Explosive Dreams

by Hadena James

  At no time did I close my eyes or ask the doctor to stop. I endured the torture of having my flesh removed with resolve. Any noise that escaped me was a sign of weakness. I was not going to let the bastard beat me down with a few burns.

  Malachi kept his part up. His voice filling my head with memories of something other than the physical pain I was enduring. When he felt like I needed extra support, he squeezed a little harder on my arms. When the moment had passed, he let his grip loosen. This unspoken support made it bearable.

  “We know who the killer is,” I whispered to Malachi as I felt something being tugged away from my shoulders.

  “Don’t talk,” Malachi told me. “You can tell me about him later.”

  “If I die, someone has to know,” I told my friend.

  “All right,” Malachi leaned in very closely and I whispered his first name and told him it was the uncle of my fan. Gabriel would know what that meant. Then I told him about the muzzle flash. Malachi’s face went blank. He already knew about it.

  Using my face, I implored him to tell me about it. He sighed. If he could have leaned back, I think he would have. Instead, he leaned in closer, his breath tickling my hair and moving across my face as if sharing an intimate moment.

  “Your bomber got the fair queen, in the parking lot. Your sniper opened up in a free for all. He fled after taking down a chopper. He hit the pilot in the head and the co-pilot in the heart as it was taking off.”

  That was a hell of a shot. My memory raced through what Xavier had said. He was packing his own bullets, filling the wad and load himself so he could adjust their power. The very thought of Xavier caused a tear to form. The man was a menace to himself and ladies to be sure, but he was my friend and I had few of those.

  “We think he tried to take down your chopper too. But they were coming and going so quickly he didn’t have time. The muzzle flash you saw missed yours, but that was the target.”

  This news made me angry. The bomber had taken down Xavier. The sniper had tried to take down Lucas. They were both going to pay when I got my hands on them. Lucas would understand my need for revenge.

  “We’re done,” the doctor announced.

  “With all of it?” Malachi asked.

  “Well, no, not all of it. We’ve cleaned it up as best we can, but the damage is so extensive, we are going to have to bring in some better cleaners.”

  “They are going to cover me in maggots, aren’t they?” I looked at Malachi.

  “I think so,” he answered. “Will you be able to handle that?”

  “Do I have a choice?” I asked.

  “Not really,” Malachi looked at the doctor. “Now, her hands.”

  Malachi flinched as I sat up. If I hadn’t been looking at him, I would have missed it. However, the source was unknown. It could have been the burns or it could have been my sudden toplessness. Neither of us were modest, but like Lucas, Malachi felt a certain need to protect me. The need was different from Lucas’s, but still there.

  The doctor looked at my hands. The nurse grabbed iodine and sprayed it over them. The doctor removed some dirt and debris. He shook his head.

  “Not much I can do with these, I’m afraid. We’ll get them cleaned, but you may lose both of them.”

  “Not likely,” I said.

  “The blood flow has been cut off,” he stopped. My fingers were not bloated, purple or even pale and ashen.

  “I have great circulation,” I told him.

  “With these burns, you shouldn’t.” He gently wrapped them in gauze. I wanted to shrug but knew better. “We’ll bring in the cleaners in an hour or so. Give you some time to relax. Would you at least like a pain killer or sedative?”

  “I’d take something for the pain, nothing too strong, a Tylenol-3 will work.”

  “Honey, Demerol wouldn’t knock this pain,” the nurse spoke to me for the first time. “We prescribe Oxycontin in these situations.”

  “I don’t want Oxycontin. Save it for people who need it worse than me. Something with codeine will be enough,” I assured her. There were probably a lot of people getting Oxycontin tonight.

  “Bring her a sedative too,” Malachi said. “She isn’t real fond of maggots.”

  “Something mild,” I added quickly. “A short term benzo would be best, like Valium.”

  The nurse smiled at me. The doctor frowned. Both left the room.

  “How bad is it?” I asked Malachi now that we were alone.

  “Bad, Aislinn, really bad. It isn’t just that it’s a second degree burn, it’s that it covers from the shoulders down. It stops about mid-butt, I’m guessing that’s where your legs were curled up. If Lucas hadn’t covered your head, you’d have no scalp in the back.”

  “How bad is he?” I asked.

  “His skin started to slough off when he was working on someone at the fairground. That’s when Gabriel realized he’d been burned. You both did a good job of hiding it. He covered up the top of his head, but it got the back. He’ll need skin grafts. When it started to fall off, Gabriel could see his skull. Hair will never grow there. You both got really lucky. If you’d been closer, you’d be dead.”

  “The mother and daughter we covered?”

  “They are going to be fine. The mother lost her hand. The girl suffered a head laceration. Thanks to you guys, they didn’t inhale any fire. They’re in this hospital. Mom went through surgery an hour or so ago. Little girl is resting in a room with her mom.”

  “At least someone lived,” I sighed. Weariness settled in me. I’d seen the aftermath before, but never witnessed the event unfold. It was beyond anything I could have imagined. Revulsion filled me. It wasn’t supposed to be personal, but it was becoming that way. Not just because of Xavier or Lucas or myself either; but to be a witness to such destruction burned at me. It knotted my stomach and filled me rage, filled me with hatred.

  “Don’t hold onto that,” Malachi touched my leg. “It will eat you alive.”

  “How can someone do that?” I asked him.

  “I don’t know.” He looked old suddenly. “Even as damaged as I am, I can’t imagine doing that to human beings.”

  “He deserves every bad thing that happens to him from this point forward. If that means I get to be his executioner, it’s even better.”

  “Ace,” Gabriel stuck his head in. His face was red. He looked tired.

  “What?” I asked, the knot tightened.

  “Xavier didn’t make it,” Gabriel told me.

  The world crashed down around me. I felt more emotion than I had ever felt. It hurt so bad, I physically ached. My chest felt tight. I did the only thing I could do, I screamed. I was going to make that son-of-a-bitch pay for this and I was going to enjoy ever moment of it.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  There was a nationwide manhunt for Nick the Mad Bomber. Lucas was still in a coma. It was induced. I was not. I was plotting revenge between visits with plastic surgeons, trauma doctors, burn doctors and witch doctors that took me for maggot baths. I was learning to get over my issues with maggots. Malachi was out helping to look for the bomber. Gabriel was out there too. I was pretty sure if either found him and could get away with it, he was going to die. It would probably be a very slow death.

  I had two positions. I could sit up, with nothing touching my back or I could lay on my stomach. After three days, I wasn’t able to get comfortable doing either. I had at least a few more days in this wretched place. My revenge would have to be exacted at another time.

  “Good morning,” a nurse called as she entered the room. It was sterile and everyone had to go through a decontamination process before they could enter. The nurse had confided the day before that most people she dealt with were not awake. She was enjoying having a patient that could talk to her. I was on my best behavior.

  After learning of Xavier’s death, I had agreed to get a morphine drip. It dulled the physical pain as well as the emotional. Nyleena had come by. My mother had come by. I hadn’t been able to
do anything but cry during their visits. I made them both promise not to come back. I’d be home before they knew it and would need help for a few days. They’d get their fill of me then.

  I didn’t know if Xavier’s family had been notified. Michael was helping Gabriel and Malachi. I was cooped up in a hospital room without a phone. My only entertainment was a TV that rarely had anything worth watching on it. This meant I spent a lot of time in my own head.

  “Good morning,” I said to the nurse. She was about my height with long brown hair, tied up expertly and put under a cap. Glasses made her look intelligent and emphasized her eyes. I guessed she was a few years older than me, but not much. However, she always smiled when she came in.

  “How are you feeling today?”

  “Better,” I told her.

  “Feel up to company this morning?”

  “Not really.”

  “Well, there’s a gentleman here who’s a patient, his name is Leiland Watson. He says he needs to see you, it’s urgent. He was among the first of the bombing victims brought in. He woke up this morning in a flap from what I understand. Immediately began demanding to see a member of SCTU.”

  “Frances,” I said. “Let him in, but make sure there are guards in the room. I don’t want to be attacked by some guy who lost his family in this ordeal.”

  “I’ll make sure they all get ready.”

  I wanted to call Gabriel or Malachi and see how the manhunt was going. I wanted to clear this with one of them. The last thing I needed was a grief stricken father whose children had been blown to bits or a man wanting to pour gratitude on me. However, I felt that I couldn’t just ignore him either. Maybe he had information about one of the killers.

  I turned off the TV and got as comfortable as possible. I could hear voices outside my room. The door opened. A gaunt figure, covered in the sterile dressing gown, a white paper hat, white shoe covers and a mask came into the room.

  “Thank god I found you,” Xavier said.

  “Oh my god!” I screamed. “You’re alive!”

  “Now tell these people that I’m not this Leiland Watson,” Xavier was on crutches. “I don’t know what happened with my identification, but they have me listed as Leiland Watson and they keep telling me I suffered head trauma and don’t know who I am.” He was obviously angry.

  “They told us you died,” I took a breath. My body was trembling from head to toe. “You died in surgery.” My voice broke. There was nothing I could do to stem the tide of tears that began to flow. My chest felt tight again. My stomach was fluttering.

  “You’ve thought I was dead since the bombing?” Xavier looked concerned.

  “Yes. While I was being treated when I first got here, they told Gabriel you hadn’t made it through surgery.”

  “Oh man,” Xavier said. “Some family doesn’t know their relative is dead.”

  “Oh,” I hadn’t thought of that.

  “Oh shit, my family’s been notified that I’m dead. How is Lucas holding up?”

  “They put Lucas in a coma, he was burnt worse than me. The big dope saved my life by shielding my head as an explosion happened near us. Burnt his scalp, lost most of his skin there. I haven’t seen him, but Gabriel and Malachi have been keeping me as informed as possible. Unfortunately, in a sterile environment, I don’t have much contact with the outside world.” I looked at Xavier. “I’m going to hug you, please don’t hug me back.”

  Xavier smiled at me. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and squeezed as gently as I could. My tears soaked into his hospital gown.

  “I take it you missed me.”

  “Xavier, you are never allowed to die again, do you understand me? If you do, I will dig you up and desecrate your grave before beating you to death in my shed.”

  “You don’t have a shed.”

  “I’ll buy one.”

  “Deal.” Xavier gave his madman giggle. I couldn’t help but giggle with him. “Now let me have a look at your burns.”

  “Don’t trouble yourself,” I waved him away. “They are taking good care of me and the maggots are doing a great job of keeping it clean. I get a bath in them almost every day. I guess as the tissue goes through the dying process, the maggots eat it away. Who knew they were so helpful in modern times?”

  “You did,” Xavier said.

  “True. How are you?”

  “Sore, but at least I’m alive.”

  “And you have no idea how grateful I am for that. I was preparing to leave this hospital and go beat a mass murderer to death.”

  “Did you have a weapon in mind?”

  “My boots.” I told him.

  “You saved my life Ace. Did some damage by burning the worst wounds closed, but I would have bled to death if you hadn’t done that.”

  “Is that how you burnt your hands?” Frances exclaimed. I groaned.

  “Your hands?” Xavier raised an eyebrow. He took hold of one and began peeling back the gauze. I couldn’t stop him without causing myself pain, so I didn’t. He gasped when the final wrappings fell away.

  “They aren’t as bad as they look. I still have full use of them, I didn’t destroy any major vessels or arteries. It’s mostly skin damage. I won’t have finger prints or palm prints, but I didn’t really need them anyway.”

  “You did this saving my life?” Xavier looked at me.

  “I needed something hot,” I said. “The only thing near us that was hot was part of an exploded ride. It worked.”

  “Ace,” Xavier teared up.

  “Don’t cry, I just stopped and I’ll start again if you start.”

  “I know you aren’t the touchy-feely type, but thank you.” Xavier said.

  “You’re my friend, Xavier, I couldn’t do nothing. You didn’t have any of your magic clotting powder. I had to do something. Besides, it goes around. Lucas saved me. I saved you. One day, you’ll save Gabriel or Michael. It’s what we do.”

  Xavier sat down on the bed. He held my hand in his.

  “You aren’t just my friend, Ace. You’ve become my family, as much family as Lucas or any of my blood relatives.”

  “I know,” I told him. “And I sent a psychopath and a very pissed off US Marshal after your killer, so you might want to call Gabriel.”

  “I will,” Xavier stood. “Ace, one more thing.”

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  Xavier leaned over. Using his crutches for balance, he kissed my cheek. I felt a tear slide down my face and it wasn’t mine.

  “For the record,” Xavier stood up. “I’m glad you’re not dead either.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The manhunt continued. Gabriel checked in each morning. It had been eight days. There’d been no fair queen shootings and no carnival bombings. Both seemed to have gone to ground.

  I was still in the hospital and getting restless. The TV was still my most faithful companion. For an hour a day, they let Xavier visit. He’d been released, but was still too banged up to return to work. He’d broken a few ribs, suffered burns, and numerous cuts. Three transfusions had been needed to save his life.

  “How’d you know there was a second bomb in the Scrambler?” Xavier asked as he sat uncomfortably in a chair in my sterile room.

  “It just made sense. The first bomb herded people towards the exit. The bombing in Palmyra showed that while the Scrambler wasn’t as incredible as blowing up a ride that went in the air, it did serious damage,” I frowned at him. “It was mostly an educated guess.”

  “They are going to try waking Lucas up for a while tomorrow.”

  “I haven’t really seen him, except on the helicopter. I don’t know how bad it is. I officially live in a bubble.”

  “I’ve seen him,” Xavier nodded slowly. “It’s gruesome. Like you, he’s lying on his stomach, there are vertebra exposed in his neck when they take off the dressings. Which reminds me, let me look at you today.”

  It was the third time Xavier had checked the wound since returning from the dead. I didn�
��t move as he gently took off the covering. He made a few grunting noises and I felt the wrap go back on.

  “It’s healing,” I said. “It’s starting to itch.”

  “It is healing,” Xavier didn’t look as convinced as I felt. “Not as much as I’d like, but it’s healing. You’ll still need a graft.”

  “So I’ve been told. Since I’m such a terrible patient, I get my first one this afternoon.”

  “That seems a little soon,” Xavier answered.

  “I’m ready to get moving and I can’t do that with my back still a gaping wound.” I admitted. “They are putting me under for it.”

  “You stayed awake for the removal of your skin, but not the graft?”

  “No, something about taking skin from one of the few places I’m not already scarred. It’s going to be very painful.”

  “Your butt?” Xavier gave a giggle.

  “Laugh it up, but that is exactly where they are taking it from. They want to put me in a temporary coma to give the graft time to take. I’ve been told it is painful and itchy.”

  “Most people would already be in a medically induced coma,” Xavier said. “Do you know for how long?”

  “A handful of days,” I answered. “I’m a little...” I didn’t finish the thought. Sometimes, I worried that I’d be put under for a procedure and never wake back up. It wasn’t death that bothered me, it was the idea that my family and my friends would mourn for me. I didn’t want to make them sad.

  “You’ll get the best sleep of your life,” Xavier reassured me. “I tried to sneak you in real food, but the nurse caught me.”

  This made me laugh. I’d lost weight in the hospital and I knew it. My regulated diet was even more regulated here and gruel seemed to be their favorite thing to feed me. Unfortunately, I didn’t like whatever the crap really was, so I usually drank my milk and my soda, while picking at the side dishes. Some meals I got a cookie. Those were my favorite days.