Mrs Cranford. I couldn't think of anywhere else to go. I ran as fast as I could, my broken arm bouncing and jolted in the sling, sending fresh waves of black-edged agony up my shoulder. Mrs Cranford was outside the Pattern. She might not be able to act but she would have advice. Something I might be able to use to get my family back. Even Dad, locked in the study. I forgot that Ciarán would be there. I forgot that I pushed him away to try and keep him out of the Pattern. To stop the Pattern gaining full power by having all the roles filled.
Only my sisters mattered now.
Which is what I thought, until I saw Ciarán sitting on the low stone wall, outside Mrs Cranford's cottage, with his head buried in his hands. My heart flipped in my chest, a strange lurch that was somewhere between joy and nausea. Then my brain caught up with my crazy emotions. I tried to process the scene in front of me. A white and green van with flashing blue lights, parked up outside the cottage. The rear doors were open, displaying a series of neatly arranged packets and folded away equipment. It screamed the words ‘medical’ and ‘hospital’ at me. There was an ambulance outside Mrs Cranford's house and Ciarán… Ciarán looked like someone had died…
"Ciarán!" I pulled his hands down from his face and gripped them hard, as much for myself as for him. "Kuh Ciarán ah-are you okay?"
He gazed at me blankly. For a moment I was terrified that it wasn't Ciarán at all.
"Ciarán?"
"Em. What are you doing here?" He sounded as dazed as he looked.
"I kuh came to s-see Mrs Cranford. W-where is s-s-she Ciarán? W-why…?" My voice was shaking badly. I waved my good hand at the ambulance to complete my question.
"Aunt Mary had a fall. A bad one." Ciarán's eyes were bruises in his pallid face.
"But…"
"Yeah, I know. Steady as an ox on her feet. Never needed her stick, it was all for show. She went down the stairs in a hurry to the next life though. Only just missed that bus, if you get my meaning." He rubbed the back of his hand over his eyes.
"So sh-she isn't… I muh mean she's al-alright?"
"I heard something snap, Emlynn. Sounded like a shotgun blast it was so loud. I've never heard her scream like that. I've never heard anyone scream like that." He stared, haunted, at something I couldn't see, expression bleak.
"Kuh Ciarán…" I wanted comfort him somehow. Hug him perhaps, but he was a thousand light years away. His hands were cold in my one good hand.
"I was afraid to move her. Thought she might have broken her back…" He shuddered and tightened his grip on my hand painfully. "Em, it didn't look natural. The way she fell… it looked like she was being pushed and pulled and yanked up in the air, all at the same time."
I shook my head wordlessly. Should I tell him that someone wanted Mrs Cranford out of the way? Add to his problems now by trying to explain his part in the Pattern? Would he even remember if I did?
My fault. My fault.
It was a low chant I couldn't escape.
"The paramedics, they reckon she's broken her hip. It's not good. She's eighty-four, Em. What if she doesn't get better? Old bones don't heal well. What if she gets pneumonia in it? What if…"
"Ciarán st-stop thuh that! This isn't juh just anyone. It's y-your aunt M-Mary. Even if it is a br- broken hip it w-won't stop her for long. P-pull yourself t-together. You have to go in the am am amb…with her." I willed him to come back to himself. Slowly the gold flecks brightened in the hazel.
"You're right, Em. I'm sorry. And she'll be ok." He shook himself and stood up still holding my hand. "What did you want her for? Are you ok? You’re upset."
"It can w-wait." Ciarán didn't appear convinced so I settled on half the truth. "Ay-Amy hasn't been guh going to school. She's been b-bunking. I w-wanted some advice. Don't know where she is." I twisted out a wan smile.
Ciarán put his arm around me and pulled me to his side as a stretcher was wheeled out of the cottage. Mrs Cranford looked tiny strapped down under orange blankets. Her eyes met mine and she tried to say something. Her face was anguished, lines I'd never noticed pulling it in like a wizened apple.
"W-what? What ih-is it?" I moved closer. A paramedic barred my way. She had short blonde hair and a weary expression.
"Which one of you is the relative?" Her voice both sharp and kind.
"That'd be me." Ciarán moved away from me. The absence of his arm around me left me chilled and alone.
Mrs Cranford was still trying to say something. Her voice, a little wisp of nothing, snatched away by the breeze. I caught the word 'mirror'. The shape her mouth made next was less clear. Huh-something. Hardiman? Haze? And something else…I couldn't make it out.
I nodded to show I'd understood – even though I hadn’t - and she lay back exhausted.
"I'll v-visit w-when I can. Luh look after her. Let me nuh know."
"I'll call you later, we'll talk about Amy then. And Em?" I looked up at Ciarán. A long way up. He was less pale and shocked now. "Don't worry, she's not daft. She'll be home and you can find out what's going on."
I gave him a weak smile.
I know what's going on. And I can't accept your help. But thank you. Always.
He waved as the ambulance door slammed shut. It was a final sound. A farewell. The engine roared and the wheels spat mud and small stones at me.
I was alone. All alone.
I Belong to the Earth (Unveiled Book 1) Page 54