Raven

by Suzy Turner

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  When I came to, I noticed a pale green ceiling and green walls. A distinctive smell hovered in the air. It smelled... clinical. Hearing people moving around beyond my room, I realised I was in the hospital. I had absolutely no idea what had happened to me.

  “Lilly?” said a deep voice to the side of the bed.

  I turned my head and saw Ben sitting patiently by my side, waiting for me to wake up.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  Apparently it was a mystery to him too. After he had treated his patients, he had been working alone on some paperwork in his practice, when there had been a knock on the door and when he opened it, he found me lying on the floor unconscious.

  “I had absolutely no idea what had happened. At first I assumed you had knocked on the door and then collapsed but when I tried to pick you up, I noticed someone had roughly wrapped your leg with these huge leaves. Someone had clearly helped you and then left you there. Do you have any idea what happened?” he asked.

  I shook my head, which ached a little and I asked for Gabriel.

  “Don't worry, he's here. He's just having a word with the doctor. Rose is here too, and Sonya and Meredith are on their way.”

  “They don't need to come. I'm okay... aren't I?” I asked, unsure whether I was or not.

  “You've broken your leg and you've got a few bruises but other than that I think you're okay so don't worry. Your hair looks great, by the way,” he said, trying to make light of the situation.

  Gabriel walked into the room and thanked Ben profusely for bringing me to the hospital so quickly. “If you need to get back to work, Ben, go ahead. I'll take over for now,” he said.

  As Ben nodded, he picked up his coat, leaned over and kissed my forehead. “You had me scared for a while there, Lilly. I'm glad you're okay. You call me if you need anything, okay?”

  I nodded as best as I could without my head throbbing and smiled back.

  “Thank you, Ben.”

  The moment he left, Gabriel closed the door behind him.

  “Oh Lilly... what on earth happened? Did you go into the forest?” Gabriel asked.

  I explained everything that I could remember, which wasn't much. Just that I had gone to find the land that belonged to my father. I remembered finding it but I couldn't recall much more than that.

  “But how did you get to Ben's?”

  “I really don't know, Gabriel. But I wish I did.”

  I was uncomfortable lying flat on my back, so I asked him if he would help me sit up a little and as I did so, I noticed I was clenching something in my hand. I opened it and found a single black feather. Strange, I thought, I don't recall picking up a feather and why would I still have it in my hand?

  Gabriel saw the look on my face and followed my gaze.

  “I must have found it there and picked it up, for some reason,” I said innocently as Rose opened the door with a cup of coffee that she handed to Gabriel.

  “Hello dear. Are you feeling all right? I've been worried out of my mind,” she said as she tiptoed over to me and leaned over to peck me on my cheek. She hovered for a moment and I could have sworn she sniffed at me a couple of times. As she straightened up she turned to Gabriel and they shared a quizzical look.

  She walked over to my coat and picked it up. As she did so, another black feather, a much larger one, fell to the ground.

  This time it was my turn to gasp as she crouched down to pick it up.

  Gabriel took it from her and held it up to the light.

  “This is the feather of a raven,” he whispered.

  “But it is too large, Gabriel,” Rose whispered in reply.

  He nodded and they both turned to look at me.

  “Lilly, it's very important that you recall what happened to you this afternoon. Is there anything, anything at all that you remember? The slightest thing could make all the difference,” Gabriel said hopefully.

  I closed my eyes and thought back to when I left Crystal's, looking up at the sign and smiling, then I'd walked through town and had spoken to a few people and then I'd followed Rose's map to find the land belonging to my father. I remember the dirt track that had started off winding and then had straightened out, giving that funnel effect.

  As I walked in my mind, I walked into the clearing where the concrete base was situated. I remember feeling sad. My eyes settled on the logs where I had gently caressed the wood that would have made a house for my family and me. As I explained all of this, Gabriel nodded, waiting to hear more.

  “My coat got caught on something and then the log fell on my leg... I remember being trapped and there was so much pain,” I said, flinching at the memory.

  “That's obviously how your leg was broken, my dear. It has broken in two places. But if you were trapped, how did you get out? And how on earth did you get to Ben's?” asked Rose.

  I tried hard to remember again but there was nothing. I had no memory after that. I was so frustrated. But then as I looked at that huge feather, something was triggered in my subconscious.

  “There was a man's voice,” I gasped, “'don't worry, Lilly. You're going to be all right. I'll make sure of that'. That's what he said but I don't know what happened after that.”

  “Well, whoever he was, he must have been the one that took you to Ben's practice. We just have to try and find out who he was. We'll ask around and see if anybody saw anything strange this afternoon. There's a lot more to this. I can feel it,” said Gabriel as he drank the last of his coffee and threw the polystyrene cup into the rubbish bin.

  “Whoever he was, I'm eternally grateful to him, that's for sure. I don't even care to imagine what might have happened had he not been there,” said Rose as Gabriel nodded in agreement.

  “Can I come home with you, Gabriel?” I asked hopefully. I didn't want to stay there in that hospital bed. I was reminded of how my mother had died and I felt physically sick to the stomach at the thought of having to remain there.

  Gabriel checked with the doctor who said it shouldn't be a problem for me to go home, as long as I stayed horizontal and was well looked after. The doctor had known the Tulugaqs for many years and therefore knew that we were a strong family who cared for each other deeply. He was confident that I would get even better care than at the hospital itself so he discharged me immediately.

  Using his cell phone, Gabriel called both Meredith and Sonya and told them to go straight home instead of coming to the hospital. Then, for the first time, I was driven by Gabriel. He and Rose had struggled to get me into the back seat with my broken leg in plaster but eventually they managed and we were on our way.

  As I lay there, barely able to move, I tried so hard to remember what had happened that afternoon but the memory could not be tempted out of my subconscious mind. It was deep in there somewhere and I knew it would eventually come out... most likely during my sleep.

  Laying on the sofa later, I felt awful that I would miss out on my very first date with Oliver. Why couldn't I have just walked straight home? Why couldn't I have gone to see my father's house another time? Instead I had completely messed up my chances with Oliver.

  As if on cue, there was a knock on the front door. Sonya stood up and went to see who was there. At the same time, Meredith smiled at me and made a quick exit into the kitchen. Clearly, she knew who it was.

  Oliver rushed into the living room and sat by my side immediately, “Lilly, are you all right? I was really freaked out when I heard what happened. What were you thinking going out alone like that?”

  His reaction actually made me laugh out loud and he suddenly stopped talking and he looked at me before laughing too. “Sorry, I guess I sound like Gabriel. I was just worried,” he said.

  The fact that he was there with me helped ease the pain tremendously and I felt utter relief that he cared that much for me already. And we hadn't even had our date yet.

  “I'm glad you're here, Oliver. Thank you for coming,” I said shyly, nervously running my hand through my h
air, which I had completely forgotten actually looked good.

  “Wow... I've only just had the chance to really look at you. You look amazing. I love the new hairstyle. You certainly don't look like someone who has just had a near death experience.”

  I felt myself blush. “It was hardly a brush with death. I just had a log fall on me, that's all.”

  “Are you kidding? Do you know how much those logs weigh?” he joked.

  We sat together for a few minutes in silence, enjoying each other's company, when Sonya and Meredith walked in carrying two big plates of food for us.

  “We figured you'd both be hungry and seeing as you aren't able to actually go out, we thought we'd bring the restaurant to you... oh and we brought you a few movies too, just in case.”

  “Aww thanks,” said Oliver.

  “We both have to get home now so we'll leave you to it. Gabriel is over at Rose's house. He said if you need anything just buzz him on his cell and he'll come right over. You look after our patient, Oliver,” said Meredith with a wink and then they were gone.

  They were well aware that I was supposed to be having a date with Oliver that night so it was very sweet that they had all left and allowed the 'date' to happen at home instead.

  “So how did you know about my little accident?” I asked.

  “Actually I had a few phone calls,” he laughed, “first Ben rang me as soon as he'd got you to the hospital. Unfortunately I couldn't get out of work otherwise I would have come straight over. And then Meredith called me to let me know and then Rose did too! It appears everyone knows that we're close now,” he added, with a cheeky smirk.

  To hear him say that we were close, out loud, was just amazing – it really made my heart leap and certainly helped take my mind off the bad day I'd had.

  As we sat there on the sofa, me with my leg stretched out in front of me and my dinner on my lap and Oliver sitting so close to me with his dinner on his lap, we looked a right pair.

  “So what are these movies that Meredith mentioned?” I asked as I ate a mouthful of pasta.

  Oliver leaned forward to pick up the DVDs that had been left on the coffee table and laughed, “Well, I don't quite know if they're your sort of thing but there's Twilight, Van Helsing or League of Extraordinary Gentleman. Not really date movies but if you're into supernatural stuff...”

  I laughed at the choices, clearly Meredith or Gabriel had been responsible for them but I appreciated the thought all the same. It was just a shame I couldn't share the joke with Oliver.

  I opted for Twilight, at least there was a little romance in with the vampires – it seemed more appropriate than the others and at least it had a bit of action for Oliver too.

  He stood up to put the film on and then sat back down so we could finish dinner together. Although the film played on in the background, there was too much to say to each other to really take any notice of it. We had a lifetime of experiences to share with each other. Well, Oliver had a lifetime of experience to tell me about. I, on the other hand, was a little embarrassed that I didn't have an awful lot to tell him about me.

  He told me about his parents' death but that he was too young to really understand what had happened and he admitted to not being able to remember them, sadly. He still liked to look at their photos but the memories just weren't there. “But I still miss them, if that makes sense?” he asked and I nodded with a mouthful of pasta.

  He talked a little about his brother, whom he was clearly incredibly proud of. “To become a vet because of what happened to our parents is just awesome,” he said and to which I wholeheartedly agreed, “and I think it's fantastic that you're going to be working with him,” he added happily.

  I raised my eyebrows and he laughed, “Ben told me when he phoned me earlier... he's really thrilled and wanted to share it with me.”

  “Do you realise that you still haven't told me what you do for a living?” I asked, eager to know everything about him.

  He looked surprised and I felt a momentary stab of guilt for not asking anybody else. Ben could have told me. I felt a bit silly but still, I guess it had just never come up in conversation.

  Oliver explained that when he had left high school he hadn't got a clue what to do with his life. He wasn't like Ben who had known from a young age what he wanted to do.

  “All I did know was that I didn't really want to go to college. I was never very academic; I was more of a hands-on sort of guy. Gabriel had always said I was good with my hands and I ought to do something creative instead, so I ended up working for a construction company where I am currently learning the tricks of the trade. My favourite part of it so far is building log homes like this one. So my long term plan is to start my own wooden home building company,” he said energetically as if it meant the world to him. It was exciting to see him so enthusiastic about his career, especially since he wasn't interested in college like so many other kids these days.

  I told him I was impressed. He was even cuter when he blushed.

  Having grown up in this house and raised by Gabriel since he was just a boy, I wondered why he no longer lived here.

  “There is no real reason except for the fact that I like my independence and so I rent a small lodge on John and Meredith's land. It's like a separate little house, an annexe, I guess,” he answered. “It's a great little place. Great for my life at the moment anyway. Eventually I'd like to build my own place. A log home, of course,” he grinned.

  For some reason his words took me back to earlier in the day when I had accidentally found myself underneath a very heavy log. The memory had an instant effect on my stomach and I felt a strong urge to throw up.

  Oliver immediately stood up and helped me sit upright as I fought the urge.

  “Are you okay? You looked a bit pale for a second there,” he whispered.

  I shook my head and he rushed into the kitchen to get me a glass of cold water. As he returned and stood above me, his movement triggered another memory and I heard that voice again: 'don't worry, Lilly. You're going to be all right. I'll make sure of that' and then I felt as though I was flying.

  Unfortunately, the whole thing caused me to vomit suddenly with little warning.

  Again, Oliver rushed to the kitchen to get some kitchen paper, a bowl and a damp flannel.

  When he returned he handed me a few sheets of the paper for me to clean myself with, he swiftly cleaned up the mess and then sat by my side as he very gently mopped my forehead with the flannel.

  I felt very sorry for myself and stupid at the same time.

  “I'm so sorry Oliver,” I said, feeling like such a child.

  “Don't be silly... it's only natural that this would happen. You had quite a day today. You're on some heavy duty painkillers and here I am keeping you awake and talking when you should be completely resting. I'm the one who should be sorry. Not you,” he smiled as he patted my forehead again.

  “I'll wait for Gabriel to come back and then I'll leave you to get some sleep. Do you want me to help you to your bedroom? Or would you rather I brought you an extra blanket in here?”

  I opted for the blanket, knowing that trying to move too much might make me sick again and I was already so embarrassed at having thrown up in front of him.

  Oliver came back from my bedroom with my duvet cover and another pillow. He then went into the bathroom and returned with my tooth brush, tooth paste, a glass of water and a bowl.

  “I figured you might want to brush your teeth. It might make you feel better,” he said handing everything to me like a father would probably treat a sick child.

  I told him I was grateful even though my mouth was completely full of frothed up toothpaste. I grinned in an effort to make him laugh. It worked, as he shook his head, chuckling at me.

  Just as I spat out the water, we heard the door open and Gabriel announce he had returned home. He greeted Oliver like a son and looked at me with concern.

  Oliver explained that I'd been sick and so Gabriel reassured him th
at he would look after me, giving Oliver his cue to go home.

  “Well, I'd better go now, Lilly, but I'll be back in the morning... er, if that's okay with you Gabriel?”

  Gabriel smiled and said “Yes of course, provided Lilly wants you to come back, that is,” he chuckled.

  “I certainly do,” I answered, as he leaned down and gently brushed my cheeks with his lips.

  “Try and get some sleep. See you in the morning. Goodnight Gabriel,” he said as he wrapped up for the cold.

  “Goodnight!” he yelled again before the front door shut behind him.

  A minute later I heard the revving of his car and then there was silence. Just the sound of my breathing, before Gabriel came and sat down opposite me and then I could hear his gentle breath too. He didn't say anything. He just let me fall asleep in peace.