by Mandi Oyster
“Thanks.” I smiled at her, turned around and pranced back to Cody’s side. “Samantha knows. She could tell something was up.”
“What’d she say?”
“She said everyone but us has known for a long time that we should be together.”
“Well, at least we know now.” He grinned and pulled me toward him. I sat on the edge of his bed.
We thought nothing of it when the door opened again. Both of us figured Samantha returned. So imagine our surprise when a deep male voice boomed, “What is this mess?”
We turned to see Dr. Sequoia looking at the smashed vase and flowers scattered across the floor. It was the first time I had seen him. I was surprised by how young he looked; he couldn’t have been any older than his mid-thirties with auburn hair and green eyes. He was slender and stood about six feet tall.
“Our friend is finding someone to clean it up,” I said. “She was a bit stunned by Cody’s quick recovery.”
“She should be more careful. Somebody could get hurt.” He still hadn’t looked at Cody. “So what’s this improvement?” He turned toward Cody. Cody’s chart fell to the floor, and Dr. Sequoia’s jaw dropped open. He stood, looking at Cody for what seemed an eternity. “How did this … when did … what’s going on?”
“We don’t know, doctor, but it’s pretty amazing,” Cody said. “I feel like a new man.”
I reached down to pick up Cody’s chart. “Now you know why my friend dropped the flowers.”
“Yes, I guess I can understand. Even the gash on your face is gone.” He looked over Cody searching for any trace of his injuries. He pressed on Cody’s ribs. “Does that hurt at all?”
“No, sir.”
“I can’t imagine how you could’ve healed so fast. It doesn’t make any sense.” He flipped through Cody’s chart and rubbed his jaw. “I’m taking you back to x-ray. I want to see new films.”
I got the impression he wanted to see Cody’s broken ribs so he would know he wasn’t going crazy. In a way, I felt sorry for him. He would never know what happened here.
Cody shrugged. “Sure, Doc, but I feel fine.”
Dr. Sequoia’s chest puffed up as he inhaled. He slowly blew out his breath. “I’ll send Nurse Cypress in with a wheelchair. We’ll take some x-rays and see what’s going on with you.”
Samantha walked in the room as Dr. Sequoia left. “Sorry about the mess.” Her cheeks flushed pink. “It took me a while to find someone to clean it up.”
He smiled uneasily at her. “Don’t worry. If I’d had flowers, I’d be in the same predicament.” His words were polite, but his voice was gruff.
“He dropped my chart instead,” Cody said.
“The nurse will be in soon.” Dr. Sequoia shut the door behind him.
Samantha hooked her thumb toward the door. “Is it just me or does he seem grumpy?”
“Confused,” Cody said. “His bedside manner was much better this morning.”
“I imagine.” Samantha laughed. “He probably thinks he stepped into the Twilight Zone.”
“Samantha and I can wait until you get back from x-ray. Then we should head back to campus.” I rubbed my thumb under his eye. It was hard to believe it had been swollen shut only a few hours ago. “It might’ve been better for you if I’d waited to heal you until you were out of here.”
“No.” He said. “I hate hospitals. Now, hopefully, I’ll be out tomorrow.”
I twisted a lock of hair around my finger. “I know, but they’ll want an explanation.”
“If they need one”—Samantha shrugged—“they’ll just have to settle for a miracle.”
“It’s not like you knew you were doing it,” Cody said.
The janitor came in and cleaned up the flowers. As soon as he finished, Tammy came in and wheeled Cody away. Six o’clock. I doubt we’ll make it back before dark.
“I’m so happy for you two!” Samantha said as soon as the door closed behind Cody. “You’re perfect for each other!”
“Thanks.” My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. “He’s pretty great, and I don’t have to hide anything from him. He already knows about my powers and isn’t bothered by them. He’s seen me at my worst, and I haven’t scared him off yet.”
“He adores you.” She lifted her hand to her heart. “I’ve been able to tell from the first time I saw the two of you together. And, let’s be honest. You’ve felt that way about him for a long time, too.”
I nodded. “Let’s just hope he still does after we’ve been dating for a while.”
She rose up on her toes, bouncing up and down. “He will, Dacia.”
At 7:50, Tammy brought Cody back to the room. “My shift’s done in ten minutes,” she said. “I’ll be back at 8:00 in the morning.”
“Thanks.” Cody sounded irritated. He hopped out of the wheelchair and plopped down on the bed, crossed his arms tightly and glared at the door.
“Well …” Samantha said.
“They said they were taking me to x-ray. They poked and prodded me.” He threw his arms up. “They took tons of blood. I’m surprised they didn’t try to take samples of my brain tissue.”
“I’m sorry, Cody. I didn’t mean to put you through this.” Guilt twisted my stomach.
“It’s okay, Dacia. I’d rather be annoyed than feel like I did earlier. Besides now I can open my eyes and see you.” He grabbed my hand.
“Aaah, isn’t that sweet?” Samantha chortled. “I think I’m gonna puke.”
I rolled my eyes.
“What? Somebody’s got to tease the two of you.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Cody said. “Anyway, I’m no longer broken, but I’m missing a lot of the blood I came in with.” He massaged his temples. “Figured I’d already lost enough of that today.”
The image of Cody lying behind the bushes broken and bleeding flashed before my eyes. “Yeah, I’d have to agree with that.”
“I get to leave tomorrow.”
Samantha went to the door. “I’m going to get out of here and let the two of you say goodbye. You don’t need me standing around making you feel uncomfortable.” As she reached for the doorknob, she turned to Cody and said, “I’d tell you to get some rest so you can get better, but I think that’s been taken care of.”
I sat on the bed and ran my fingers through Cody’s hair. “I’m sorry this had to happen.” He smelled like antiseptic. “I’d better go. Samantha’s waiting on me. Don’t forget to call your parents.”
“Yeah.” He sighed.
“They should be home by now.”
His hands clenched and unclenched in his lap. “What do I say? I’m fine now.”
“I don’t know.” I looked at the door, wanting to stay with Cody but knowing Samantha was waiting for me.
“You better go.” His voice softened, and his eyes pleaded with me. “Watch your back until I can.” He squeezed my hand. “I know you can take care of yourself. You did a better job than me, but I worry.”
It felt good to have somebody care for me this much. “Thanks, Cody.”
He reached up, brushing his hand over my cheek. Then he pulled my head down to his. His kiss lingered on my lips all the way back to campus.
Chapter 20
Bad Choices
“So tell me what happened, Dacia,” Sarah said, as Samantha and I sat on the couch across from her.
I started explaining, but Samantha took over. While she talked, I thought back on my life. I couldn’t remember ever being sick.
That can’t be right. Who’s never been sick? “When I was little—four or five maybe—I fell off my bike and scraped up my hands and knees. The next day I was fine. Mom and Dad never acted surprised or upset. I can’t believe I never realized.”
Sarah sat on the edge of her seat. “Were the
re other times?”
Heat flooded my cheeks. “When I set my house on fire—”
Samantha gasped. Sarah held her hand up, stopping Samantha.
“I didn’t touch the flames, but the heat burned me. By the time the paramedic saw me, I was fine.” I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I breathed in so much smoke. I shouldn’t have been okay.”
The silence in the room was deafening. I willed them to understand that I didn’t do it intentionally.
Samantha cleared her throat. “You set your house on fire?”
I rubbed my hand over my mouth and nodded. Looking down at my feet, I said, “My bedroom.”
“Why?”
“Samantha.” Sarah’s voice was severe.
“Sorry,” Samantha said, but it was obvious she needed to hear the whole story.
Raspberry carpet and pink walls filled my vision. A small nightlight shown on the beast in the corner. It snarled at me, sharp fangs jutted out of its snout. Long pointed ears flattened against its head as it crept forward. The half-human, half-dog creature growled.
I raised my hand. “Stop.”
It stalked closer, and blue flames erupted from my fingers.
The beast exploded, and fire spread to my ceiling and walls.
I slumped forward with my head in my hands. I’d never told anybody about the fire, and I really didn’t want to now. “I was six. My parents told me it was a dream. They said I must have had matches in my room.” I shook my head. “I knew the fire came from me, but all this time …” My hand trembled when I raked it through my curls. “All this time, I believed the monster was a dream.”
Samantha put her hand on my shoulder.
Sarah said, “I imagine the fire saved your life.”
I looked at her through my fingers. “Maybe, but …” I lowered my head. “My brother died. He was two. The paramedics said he probably didn’t even wake up.”
Samantha gasped. “Oh, Dacia. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed.”
I tried to remember Jonathan’s laugh, but the only memory I had of him was Mom holding him in the hallway, begging God not to take him. “Cody doesn’t even know this.” I stared at the carpet until the strands blended together. “We moved to Bittersweet after that. My parents never forgave me, never trusted me again.”
Sarah’s voice was soft, comforting. “It wasn’t your fault, Dacia.”
I rubbed my hands over my face, refusing to look up at them. “My brother died because of me.”
“Your brother died because a monster, most likely a demon, came into your room to kill you.” Sarah stood and started pacing. “I can’t help but wonder if Nefarious sent it so he wouldn’t have to face you.” She sat down again. “That thought gives me hope.”
“Was that the first time you used your powers?” Samantha asked.
“I don’t know if it was the first time, but it was the most devastating.” I pulled my hand through my hair and sat up straight. “There were other times I got hurt, but I don’t remember staying injured for long.”
Sarah smoothed her grey slacks. “I can’t think of a better ability for you to have.”
“Yeah.” I walked over to the window and stared out. It was dark, so I couldn’t see anything but my own anguish. “I wish I would’ve known before Cody went to Nurse Heron’s. I could’ve healed him before anybody knew he was hurt.” My thoughts trailed back to Jonathan. Could I have saved him?
“You know now,” Samantha said.
Sarah walked up behind me. “You did all you could, and Cody will be back tomorrow.”
“I hope so. I feel better with him here.”
I drive to the hospital hoping to bring Cody back to campus with me. I can’t wait to see his face. I feel like I haven’t seen him in ages. I enter his room grinning from ear to ear. I stop dead in my tracks and draw in a sudden breath. Cassandra and Bryce stand by the window.
“What are you doing here?” I demand.
“If you look around, you’ll figure that out all by yourself.” Bryce’s voice drips disdain.
I turn to see Cody lying in his bed. “Oh, my God!” I wail as I hurry to his side.
Bryce and Cassandra fill the room with evil laughter. Cody’s sheets are soaked in blood, his face unrecognizable. I reach for his hand to try to comfort him. Before I grab it, I realize his fingers are broken. I press the call button and pray for the nurse to answer. Tears stream down my face, and even though I don’t think he can hear me, I try to hold back my sobs.
With a flood of relief, I hear a woman’s voice crackle through the speaker, “What can I do for you?”
“Please send the doctor in.” Somehow the words manage to escape my mouth.
“I’ll have a nurse come in right away, and she’ll decide if a doctor needs to see him.”
While I wait, I look around the room and realize Bryce and Cassandra are gone. I pace, waiting for somebody to come help Cody. My patience dwindles, so I press the call button again.
“Don’t you realize nobody is going to help you?” Nefarious growls into the speaker.
My heart sinks in my chest as I back away from the bed. “No, no, no.” I sob. “Cody, please, I need you.” I cry knowing this is the last time I will see him. I back myself into the corner and sink to the ground. Violent sobs send tremors through my body.
“No, no, no.” I woke up, twisted in my blankets, my face soaked with tears. I closed my eyes and saw Cody’s broken body. What if he’s hurt? What if he needs me?
I climbed out of my loft, and quietly grabbed my jacket and keys. I slipped out the door.
Stepping outside, the air was crisp, cool. I shoved my hands in my pocket and looked up. Even with the building lights, I could see millions of stars dotting the sky.
I meandered around campus with no destination in mind. I found myself standing in front of my truck. The faint scent of rotten eggs made me wrinkle my nose in distaste.
What if Cody needs me? I shook my head. It was just a dream. I turned. But what if it wasn’t. I put my hand in my pocket and found my keys. What if he’s hurt? I could save him.
I got in my truck and sat holding the key in front of the ignition. I wanted to see Cody to make sure there was nothing wrong with him, but I knew it was stupid of me to go. I also knew that if I didn’t go and something had happened to him, I would never forgive myself.
Before I could change my mind, I threw my seatbelt on, shoved the key in the ignition and drove out of the parking lot. Once I was off campus, I cranked the radio and rolled my windows down. The road was narrow, winding and lined with trees. I kept a watchful eye on the ditches, hoping no deer or other animals would jump out in front of me.
The cold air invigorated me. My heart swelled. I was going to see Cody.
As I rounded a curve, my headlights reflected off an animal’s eyes. I slowed down, waiting to see if it would jump out. When I arrived where I thought it should’ve been, I looked out the window but didn’t see anything.
I stepped on the gas. The song changed, and I bobbed my head in time to the music. I wasn’t worried about Cody anymore. Now I just wanted to see him, if only for a minute. It’s amazing how much can change in a day.
The song ended and commercials started playing. I looked down to change the station. I turned my attention back to the road. My heart stopped. Yellow eyes stared at me. I slammed on the brakes and fishtailed. I fought for control.
Trees whizzed past me. I bounced down the hill, clenching the steering wheel. Adrenaline shot through my veins. “Stop,” I yelled, hoping my powers would take over.
Nothing.
The airbag exploded in my face. The seatbelt jerked me back, and my truck stopped with a loud crash.
When I opened my eyes
, there was an orange glow on the horizon. In the dim light, I saw blood all over the inside of the truck. I stretched my arms and legs. Nothing hurts. I looked in the mirror. There were no cuts or bruises on my face, no marks of any kind. I doubted I would ever know what happened to me, but I was glad not to be injured.
I pushed on my door, but it was jammed. I crawled over to the passenger’s seat and attempted to open that door. Finally, it gave way. I stood outside my truck, surveying the damage. My poor truck. The driver’s side door had smashed into a tree.
“Well, I guess there’s no sense standing here, staring,” I murmured. I turned around and realized it was a small miracle I hadn’t rolled my truck. I stood at the bottom of a steep embankment. My tire tracks gouged the hillside, broken tree branches scattered along its path. I thanked God for keeping me safe before walking to the road.
No wonder Nefarious showed up here. Nobody would’ve found me down there. But why did he leave me alive? I stared down the hill and wondered how long my luck would hold out. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and glared at the No Service message on the screen.
I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. Thoughts of birds, butterflies, and planes filled my mind. I willed my body to fly, but my feet stayed on the ground. I pulled my hand through my hair. I guess I’m walking.
I was only a few miles from campus, at the most. The hike helped me clear my head, but I would have preferred driving my truck back.
Sleepy students made their way through the dorm halls to the showers. One girl’s lips curled into a grimace. “What happened to you?”
“I wrecked my truck, but I’m all right.” I walked the rest of the way back to my room with my head down. I opened the door to find Samantha pacing.
She stopped, hands on hips. “Where were you?” she demanded. “I woke up in the middle of the night, and you were gone.”
“I’m sorry—”
“You should be!” I could hear the fear and anger in her voice and decided to let her get it all off her chest. “If something had happened to you, Cody would never forgive me. What were you thinking? And why are you covered in blood?” Her hand shot to her mouth. “Oh, my God, Dacia. What happened?”
