat on the side of the bed, my feet dangling over the edge in the small cubical, waiting for the doctor.
My head still throbbed. My chest felt tight just thinking about the boy. I shook my head in confusion. I know what I saw and the worst part was that he had looked like my brother. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I couldn’t let them spill. I had kept it in for so long. I couldn’t open those doors now. And being in the hospital was making everything worse. The smell brought back memories of my time being locked away as a child after they found me. I was kept in an isolated care, being questioned to the last degree, always having another psychologist who wanted to bring down the walls I had erected around me. I became a sensation, the child who was found in a pool of blood and feathers, with traces of unknown blood mixed in. Everyone had their theories too, from alien abduction right down to the theory that I killed my family as my body was taken over by something from hell. Really, people could be so creative at times. But I never told anyone the truth and I never would. I would carry it with me to my grave… the grave that I would lie in soon.
“Okay, Abigail, you look about ready to go,” Doctor Briggs said as he drew the curtain back. He gave me a friendly smile before handing me a small tub of tablets and a prescription. “Now, take three a day and stay away from alcohol while you’re taking your tablets and you should be right as rain.”
I hopped off the bed, some of the tension releasing itself from my body. “Great. Thanks, Doctor.” I said as I walked away from the bed and moved past the curtain.
Something in the corner of my eye made me stop. Three beds down, a small boy looked at me from behind the curtain; it was him. I raced down the beds and pulled the curtain back to be greeted with an empty cubicle.
“Sorry, miss, are you alright?” A nurse popped up behind me as Doctor Biggs stood there, watching me suspiciously.
I laughed weakly. “Yes, sorry. I thought I saw someone I knew. Is there a bathroom that I can use?” I asked her while I kept a smile plastered on my face. I knew it was stretched and full of tension.
But to my relief, she smiled back brightly. “Of course, dear, this way.” She led me away from the beds. I looked all around me as we moved, keeping an eye out. “In here, dear!” I jumped at her voice, forgetting she was with me. “Are you alright?” concern filled her voice.
“Sorry. I was in a car accident, so I’m feeling a little jumpy, that’s all.” I smiled again and her face filled with sympathy and understanding.
“I know. Me and my husband were in one, not so long ago. It can make driving again very difficult, but a word of advice, you should get straight back behind the wheel or you never will.” She hesitated and gave a little laugh. “I don’t mean this moment. Make sure it’s okay to drive with your tablets, don’t want you to have another accident so soon.” She seemed to realize that she was digging a hole for herself. “I only mean you should get someone to drive you home tonight and then maybe if you’re feeling okay tomorrow or the day after, you could drive.” Her cheeks blushed.
“I know. I will. Don’t worry and thank you for showing me to the bathroom!” I said, letting her escape her embarrassment.
Three small cubicles with white doors faced the mirrors where I looked at myself. Once again, I was too pale. My long, black hair was plastered to my neck and my eyes looked black now compared to the dark brown ones that usually met me. I splashed water on my face, giving myself a moment to breathe.
The lights started to flicker above me.
Damn hospitals!
I turned to the mirror. My face flickered with the light. Behind me, stood the little boy, his arms held out to me. I turned quickly and faced him. He didn’t run, but stood there, his image flicking with the lights. My breathing became shallow - it was my brother, exactly the way I remembered him.
“Sam.” His name sounded foreign to me. I hadn’t said it for nearly ten years. He moved towards me, his eyes lighting up with recognition. “Sam,” I said again, as my eyes filled with tears.
“Abigail.” my name came out in a frightened strangle, just before he burst into flames. “Come Home!”
I covered my face as a ball of fire consumed him, knocking me into the wall. I fell to the ground as the lights went out. My breathing was ragged as I lay there, too shocked to move.
“Zee, I need you,” I whispered, knowing he didn’t have super hearing, or maybe he did.
The bathroom door opened and a female voice called hello.
“Is anyone in here?” She kept the door open, casting light into the bathroom.
I looked at my arms, they were scratched, the same from the car accident, but nothing else, no burns.
I sat up and looked around. My brother was gone. My movements alerted her.
“I’m fine. The lights went out, and I slipped.”
She moved towards me, plunging us into darkness again. She helped me stand. “Hold onto my arm.” I did as she asked.
The light in the hall felt too bright, but only for a moment and we nearly walked into Doctor Briggs.
“She fell in the bathroom, Doctor,” the lady who had found me, said.
“I’m fine, really, I slipped.”
Doctor Briggs studied my face before stopping a nurse who was walking past. “Get someone to clean the ladies’ toilets and make sure the floors are not wet.” The nurse nodded and left to retrieve someone to clean up the spotless bathrooms. Doctor Briggs turned back to me. “Were you a patient of mine before today? I ask because you look very familiar.” That was my cue to get out of there.
“Yeah, I was in here before with a broken arm,” I lied as I started to move down the hall.
“No, that’s not it.” He moved alongside me.
“Zee, I’m ready to go home now.” I said the minute I saw him, relief was visible on his face. “Okay, thanks again, Doctor!” I gave a little laugh.
He watched us leave.
“What was that all about?” Father Peter asked as Doctor Briggs continued to stare.
“He recognized me and if we don’t leave now, he’ll remember from where!” I said.
We all piled in the car, Blake remained silent and I didn’t pry into his thoughts as I knew they were about me. He must have thought I was crazy, but define crazy.
“How’s the leg, Blake?” I asked.
Father Peter scowled. “He refused to be seen by anyone!” Father Peter shook his head.
“There’s no need. I’m fine,” he said, not meeting my eyes in the rear view mirror.
I could feel Zee shifting beside me and as I looked at him, he was boring holes into Blake’s back. I nudged him in the ribs, getting his attention and gave him a questioning look, but he simply smiled at me.
We pulled up at the base and Father Peter turned off the ignition, but didn’t get out. “Before we go in, I want to know the truth. What happened today?” He turned to Blake. “And please remember, you are talking to your superior, so lies will only get you into trouble.”
My heart raced. I couldn’t let them know, it would spoil everything. “Look, it’s my fault!” I said, mentally asking for forgiveness for the partial lie that I was about to tell. “Zee and I got into a heated talk before I left with Blake. I was angry and
tired from no sleep. I thought I saw something on the road and tried to avoid it. I’m sorry for not saying anything before, I was embarrassed.” My cheeks blazed with genuine embarrassment from having Blake and Zee stare at me, as if they could see right through my lie, but it wasn’t them who I was trying to convince.
“What did you think you saw?” Father Peter asked all eyes on me again.
“It’s stupid and embarrassing. Really, it was nothing.” I smiled, held my breath and counted to ten.
Father Peter turned in his seat, and I let the air leave my lungs slowly. “Okay, you take a few days off and take it easy”
I nodded and climbed out of the car and turned to Zee. “Can you give me a lift home? I came here with Cathy,” I explained.
“Yes,” that’s all he said, handing me my helmet. I climbed on the back of his bike and wrapped my arms around him. Leaning my head on his broad back and hearing his heartbeat gave me comfort and settled my fear a bit.
Chapter Nine
Abigail
Zee came in with me when we got back to my place. It was still a mess, but I had the next few days off to clean it up. I reached for a new bottle of vodka and opened the cap.
“The doctor said not to drink, Abigail,” Zee said, standing in the doorway of my kitchen.
I hated when he used my full name, it meant he was really concerned. I filled half a mug. “You want one?” I asked and smiled. He gave me that look. “What? I’m simply being polite!” He started to shake his head. “I promise, just this one.”
He moved towards me, sending my heart into overdrive. It was the way he walked, how his eyes never left mine, how sure his steps were. He took the bottle from my hand and screwed the cap back on before leaning into me and placing it back in the press above us. The whole time, I held my breath, not sure of what to expect. Air filled the gap where he had stood.