by H G Lynch
I could feel it, the passion he was pouring into the song, the emotion he was using to coax magic from the strings. Tears ran silently down his face as he played, his concentration unwavering, his fingers sure and unhesitating. I could see the boy he’d once been, before his life was smashed around him. It was breath-taking, the music and him, him and the music. It seemed hard to distinguish one from the other, as if he breathed the notes from his lungs, as if his heart beat in time to the song, as if the music was a natural part of him. It was like the music completed him, healed him.
Eventually, when the final wavering note faded to silence, he raised his head. His cheeks were streaked with tears, his eyes wet and shining. His expression was so raw and intense, it was hard to look at, but his mind was easy to read, and I smiled. My face was damp too, and I reached for his hand. He released the guitar, settling it flat on his lap, and laced his fingers through mine, and he whispered, “Thank you, Callie.”
I shrugged, as nonchalant as I could be. “It’s nothing. I know you can’t leave this place, so I just thought you deserved…some hope.”
He shook his head. “It’s not nothing, Callie. Not to me. This…this is everything. You’ve given me more than hope. You’ve given me back sound. You’ve given me back music. You’ve given me back my life.” His voice cracked, and he took a deep breath. He lifted our joined hands to his mouth and kissed my fingers, causing my heart to flutter. He whispered against my knuckles, “And now I know I can’t live without you.”
Chapter Ten
** Callie **
After Casey’s proclamation, I spent the rest of the day floating on my own personal happy-cloud. As soon as we were brought back inside, Casey was called to Dr. Moore’s office, so I went to my room for a nap. Despite my inner-girly-girl giggling her head off, and my inability to stop smiling, I was frankly exhausted from the raw emotional rollercoaster of earlier. I felt sort of scraped raw inside.
Although I was still wired, I drifted off almost as soon as my head hit the pillow, and quickly fell into a nightmare. I dreamt of the twisted face I’d seen in the hallway outside my room during the first blackout. I dreamt of those glowing red eyes, burning like coals, crimson as blood. They were watching me from the shadows in the corner of my room, a malevolent presence filling the room with a cold, choking energy that seemed to press down heavily on my chest, making it hard to breathe.
Panic clutched at me with greedy fingers, and I struggled to move, to wake up, but I was trapped by that oppressing sense of evil. The glowing eyes lurking closer to the bed, white fangs flashing in the darkness as the demon laughed, a sound as chilling as any lunatic’s screaming. In a voice like rattling bones and howling wind, it whispered, “I’m watching you.”
“Callie!” an echoing voice hissed at me from the distance, and I jolted awake. My heart thrashed and I sat up, shaking as I stared into the abyss-like darkness of my room. Outside the window, the sky was black and spangled with stars. I’d been asleep for hours.
As my heart began to calm, my eyes adjusted slowly, and a smudge of light materialized by the bed. “Ches?” I squinted. He was faded and transparent, looking about as substantial as a beam of moonlight, but I could make out the panic on his face. That was when it occurred to me that the room shouldn’t have been this dark – the safety light in the corner of the room should have been on, and there ought to have been light spilling from the hallway into the room through the small window in the door. “Shit. Another blackout.”
Chester nodded. I flung off my blanket, and immediately shivered. The room was freezing, and goosebumps rose on my arms and the back of my neck. Sliding out of bed, I winced at the chill of the floor tiles on my bare feet, and crept across the room to the door. Cautiously, I peered out through the window, half-expecting that face from my nightmare, the glowing eyes, to stare back at me. But there was nothing – only darkness.
I tried the door and found it was locked. I frowned, disappointed and confused. Someone must have found a way to separate the door-locking system from the lights and hook it up to a generator or something. Which meant I was stuck in here for good. Any remaining plans of escaping, if I’d still wanted to, were smashed, but more importantly, my secret blackout forays to Casey’s room were officially at an end. Damn, I thought.
I thought about messaging Casey telepathically, wondering if he’d discovered the same thing I had, but then I realized he might be sleeping. I didn’t want to wake him; I knew he didn’t like the blackouts. They freaked him out maybe even more than they freaked me, because in a blackout, he couldn’t see or hear – I couldn’t stand that; not being able to see was bad enough for me. It must’ve been horrible for him to be so…helpless. It was better to let him sleep. He’d probably message me anyway if he woke up.
I sighed and leaned my head on the cold metal of the door, my shoulder blades prickling. I was trying not to show Chester, but I was still shaken after my nightmare, and I really could have used Casey’s arms around me right now. I just had this horrible knot in my gut, this feeling that somewhere in the hospital, something bad was happening. After all, every time there was a blackout, someone died.
That thought made my stomach clench, and my heart beat harder. I curled my hands into fists against the door, trying not to panic. It’s okay, I told myself stubbornly, Casey is okay. Nothing is going to happen to him, or to you. You’re both safe.
Just as I thought it, the lights suddenly flickered and flared back to life, and I let out my breath, relieved, as the chill of the room started to dissipate. Then, from behind me, I heard Chester make a choked noise. “Callie,” he whispered, his voice strained.
I turned. “Ches, what–”
I didn’t even finish my question. He was standing in the middle of the room, barely visible but as a hazy outline in the lighted room, but I could see he was pointing at the wall. I followed his gaze, and my breath caught in my throat. My stomach turned over hard, and a scream lodged in my throat.
There, on the wall above my bed, was a message scratched deep into the stone, as if by a long claw. It said three words, the words from my nightmare: I’m watching you.
I didn’t sleep the rest of that night. I stayed curled in a ball, shivering, in the corner of the room, staring at the message on the wall. Chester had vanished just before sunrise, too weak to stay visible. He’d said he’d be back by nightfall, if he could. So I was left alone. When morning came, and the doors unlocked, I bolted from the room, desperate to escape it.
By the time Casey found me huddled in the common room, I’d stopped shaking and I could barely keep my eyes open. I felt pale and exhausted, curled up in a chair by the window. Every time my eyes slipped closed, those burning red eyes flashed behind my lids.
“Callie.”
My eyes fluttered open lazily and I looked up at Casey standing over me, his brow furrowed in concern. I opened my mouth to say hi, and instead yawned. Too tired to be embarrassed, I covered my mouth with my hand, dropping my head back against the wall. “Sorry. Tired,” I mumbled.
He pulled up a chair close to mine and sat opposite me, close enough that his knees brushed mine. His green eyes softened with worry. “You look like hell. Did you sleep at all last night?”
“Wow, thanks for the confidence boost,” I muttered.
One corner of his mouth tipped up, but the smile didn’t last long. “You know there was another blackout last night? I thought you might come to my room…” He looked down, his cheeks turning faintly pink.
I frowned. “I tried, but someone fixed the doors so they stayed locked. I couldn’t get out.”
He raised his gaze and gave me a funny look. “The doors weren’t locked, Callie. If you didn’t want to come, just say. It’s okay.”
I shook my head. “No, I did want to come see you. I was so scared…but my door really was locked.” I remembered the chill of the room in the darkness, the scratched message on the wall, and I shivered.
Hey, it’s alright, Button, Casey murm
ured soothingly inside my head. He leaned forward laying his hands on my knees. I felt the heat of his skin through my thin hospital trousers, and it defrosted a little of the ice that had crawled inside me during the night. I smiled slightly and closed my eyes, relaxing at his touch, and he sighed. “Come on. Up you get.”
I groaned as he wiggled my leg. “What? Why?”
“Up,” was all he said. I scowled and tucked my head under my arm, curling up my legs. I didn’t want to move. I was comfy enough to sleep here. “Don’t make me carry you,” he warned.
I sighed and opened my eyes. He grinned. I glared at him. “Fine. Where are we going?”
He shrugged and grabbed my hand, hauling me to my feet. Linking his fingers through mine, he tugged me along, leading me out of the common room.
We passed RJ in the hallway, and he held up his hands to stop us. “Just where are you two goin’?” he asked wearily. He looked almost as tired as I felt, and I guessed he’d been running around last night, trying to keep everything from going into chaos when the lights went out.
He looked at me, and I shrugged. “Ask him,” I muttered, slumping against Casey and leaning my head on his shoulder, barely able to stand.
Casey looped his arm around my waist, holding me up. “Callie didn’t sleep last night…because of the blackout. I’m taking her back to her room.”
At that, my eyes flew open and I tensed. Casey’s fingers tightened around my waist protectively. RJ eyed us, and then nodded. Clearly too tired to argue, he said, “Fine. But I’ll be checking on you later, so don’t even think about getting up to anything.”
Casey nodded solemnly. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
RJ shot him a half-amused glare, and walked off. I turned to Casey and stared up at him with pleading eyes. “I don’t want to go back to my room,” I whispered. “Please.”
He frowned. “Why not?”
I swallowed and looked down. The…the blackout demon left a message…on the wall.
He blinked. What? What do you mean, a message?
I jerked my chin down the hall. Go and look.
Casey slid his arm from around my waist and took my hand again. He pulled me down the hall to my room. I refused to go in, so I hovered at the doorway while he swung the door open and went in to look.
A few moments later, he came out, an odd look on his face. “Callie, there’s nothing in there.”
I stared at him a second. “What? No, it’s there. On the wall, right above the bed, it’s…” I trailed off.
Casey shook his head slowly, looking worried again now. “Are you sure you didn’t just dream it?” he asked softly.
“I…no. No, it wasn’t a dream. Chester saw it too. I swear…” I made a frustrated sound and pushed the door open. I forced myself to step into the room and look at the wall, but like Casey said, there was nothing. My stomach turned over, and my heart hammered against my ribs. I raised my hands to my mouth, shaking my head. “No, it was there. I swear, it was right there, scratched into the wall. I don’t...” My hands started shaking again, and Casey slid his arm over my shoulders.
“Shh. It’s okay. I believe you, I do. We’ll talk about it later. First, you need to sleep, Button. You look like you’re about to collapse.”
“I can’t sleep in here. I can’t,” I croaked.
“You don’t have to,” he said quietly. “Come on.”
Numb with disbelief, I nodded and let him tow me out of the room. He led me down the hall and pushed open the door to his own room. I paused and looked up at him, and he smiled. He swept an arm out, motioning me inside, and I went. He closed the door behind us, and I hovered in the middle of the room, chewing my lip. I knew I’d been in here before, but somehow, it felt different this time. Then, I just hadn’t wanted to be alone in the darkness. Now, I wasn’t sure what his intentions were, or what he expected.
Quietly, I heard him laugh inside my head, and I frowned, realizing he’d been listening to my thoughts. I glared at him, trying not to blush, and he grinned, flashing his dimples. My intentions, Callie, are simple. I want you to sleep.
I eyed him, but he seemed to be sincere. He strolled to the bed and sat down, patting the mattress. “I promise I’ll be a perfect gentleman,” he said with a wicked glint in his eyes. I rolled my eyes and strode to the bed. He shifted onto the floor and I lay down, curling onto my side. His pillow smelled like him, fresh and clean, like soap and leaves and boy, and I instantly relaxed.
“Do you want me to leave to give you peace?” Casey asked quietly.
I looked at him, sitting on the floor, with his tousled brown hair and clear green eyes and handsome face. Don’t be silly, I thought. It’s your room.
He smiled. Still. I don’t mind if you’d rather–
I shook my head, reaching out a hand. “No, stay. Please.” It seemed stupid, but I felt better when he was close – safer.
His face softened, and he nodded. “Okay. I’ll stay.” He took my hand and kissed my knuckles. Then he bent over and kissed my forehead. “Sleep, Button. I’ll still be here when you wake up.”
Weirdly enough, that promise reassured me, and I smiled as I closed my eyes and finally, finally, let sleep drag me under.
I woke sometime later to find Casey sitting up against the end of the bed, reading a book in his lap. Sitting up, I pushed back the blankets and leaned forward. What are you reading? I asked silently.
Casey flinched and looked round, like he hadn’t realized I was awake. A smile lit his face. Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes.
I’d read it a couple of years ago. “Good book.”
He nodded and folded down the corner of the page he was on before shutting the book. How’d you sleep?
I shrugged. He slid up onto the bed. You look better. Feel better? When I nodded, he leaned forward and brushed his lips against my forehead. I bit down on a stupid smile. He pulled back and eyed me cautiously. “You want to tell me what happened earlier?” he asked.
I thought back to the scratched message in my room, my nightmare, discovering the wall blank, and I sighed, rubbing my face with my hands. Did I want to tell him? He’d said he believed me, but he’d probably just been saying that to calm me down because I’d been exhausted and acting irrational. Honestly, was I even sure he was wrong not to believe me? I’d been so tired…it was possible the nightmare had just freaked me out and I’d imagined the message. As for Chester seeing it too...well, maybe I’d imagined him there last night as well. Maybe I’d never really woken up, and it had all been part of the nightmare. I liked that idea better than the notion that the blackout demon was invading my dreams and leaving me personal messages in my room.
After a moment of silence, I shook my head. It was nothing. I just had a nightmare that really scared me. I was tired. Sorry for freaking out on you.
Casey frowned. He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push it. Instead, he leaned back on his elbows, causing his t-shirt to rise up and expose a line of skin above the waistband of his trousers. I bit my lip, slightly fascinated by the curve of his hipbone and the slope of his stomach. He caught me looking and raised an eyebrow, a wicked smirk curling his mouth.
I shrugged innocently. “What? If you don’t want me to look, don’t sit like that.”
He laughed, tipping his head back. His teeth flashed white, and his cheeks dimpled, and I felt my stomach flutter. He had such a nice smile, and he’d been using it more and more since I met him. That made me feel sort of fuzzy and proud inside, and an irrepressible grin tugged at my lips.
Casey noticed my grin and mischief glimmered in his pretty eyes. With a casual sigh, he stretched out his arms and lay flat on his back, folding his hands behind his head. His t-shirt rose further, and I glared at him. What are you trying to do to me?
He closed his eyes. I have no idea what you mean.
I crossed my arms, mostly to resist the urge to touch him. I forced my gaze to stay on his face and not stray to his well-defined abs. Tosser.
&nb
sp; He smiled without opening his eyes. Maybe.
Suddenly, Chester popped up out of nowhere. He took in the scene before him and scowled. “I should’ve guessed I’d find you here,” he grumbled. I glared at him. He rolled his eyes. “If you’re done here, Dr. Moore is looking for you. If I were you, I’d make sure she doesn’t catch you in Lover Boy’s bed. She might decide to stick one of you in Solitary.” He looked at Casey hopefully.
Having delivered his message, Chester vanished. Clearly he was sulking with me. I’d have to make it up to him later. I sighed and slid off the bed. Casey cracked one eye open. “Going somewhere?”
Maybe, I replied archly. He grinned and sat up. I waved a hand at him. “Chester just popped in to tell me Dr. Moore is looking for me. Time for my session.”
He looked disappointed and grabbed my hand. “You’ll come back after, though, right?”
I nodded. He smiled. “Good, ‘cause I’m not nearly done with you,” he murmured, trailing his fingers up my arm. I shivered at his delicate touch and he leaned back, looking smug. I snatched my hand away and left quickly, before I could be tempted to skip my session and engage in some inappropriate behavior.
I knocked on the closed door of Dr. Moore’s office tentatively. She usually only closed the door all the way if she was with a patient. But when she swung the door open from inside, I saw the room was empty but for her. She smiled at me pleasantly, though her eyebrows rose over her glasses. “Callie.”
I smiled back as convincingly as I could. “I heard you were looking for me.”
She nodded and stepped back to let me in. She closed the door and strode toward her desk, motioning me toward the chair in front of the desk. “I have been. You weren’t in your room, and I didn’t see you in the common room.”
I sat down in the chair. “Sorry. Casey was just showing me something…in his room.” I tried not to blush as I said it.