Born In Flames (13 page)

I slid the purse over my neck and noticed a glittering object next to Mr. Creepy.
It was that necklace.
My necklace
, I thought strangely. Instinctively, I snatched it up.
This is mine and he shouldn’t have it.
“Miss,” a man called from behind me. I shook my head out of the trance and quickly pulled the large necklace carefully around my neck as I turned to face the voice. “Miss, I work up at the hospital. Let me help you up.”
He was nice and I was suddenly very tired. As soon as my feet touched the floor everything began to spin. My horse knick throbbed from the collision with the window.
“I don’t, I…don’t…feel…” The floor rushed up to meet me.
Chapter 15
History, Fun…
“RORY, WAKE UP,” FENN WHISPERED while rubbing the side of my head. I pried my eyes open and there was his beautiful face, fatigue written all over it. “I called Mily. She was about to wake up the triplets to come, but I told her you were okay, just some bruising. She said to tell you she loves you and is here in thought. Oh and she let me borrow her car. I had one of the guys from the restaurant drop me off at her place. She said we could use it tomorrow to get around until they get the bus thing figured out.” I smiled and nodded in acknowledgement.
The hospital bed felt lumpy. I looked down and noticed my arm resting on top of a crisp white sheet. The overhead fluorescent lighting blinked rapidly a few times then straightened itself out.
Hospitals
, I thought with a grimace.
Then I shot straight up. “What have I done?” I asked as panic rose inside me. How was I not in handcuffs right now?
“What do you mean?” Fenn asked, confused.
“The bus, the accident, it was entirely my fault,” I whispered to him.
“You must have hit your head pretty hard.” He laughed. “There was engine failure which burned the brake lines. How could you have caused that?”
“No, Fenn.” I grabbed his arm and pulled him close. “Mr. Creepy was there, on the bus, and I kind of got mad, and well you know what happens when I get mad, and long story short, magic shot out of me and into the dash which caused the engine failure. All those people—hurt because of me.” I broke off, suddenly overwhelmed with guilt.
“Relax,” he said as he rubbed my back, “no one was seriously injured.”
“Mr. Creepy must’ve erased everyone’s memories,” I stated.
“Well, at least he’s done something right,” Fenn reassured.
I cringed at the memory of bone poking underneath my skin, but it wasn’t anymore. Now there was large bruising covering the skin. “But this wasn’t…” I started as the doctor pulled the curtain open.
“Ah, I see you’re awake now, Miss Megalos. I’m Dr. Portel. How are you feeling?” he asked while extending his hand towards my good arm. His hand felt cold and clammy, and I instantly wanted to rub my own against the bedding. With a splash of hand sanitizer. I really hated people touching me.
I smiled awkwardly, noticing the smile lines that creased his hazel green eyes. Silvery white hair offset by his olive toned skin matched his sweet and wise grandfatherly voice. For a moment I felt myself slip into his comforting gaze, but the long white jacket adorned with probing trinkets brought back the reality of where I was. I hated anything doctor related.
I sat up, my hand moving to the side of my head where I had smacked it. I tested the sensation with the tips of my fingers. Although it was a little tender, there was nothing there—no bandage, no lump, no sign of any damage taking place. A strange feeling sank in. “I’m feeling good actually. What kind of medication did you inject me with?” I felt no dizziness, no sudden need to spew my empty stomach.
Dr. Portel started to laugh. “We haven’t given you anything, Miss Megalos. We haven’t needed to. We took X-rays and CT scans while you were unconscious and they all came back normal. The funny thing is, the man who was first on the scene swore up and down that your arm was broken and that you most likely had a concussion.”
I shrugged my shoulders dismissively, not knowing how to answer. The truth was, my arm was broken. I felt the bone snap, but how could I tell him that when now, my arm was clearly not broken.
“I don’t remember,” I stuttered, “it all just happened so fast, you know?” A classic, wellused, yet believable sort of lie. I looked over to Fenn who was rubbing the back of my hand. His eyes were so sympathetic. “How long was I out for?”
“A few hours. That in turn alarmed us and led us to doing the CT scan, but we’ve seen patients react like you before. Usually a lot of trauma to the head can cause a person to respond to a minor concussion the way you have.”
“I don’t remember anything,” I said, barely audible, watching my pulse on the monitor. Could it show a lie?
“Well, we can keep you overnight if you feel you need the observation, but if you are feeling fine, you can be discharged. There’s no real concern for you to stay.” He looked at my medical records, shaking his head. “That guy swore…” he muttered under his breath while walking away.
“I want to get out of here, I hate this place,” I admitted to Fenn. He started helping me up. I instantly frowned as I felt the uncomfortable breeze from the back of my hospital gown.
Let’s add humiliation to the recovery process
, I thought, rolling my eyes.
Luckily a nurse brushed the curtain aside and handed me a large bag that held my belongings. The pendant sparkled under the fluorescent lighting. “Here are your things Sweetie. We took them right before we decided to send you for a CT. That necklace sure is pretty.” She paused to look at it. “Make sure you sign these papers before you leave,” she finished with a smile. She set a clipboard down on the edge of my bed.
“Thanks,” I mumbled, pulling my pants from out of the bag. She smiled softly and then slid the curtain shut,
“So did he give you this necklace?” Fenn asked, handing it to me. I smiled and slid it back around my neck. He turned his head away so I could slide my jeans on underneath my gown. I inched them up slowly, still bracing against the expectation of pain. Nothing came, no shooting pains through my arm, no dizzying headaches. It was a miracle.
“Am I completely, horribly rotten if I say no?” I asked, pausing mid-pants to glance at the necklace. My hand reached up instinctively, and when I clutched it, my hand warmed to the core. “It was on the ground in the aisle, next to him. Is he even here?” I asked nervously.
I definitely did not want to give it back.
“He’s not here. Somehow he managed to sneak by everyone before the ambulance showed up.”
“Well, I guess the necklace is mine for now. Let’s get out of here.” Fenn nodded and took my hand. No jittery feelings surfaced, only comfort, thank God.
I woke late the next morning to the sound of Fenn’s shower and the sun peeking through the dark curtains. I felt unnaturally good curled into my cozy blankets. Actually, I’d never felt better in my life. My whole body was roaring with life.
I pinched myself…nope, not a dream. The bruises on my arm were gone, and touching my forehead proved the tenderness had disappeared as well. Not normal.
What a strange night.
I slowly sat up, in case there was some pain that I hadn’t noted, but there was nothing. The weight of the necklace bumped my chest from the movement.
Oh yeah, about that. I wonder if it has something to do with my rapid healing. Of course Mr. Creepy would be the only one with the answer, and I wasn’t sure I was quite ready to deal with him again.
I replayed yesterday’s events over and over again, reminding myself that I needed to tell Fenn about Gwenevere and then stumbled over another issue I had yet to address—the Fenn kiss.
Lost in the memory, my fingers climbed up my chin and ran over my blushing cheeks. They trailed back down to my lips where I let them linger, thinking of his lips pressed to mine.
Thankfully my thoughts were interrupted by him coming out of the bathroom, in a towel of all things. Steam billowed behind him in curling mists, carrying the scent of bar soap. In that moment, he was unaware of me, and I found myself staring at his perfect body. I still didn’t know how he managed to have perfectly chiseled but slim muscles when he did nothing physical besides play his guitar.
“Oh, you're awake. Feeling okay?” he asked, disconnecting my eyes from his body. I nodded and he gave me a small smile while still clutching his towel and reaching for his stuff right outside the door. “I thought you’d still be sleeping…forgot my clothes.”
“I’m feeling great now,” I said, amazed.
He was blushing, either from the steamy shower or from my presence. Either way it didn’t help my feelings any. I jumped out of bed and quickly walked over to his clothes, handing them to him with a little too much eagerness in my step. Our fingers brushed against each other, sending a jolt through my body. It took a great deal not to gasp.
“Sorry,” we both said. I plastered a dopey smile on my face while he ducked his head back around the door and closed it. Can we say awkward? I knew this wasn't going to be easy. I walked over to the bed and fell onto my back. Maybe this wasn't such a good position to be in when he comes back—all splayed out. I sat up but wasn't satisfied with that position either. A bed was simply not good.
I got up, defeated by my mixed emotions and walked over to the window, opening the slightly dusty curtain. My eyes squinted at the burst of midmorning sun.
Turning away and waiting for my eyes to adjust, I got my outfit ready.
“So, no bruises, huh?” he asked dressed in khaki shorts and a graphic tee adorned with skulls.
“Yeah, it’s really weird, like nothing even happened. I think it may have something to do with this necklace.” I ran my fingers around the edges of the vines that encased the ruby.
“Hmm…well, now you have my super healing powers, just like you asked for,” he added with a smirk. “Even your horse knick is gone.”
“It has to be the necklace then,” I repeated.
“I’m glad you’re okay though. Lord knows I would’ve hated having to cart you around everywhere all broken and battered. Spoon feeding is not in the cards of our friendship,” he teased playfully. For a brief moment the awkwardness disappeared, the ease of our friendship returning.
“Mm-hmm, sure. You know you would’ve spoon fed me. And liked it.” I stuck my hip out, flicking my hair over my shoulder in confidence. When he joked like this, everything felt right again.
“Yeah, maybe. It’s all yours,” he said with torment clouding his eyes that shot to the floor. My hope sunk. It was painfully obvious, the effect we had on each other. I headed to the bathroom so I could wash the weird night away. He moved and made sure not to look at me or touch me.
“Thanks,” I said almost too quickly went through my routine—brush hair, wash face, teeth, dress, smell good, and then a quick once-over in the mirror. I don’t know why I was in such a hurry. When I was finished we still wouldn’t know what to say to one another. That stupid kiss. Well, I shouldn’t say stupid because I thought it was great. Either way, it had certainly strung up some kind of roadblock between us.
I stepped out of the bathroom, tucking the necklace inside my shirt and taking in a breath for confidence as I found his beautiful blue eyes. He was fiddling with the remote, flipping endlessly for something on TV. When he saw me he tossed the remote to the edge of the couch and stood, moving toward the kitchen.
“So about that historian,” I quickly babbled.
eagerly. I morning
“Yeah, about that. I called him before you woke up this morning and asked him if he had anything on dragon lore and map reading. He said that was his specialty and to come in whenever we’re ready, that he’d be there all day. Maybe he’ll see something we missed,” he informed as he looked up at me.
“Cool,” I replied casually.
“Mily doesn’t need the car back until later, so after we’re done, I’ll take it back since you can’t handle that on your own.” He stood at the sink, turning to throw that last remark with an impish grin before turning back to the dishes.
I squinted in sarcasm, lips turned up with a fake smile. “Ha ha ha, good one.” I was grateful for the attempt at humor.
He was chuckling to himself as he pulled out the mug I’d bought him from the cupboard. He must have made coffee while I was in the bathroom. My nose jolted to life, picking up on the sweet smell wafting through the air. I loved that the room smelled like a coffee shop. Maybe I could revel in my urge to pick up a good book and just relax for the rest of the day.
“Would you like some?” he offered.
I smiled and said, “No thanks,” then sat next to him at the table. I cleared my throat. “I umm-I crossed over to our realm last night while I was waiting for the bus.”
He stopped mid-sip to shoot me a questioning look, so I kept on.
“Strangest thing happened…this lady named Gwenevere, who was married to Zordon, I think committed suicide. Remember in the prophecy it says ‘the other marked for revenge?’ That must be what it means…if she died, then he must want revenge for that. Maybe he blames me? Maybe he found out that I was with her or something?”
I stopped mid-thought, tapping my chin. Something was missing. Some detail that I overlooked. I scrunched my nose, trying to remember what it was that was dangling on the tip of my tongue.
My finger shot up into the air. “What a minute, she told me that he would stop at nothing because he was after revenge. That was before she died.” My shoulders slumped in defeat. “That means he couldn’t be after revenge because of me or because of her death. Now I don’t know what to think.”
“Wait, she talked to you?”
“Yeah, weird, right? I think it may have something to do with using my Oraculus, but I’m not sure. That was something I was hoping to ask Mr. Creepy about, but you know how well that turned out.” I sighed. “A part of me doesn’t want anything to do with this, you know? It’s almost too much to take,” I admitted quietly. “Do you think that makes me a bad person?” I looked at him, seeking his approval.
His face softened. “I think the opposite, Rory. That letter and Eve said you have a choice to make, and it’s your choice alone.” He paused, seeming to struggle with his thoughts. Then he sighed as well, as if caving in to whatever was bothering him. “To be honest, I’m not real sure I even want you to continue with all this. I mean, with what’s happened so far…who knows how much worse it can get.” He trailed off, worry replacing his confidence.
I sat there for a moment, considering what he had just said. It was starting to sound like a good idea. Especially after seeing what I would be returning to.