Forever - 02

by Lauren Burd

  I tried to think about everything I needed to do still. “I don’t honestly know. I called and asked the concierge to get me a ticket on the first flight out. I’m going to have to borrow some money, though. I don’t think I’ll have enough to cover the ticket.” I hated asking to borrow money. He’d already spent so much on me already. It was going to take me forever to pay him back.

  “No, I won’t let you borrow the money.” I stopped in the middle of putting a shirt in my bag. “It’s already yours. Why do you think I put you on my accounts?”

  I rolled my eyes and continued packing. It wasn’t the time to debate about money.

  “What time does our flight leave?” Samuel asked as he grabbed his bag and began to pack.

  “Our flight? I didn’t think you would want to come with me.” I whispered the last sentence, hoping he wouldn’t hear it.

  “Why wouldn’t I want to come with you?”

  “Well, last night you couldn’t wait to get rid of me. So, I just thought...”

  “I was wrong last night. Whatever Thanos wants, it would be safer if we face it together.”

  I couldn’t help smiling. “I guess I should call the concierge back and have him get two tickets?”

  “I’ll do it. You just finish packing.”

  An hour later, we walked out of the hotel, heading for the airport to catch our flight. I decided to call my dad while Samuel drove us to our destination.

  “Dr. Taylor.” He sounded so tired.

  “Hey, Dad.” I hoped he wasn’t mad. I should have called as soon as I’d gotten off the phone with Mrs. Bishop, but I had been so concerned with getting back to Florida, I hadn’t even thought about it.

  “Alina, I was starting to get worried. Mrs. Bishop told me you called.”

  “Sorry. I should have called sooner, but I was trying to make arrangements to get back to Florida. How is everything going?”

  “She was pretty bad when she arrived, but after surgery, she stabilized. She’s regained consciousness a few times, but she was pretty out of it.”

  I could tell he was keeping the worst of it from me, but figured I would know the details soon enough. “It’ll be a long flight, but I should be there tomorrow night… or morning, I don’t know. This time thing gets me messed up.”

  “Do you need me or Tabby to pick you up from the airport?”

  “Give me a minute.”

  I covered the receiver and asked Samuel the same question.

  He shook his head. “My car is in long-term parking.”

  “Were you planning on coming back for it?”

  “If I didn’t, I would have arranged for it to be picked up and taken to a storage unit.”

  “We’re covered, Dad, but thanks.”

  “We?” As he asked the question, I realized my mistake.

  “A friend is coming with me to make sure I get there safe.”

  “Is it that Duncan guy?” I heard animosity in his voice.

  “No.”

  “Good.”

  “Dad, don’t be mad. He was really good to me.”

  “We can discuss it when you get here,” he said, the doubt about my statement clearly audible.

  “Sounds good. Try to get some rest. You sound tired.”

  He laughed. “I’ll try. You just be careful getting here. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Samuel drove us to the airport at an insane speed. I was surprised we weren’t pulled over. He parked the car in long-term parking. I wondered how Mr. Bennett was going to get the car back, but it quickly slipped my mind as we got closer to the main terminal. The smells escaping the large building were repugnant. It reeked of humans, and I found my steps slowing despite the fact that I knew we needed to hurry.

  “Are you okay?” Samuel asked when I came to a stop.

  I tasted bile in the back of my throat. “I don’t know if I can go in there.” Nothing in my short life had prepared me for that stench. Samuel appeared confused. “You can’t smell it?”

  Realization dawned in his eyes. “You must be more sensitive to their scents than I am. Just stay close.” He threw his arm around me, creating a little bubble of his own scent that helped to get me moving again.

  “Why can’t you smell them?” I asked as we stood in the mile long line to get through Customs.

  “I can. You’re probably just more sensitive to it.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Not everyone converts the same.”

  “I don’t understand. I thought everyone who survived the infection was Immortal.”

  “They are, but not everyone is affected by the virus the same way. It’s kind of like when humans get a cold. Some of them just get a runny nose, others get a sore throat, and some end up in the bed for two or three days with a cough, headache, runny nose, and sore throat.”

  “So, I got the runny nose?”

  Samuel laughed. “Something like that.” He suddenly sobered. “Usually when someone has a more acute sense of smell, they’re trained as a Hunter when they’re found.”

  I thought about that and realized what it meant. “You mean like Lucina?” He nodded. “Are Hunters that important?” He nodded again. “Why?”

  “There aren’t that many humans who can survive the infection intact. Most simply die or become Cast Outs. Most of us who convert and become Immortals don’t have any special abilities. So those who do convert with some gift are highly valued.”

  “Do you think Thanos knows I could be a Hunter?”

  “Did you tell him or anyone else about the smells?”

  I shook my head. Samuel’s arm relaxed.

  Unconscious

  “Alina,” Samuel whispered in my ear.

  “Are we landing?” I asked, stretching.

  “Getting ready to.”

  I reluctantly opened my eyes. It was still dark outside the windows of the aircraft. “What time is it?”

  “It’s close to five in the morning.”

  I frowned. The clock kept speeding up no matter how badly I wanted it to stop moving.

  The attendant made sure we were buckled in as the small plane began its descent. I felt a little light-headed, but my normal paranoia about the plane crashing to the ground was tucked safely away. Maybe the infection helped to get rid of my fear of flying.

  After disembarking, we were forced to wait inside the yellow box surrounding the plane to be cleared by Customs. Thankfully, due to the early hour, it didn’t take them very long to clear us and stamp our passports. After a quick trip by the restrooms and a coffee stand, we loaded our bags into Samuel’s GTR.

  “Did you want to drive this time?” he asked.

  I had a sudden sense of déjà vu. “Yeah,” I said with barely controlled excitement.

  I waited until we were on the turnpike before opening up the car. Thankfully, Samuel had equipped the beauty with a top of the line police detection system so I only had to slow down twice to avoid what would have been an enormous speeding ticket.

  A little after six o’clock, we made it into Gainesville. I drove straight to the hospital without stopping anywhere. It was kind of creepy seeing the huge building so devoid of activity. I went to the circular information desk located near the elevators. A receptionist was just arriving.

  “Hello,” I said, trying to get her attention. She quickly covered her annoyance at being interrupted by plastering a fake smile on her face.

  “What can I help you with?”

  “I’m trying to locate a patient, Katherine Taylor.”

  “What’s your relationship to the patient?” the girl asked in a controlled voice. You would have thought I was asking her to give me the location of a foreign dignitary.

  I took a deep breath. “I’m her daughter.”

  She gave me a dubious look. “She’s in Unit 94 on the ninth floor.”

  “Thanks.” I turned to leave.

  “Wait. You can’t go up right now. Visiting hours don’t start until nine.”

&nbs
p; It took every ounce of control I had not to scream. “I just got off a plane from Switzerland an hour ago. If you think─”

  “Thank you. We’ll go get something to eat and be back later,” Samuel said.

  I glared at him as he took my arm and led me around the corner toward the cafeteria. “What was that about?”

  “There’s no need to get her annoyed with us. We might need her help later.” I grumbled under my breath but didn’t argue. “Besides,” he added, “we don’t need her permission to go up to the floor.”

  He pulled me around the corner and over to the elevators. I pressed the button, and the doors opened almost immediately. A quick ride later and we were on the ninth floor.

  The elevator door opened to an empty hallway with a large sign pointing out directions of rooms or units. As we made our way to my mom’s room, I heard various beeps and machines running from behind closed doors. Finally, we came to the nurses’ station occupying the center of a large open area.

  “Is there something I can help you with?” someone asked from behind the counter. I wasn’t sure if she was a nurse or the unit clerk.

  “Um, yes. I’m here to see my mom. Her name is Katherine Taylor.”

  The woman perked up. “Oh, you’re Dr. Taylor’s daughter.”

  “Yeah.” I blushed slightly.

  “I’ll show you to your mom’s room,” another woman in dark blue scrubs said.

  All the rooms had large glass windows so the staff could see their patients at all times. Some of the windows were covered with large pastel curtains to give the occupants some privacy or perhaps to block out the glaring white hospital lights. The nurse came to a stop near a door at the back of the unit.

  “I need to let you know a few things.” I swallowed my discomfort as the nurse stared at me. “Your mom was pretty beat up when she got here, so there’s a lot of swelling and bruises. There are also a lot of wires and tubes coming off of her. And there’s a tube to help her breathe, so she won’t be able to talk.”

  My head spun. Samuel put his arm around my waist to help support me. “My dad said she was stable.”

  “She is, but she still needs some help. I just wanted to prepare you.” The nurse opened the door.

  Taking a deep breath, I walked in.

  The room was dimly lit by the monitors stationed around my mom’s bed. The strange scents of sickness, cleanser, and flowers mixed, filling the small room with the odor. A repetitive beep kept time with her heart with the occasional mechanical push as air was forced into her lungs, and bags hung around the bed delivering needed fluids and medicine.

  I followed the wires and lines to where Mom lay sleeping on the bed. I held back tears as I stared at her. A cast on her right arm went all the way up to her shoulder; another one covered her entire left leg. Her swollen and bruised face was barely recognizable. We’d never been particularly close, but it was hard to see her so broken. I walked over to the bed and took her hand in mine, being careful not to disturb her.

  Movement on the other side of the bed caught my attention. My dad lay in a recliner stretched out to its fullest extent. A blanket covered his body all the way up to his chin. Judging by his beard growth, he hadn’t left Mom’s side since he’d gotten there. The heavy bags under his eyes also showed his lack of sleep. A tender smile and soft tears stung my eyes. Even after everything she’d put him through, he was still by her side when she needed him.

  He stirred again and opened his eyes. “Alina?” he asked, sounding unsure. He probably thought he was dreaming.

  “Yeah, Dad,” I whispered, walking around to his side of the bed.

  I saw the relief flooding through him. He stood, letting the blanket fall to the ground. Seeing his clothing only confirmed my earlier suspicion. His shirt was crumpled up all over, and there were visible stains under his arms and on the front of his shirt I doubted I could get out. His pants weren’t in any better condition, even though they were the wrinkle-free kind.

  “I didn’t expect you until later today.” He threw his arms around me, flooding my sensitive nose with his scent. “I’m sorry about the smell,” he said, reading my face. “I was going to shower before you got here.”

  “It’s fine. How’s Mom doing?”

  “She’s in critical but stable condition. They’ve put her in a medically induced coma to help manage her pain and the brain trauma. I know she looks real bad, but she’s doing really well, considering.”

  It felt as if someone had punched me. “You should have told me.”

  “I didn’t want you getting in an accident or doing something stupid to get back here.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Well, I’m here now. Why don’t you go get some rest, a decent meal, and a shower?”

  “In that order.” His joking was nice to hear. “I do feel pretty rough, but aren’t you tired?”

  “I slept on the plane.”

  “Do you have some place to stay?” Samuel asked.

  I blushed slightly. “I’m so sorry,” I said embarrassed at my faux pas. “Dad, this is Samuel. Samuel, this is my father, Dr. Taylor.”

  Watching the two men size each other up was nerve-racking. Samuel had a few inches and probably thirty pounds on my dad. Though my dad appeared younger than his age, the dark circles permanently etched under his eyes and his salt-and-pepper hair were in sharp contrast to Samuel’s smooth skin and mahogany locks. Samuel was a hundred and fifty years older than my dad, but the tinge of fear in his eyes as my dad decided how he felt about him made him appear that much younger.

  “It’s nice to finally meet you,” Dad said, extending his hand.

  Samuel took his hand. “Thank you. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you as well. Alina has told me a lot about you.”

  Dad didn’t appear impressed. “Alina’s mentioned your name a few times, but I can’t say I’ve heard much about you.”

  “I know the circumstances aren’t ideal, but I hope you’ll give me the chance to rectify that.”

  Dad inclined his head. “You mentioned something about a place to stay.”

  “Yes. I figured Ms. Taylor’s residence would be taped off by the police. If you would like, I can get a room at one of the hotels, or there’s a guest room in my condo you’re welcome to use.”

  I could see the wheels turning inside my dad’s head. Cringing internally, I wished I could take back Samuel’s offer, but it was too late.

  “Thank you for the offer. I would love to stay at your condo.” The corner of Dad’s mouth was slightly raised. I gave it five minutes from the time Samuel left the condo until my Dad was digging through everything in the place.

  “Do you have bags?” I asked, trying to relieve some of the awkward tension hanging in the air.

  “Yes. They’re in my rental car.”

  “Great. I’ll stay here, and the two of you can go to the condo.”

  “Are you sure you’ll be okay here by yourself?” Samuel and Dad asked at the same time.

  I nearly laughed as the two of them took stock of each other again. “I’ll be fine. I’ll call if anything happens.”

  They seemed satisfied and started for the door. I held the door for them.

  Samuel followed my dad out before turning back around. “I’ll make sure your dad gets settled, and then I’ll come back. Did you want me to get you something to eat?”

  I leaned my head to the side and thought about it for a second. “A couple of bagels and some cream cheese.”

  Samuel nodded before leaning down and placing a soft kiss on my cheek. Dad tried to ignore the little exchange, but I could see the annoyance on his face. I hoped he would control his temper. The last thing I wanted was for him to take out his frustrations and lack of sleep on Samuel.

  Catching Up

  I sat down in the recliner my dad had just vacated and stared at my mom. I hadn’t spoken to her since she kicked me out of the house, at least not that I could remember. I wondered what she would think if she woke up and found Dad and me here. I c
huckled to myself at the thought of her ranting and raving until we had to leave but then stopped. It didn’t seem very funny when I really considered it.

  Feeling restless, I got up and walked over to the small bedside stand that made up the entire storage for her room. There was a small hospital issued brush that reminded me of the flimsy throwaway brushes you never use if you can help it. I gently gathered Mom’s hair and ran the brush through the tangled mess. Without any conditioner it took me nearly thirty minutes to get the knots out.

  I put the brush back in the little drawer and went to sit back down when a light knock on the door drew my attention. I expected to see a nurse or maybe Samuel but the face that greeted me made me light up.

  “Tabby.”

  “Alina?” she asked doubtfully. She peered through the dimly lit room at me as I walked over to meet her. Recognition dawned on her features and she threw her arms around me. She smelled like a fresh ocean breeze and my mouth was suddenly very dry. “You feel like an ice cube. Here drink this.” She shoved a cup of coffee into my hands.

  “Thanks.” I politely sipped the hot beverage. The liquid did little to quench my thirst.

  “When did you get here?”

  “A couple hours ago.”

  “Why didn’t you call me?” she pouted.

  “I’ve been a little preoccupied.” I glanced over at my mom’s unconscious form.

  Tabby frowned. It looked like she was just remembering why I was back in town.

  “What are you doing here so early?”

  “Oh, I’ve been coming by every morning to make sure your Dad has a cup of coffee and muffin. I didn’t want him sitting up here starving.”

  “Thank you for watching out for him.” I felt so grateful that Tabby was here when I couldn’t be.

  “So, how is she doing this morning?”

  “I’m not really sure. None of the buzzers have gone off so I’m assuming that’s good. My dad said they put her into a drug coma which doesn’t seem very good to me. I just wish she would wake up so I could know she was okay.”

  Tabby squeezed my hand. “What did you do? Walk here from Europe?”