Hide 1: Untethered

by Jax Spenser

  Chapter 5

  MY HEAD FEELS LIKE it’s been whacked with a bat.

  But at least I’m alive. Well, not dead anyway.

  I’m in a bed with sheets. White like the room. To one side, blinds form slits of sunlight, which cut across my face. The sun should be warming me but there’s a constant chill on my skin. It smells like a hospital. Sort of. And another smell. Like something packed in a box.

  What did the sign say? Sedonia … Falls. Is that where we are?

  “Dad?” I cough out. It’s hard to speak. My throat is burning. There’s a dull pain around my nose. Did I break it again? The pounding in my forehead is a reminder of my stupidity. And the tooth, surprisingly, is gone. Yet, my tongue still wants to play in the empty space. I wonder if a doctor took it or if it fell out because the curb finished the job.

  Either way, I should add this to the list of dumbass shit I’ve done.

  On the right side of the bed next to me is a rolling cart. I fumble pouring water into a little plastic cup, then I realize my left arm has a tube taped to it. Tying me to the bed like some prisoner. I do my best with one hand but can’t stop thinking about having a needle stuck inside of me, like having an annoying splinter I wish I could remove.

  “Dad!” Louder this time because maybe he’s in the hall.

  Nothing.

  Call him. My eyes scan the room.

  There’s no phone. Great, now what?

  I grab a mirror off the rolling cart. Hold it in front of me. Damn, it looks bad! Eyes peeking through a ball of white gauze. Dry, grayish lips fold out over the bandages. Greasy brown hair shoots out the top and sides like I’m some crazy villain in a comic book. Out of curiosity, I try to touch a darkened patch under the gauze above my right eye.

  Ouch! Idiot, of course it’s going to hurt! Maybe it’s ground zero for where I hit the curb. But I see dark spots under most of the gauze so I’m not sure.

  Feeling light-headed. Is the room spinning?

  “Dad!” Again, nothing. Why isn’t he coming?

  I look at my arm where white tape covers the needle. There’s no way I’m staying tied up to a bed. With a piece of metal jammed in my vein. It’s gotta come out. So I yank quickly, hoping it won’t hurt much. No such luck. It hurts as much as if just went in my arm. Blood oozes out of the hole and I grab a tissue to stop the flow.

  I sit up. The pain exploding in my body is like a fireworks display. Rockets bursting in my ears, roman candles launching in my stomach. Repeating in steady waves. Building to a grand finale, I’m certain. I’m seconds from chucking … but don’t. Holding onto the side of the bed stops it.

  A minute later I’m better. Good enough to attempt walking. My feet hit the cold floor and I get a single shiver all the way up my back.

  I’m standing. It feels like I’m balancing on toothpicks instead of legs, but now I’m sure I can do this. Until ... I start shaking and the toothpicks start to give. I lose control. I can’t believe this I’m going to fall again!

  At the last second, I catch myself on the chair by the window. Slow down, Keegan! You have to rest.

  I see him outside. Dad. He’s walking away from the hospital. Working another Tiparillo like he wants to gnaw the end off of it. Is he worried about me? Or just pissed he has to pay for all of this?

  I bang on the window, but he’s a good couple hundred feet away and two stories below. I have to be louder in order for him to hear me. But before I find something to rap on the window with, two men walk up to him. Dad ditches his cigar and shakes hands with the first man. It’s the stranger, John … what was his name? Great, I’ve forgotten already. It doesn’t matter. But Dad seems to be pretty friendly with him now. Go ahead, Dad, make normal out of nuts.

  The stranger points in the direction of the other man. Sunglasses too. Larger than John with blonde hair down to his shoulders. Dad takes his hand as well.

  Christ, Dad, maybe that’s why Mom was pissed at you all the time! It’s like he’s running for the mayor of Crazytown, needing to shake hands with all its citizens. I can’t trust him to make any good decisions.

  Screw it, I’m leaving. Since Dad wants to make new psycho friends, it’s time for me to check out. Sorry, Dad, you can catch up with me later when you’re done playing with your new buddies. I’ll head to Sedona, where we should have stopped in the first place.

  I shuffle around the room as best I can looking for my clothes and my backpack. There’s a closet opposite the bed. I open it and there’s my shirt, pants, and my backpack. And the Memory Book. Thank God, it’s still there.

  I look out the window again. Dad and his new buddies turn toward the building. They’re coming. Forget dressing, move!

  I open the door slowly. Looking both directions. Where is everyone?

  I stumble through the door. Head toward what looks like an exit or stairs. Then the smell hits me again. It’s everywhere. What is that smell? I know it. Like a new car. No. Like … new. It’s the smell of new. And then I take a good look around at the hallway -- the windows have little stickers on them. From whoever made the windows, I guess. Protective plastic on door handles that should have been removed. As if the builder forgot to take them off.

  Come on, Keegan, don’t stop now.

  I’m just a few feet from the stairs when she pops out. A girl, standing there, next to the last door on the right. About my age. She’s got a gown on too.

  She jumps back, “Oh, hi, you scared me.” I stop in my tracks. She’s cute. Long wavy red hair, electric blue eyes, and full lips that make me stare. She smiles. “Wow, I thought I was the only one up here.”

  I’m still staring—long perfect white legs, barefoot. Her toes wiggle, appearing to be incapable of sitting still. Is she nervous? Her gown’s much shorter than mine, inches above her knees.

  “Sorry. I’m ... leaving,” I say. I know I should probably blow by her and down the steps, but I have to ask, “You’re a patient?”

  “Yeah, just getting some tests.” Then she leans against the doorframe and her gown heads north another inch or two. “How about you? Were you in an accident?”

  Right, she must think I’m hideous. Great, do I even stand a chance?

  Then I remember, Dad’s on his way with the others, but now I don’t want to leave this girl. Or the gown that’s creeping higher every time she moves.

  “Can we talk in your room?” I point to my face hoping to get some pity. “I need to sit, you know.”

  “Of course, come in,” she says.

  I shut the door and press my ear to it. Footsteps. One, two, three people walk by.

  I look at the girl and smile. “Thanks. I’m Keegan. Kind of had an argument with a curb. I didn’t win but you should see how bloody the curb is.”

  She laughs. “I’m Elizabeth Bruce. But, I like Lizzy Bruce.”

  My heart skips a beat. “What?”

  “Lizzy Bruce. I’ve been here since this morning waiting for,” she pauses, “my tests. I don’t know how people do it. It was so boring. Daddy left to go—”

  “Your dad, is he John?”

  “John Bruce. Yes. Have you met him?”

  Yeah, I met him in the Twilight Zone when he sniffed a urinal, I want to say. Instead, “We gave him a ride. Dad found him in the middle of the desert.”

  She laughs, eyes sparkling. “Billy Roe’s your father, right? That was very kind of you. I guess you must think Daddy’s a bit odd.”

  Her honesty surprises me. “No, I think he’s a … real—

  “I think you’re lying, Keegan Roe. He’s my dad and I ought to know if he’s odd or not. And he’s super odd. Not so comfortable in his skin, you know what I mean? I can’t tell you how many times he’s embarrassed me. But once you get to know him, he’s okay.”

  I fixate on her mouth, how it formed the word skin. How the s slowly hissed out like she’s playing with it. Her tongue folded so perfectly on the back of her teeth, her lips opened for the n. And like that, my go
wn feels shorter. “You mind if I sit?” I ask covering up best that I can.

  She blushes. “Uh, sure.” She turns away. “Thank you for helping Daddy. I’m very grateful to you and Billy Roe. It could’ve turned out really bad for him in the desert. It gets very hot, they say.”

  Is she kidding?

  “Yeah, you’re welcome.” We stare at each other. Does she like me?

  The door opens. A woman, blond hair, wide smile, intense brown eyes, enters. She’s wearing green scrubs. “There you are Keegan Roe. You are missing from your room. We were worried you ran away.”

  She has that overly protective mother sound. It gets my stomach turning. “We?” I ask.

  “Sure, your father, myself, and the others.” Her hands wring in front of her. Not at all matching the smile strung across her face.

  “Well, I’m visiting my neighbor. I’ll be back in a minute. Can you manage without me?”

  The nurse’s eyes flick to Lizzy. “Elizabeth Bruce. What are you doing here? You know you should not bother the patients. Especially our new guest who has just been through a terrible accident.”

  Hands on her hips, Lizzy says, “Well, Doris Thomas, it’s not like I’m in his room, is it? Besides, I’m waiting for father to return. You know, John Bruce.” It makes me smile.

  The nurse steps back. “Yes, John Bruce, that is right. He’s waiting for Keegan Roe right now. There are so many tests we need to run, Keegan Roe.” Why do they keep using first and last names? Are they messing with me?

  “Thanks. I’ll find my way back.” I open the door for her.

  The nurse pauses. Then looks back and forth between Lizzy and I. Smiles, “Okay, then. I’ll just put on a happy face.” Punctuating her words in a sort of sing-songy way. “Don’t be long, Keegan Roe, we will be waiting for you.” She disappears and the door shuts behind her.

  “I guess I should go,” I say, not wanting at all to leave Lizzy. Or her little gown. Maybe I don’t have to take off right away; even she thinks her dad’s odd and she’s more than normal. Much more.

  “Okay, if you think you’re ready.” She turns and looks at me. Like deep into my eyes. As if I were the most interesting thing she’s ever encountered. And then, a sexy smile curls up on one side of that perfect, perfect mouth.

  “I’ll take my chances,” I say.

  She laughs. I can feel my face get red under the gauze. Time to go.

  I open the door and slide out backwards trying to cover my ass.

  “Keegan Roe?”

  I pop back in. “Lizzy, just call me Keegan.”

  “Just Keegan …” She gives me a strange look as if I’m all wrong about how I say my name. “Okay. Keegan. Visit me again. That is if you’re sticking around?”

  A smile pushes at my bandages, “Oh, well I guess that means I have to stick around then. Sure, I’ll stop by. But, I forgot what room I’m in.”

  Lizzy slides up to the door and says, “I’m sure Doris Thomas will have no problem getting you there.”

  “That’s the nurse, right?”

  “Nurse?” She looks puzzled.

  “Yeah, that woman who was just here.”

  “Oh, yes. Of course, the nurse. But, if you can’t find her and you get lost, knock on my door. I’m not going anywhere.” She winks, then pushes me out.

  That’s it, change of plans. I’m going to stay. Not just because of this hot girl, Lizzy, down the hall. Yeah, she’s a bonus, but I’m beat simply walking down the hall. I wouldn’t make it one block outside.

  I laugh, shuffling old man style down the hall. And suddenly I’m laughing at everything: the brand new hallway; at the new windows, the new hospital smell, and the new girl with the short gown, perfect mouth, and long legs just down the hall. I laugh at how quickly it all changes. This has been one crazy ride so far. Maybe things are looking up.

  And then the laugh falls away, because now I’m going to have to face Dad and tell him what I really think about him bringing us here. He’ll finally have to own up to making shitty decisions involving one psycho after another.