Page 15 of Frosted Torment

“Hi, Mr. Sazerac.” Jossy nodded at her. Then, the lady turned to me and said, “My app notified me that your infusion will be done in a minute, so I need to remove it. Then I’ll get out of your hair.”

“Of course,” I managed with a weak smile.

Ivy’s demeanor transformed into artificial cheer. “We’ll get you some food while you rest.”

“Good idea,” Lex and Jossy echoed.

My brows twitched, and I shook my head. “Not until you tell me what you know.”

Lex’s eyes ballooned as he pointed at me. “Rest first, eat second, then talk later.”

Their insistence on food and rest compounded my unease. Despite the tension in the room, they seemed unconcerned. They’d leave me alone for a while. I realized that my fears of hospital confinement were a result of an overactive imagination. As the nurse removed the IV from my arm, I felt a sense of relief from its confines.

“Fine, I’m starving anyway.” I lifted my arm, and when I turned my head to the right, I pinched my nose. “And I need a shower. So, when you get back, I expect answers.”

Ivy leaned over and kissed my cheek. “Absolutely.”

The nurse bandaged my hand and had me sign release forms. After that, she gathered her things and left, ignoring our conversation altogether. Jossy paid her and waited by the door with Ivy and Lex.

Jossy tipped his chin toward me. “Rest up. We’ll bring back enchiladas.”

My stomach roared in response to the mention of food. “Chicken and sour cream sauce,” I begged, my eyes wide.

He laughed and started to close the door.

“Oh! And a Dr. Pepper,” I called out.

“You got it!” he replied.

I exhaled in relief, relaxing into my now silent apartment, but solitude left me vulnerable. I knew turning to drinking was a bad idea, but I couldn’t stand the way I felt inside. It was the only thing that kept my emotional demons away. So, I poured myself a healthy dose of whiskey and gulped it down.

The junk drawer in my kitchen contained a few extra vape cartridges, so I opened one and took a sharp inhale. The mintyflavor filled my lungs, a familiar refuge. One I’d relied on over time to help me suppress the chaos in my mind.

I opened the patio door, letting in a crisp breeze. Ominous clouds rolled over the mountains, signaling another snowstorm headed our way. My glance fell to Dust Bunny’s makeshift cardboard home. I had been feeding that stray rabbit all winter, and her box needed cleaning.

Taking a few small carrots from the fridge, I brought them outside. Her tiny brown nose emerged, sniffed, then withdrew into the warmth. I placed one carrot inside the box, allowing her to investigate. As she began to gnaw on it, I carefully extracted her and sat her inside the door.

After replacing her fleece bedding, I tucked her back into the makeshift shelter. The last thing I needed was another living being depending on me; yet here I was.

After closing the patio door, I reveled in a rare moment alone. Even Uno and Dos were quiet, but I did tell them to get lost for a while. I started the shower, letting the steam fill the room.

As I waited, I poured one more drink followed by another long drag from my vape. After I escaped from the pink outfit Ivy put on me, it didn’t take long to wash away the last twenty-four hours. Stepping out of the shower, I wrapped myself in a fluffy towel.

As light as I felt, a tick in the back of my mind cautioned me not to let my guard down. A wave of drowsiness swept over me once I situated myself back on the couch under my comforter. The alcohol and weed lulled me into the embrace of sleep. Then, a tug in my gut catapulted me into the heart of a snow-cloaked meadow.

A lone cherry blossom welcomed me. Its pink petals fluttered down around the majestic mountains that encircled the field. In the distance, silhouetted against the moonlit sky, stood the man from my nightmare. With his back to me, I took a step closer to investigate as petals floated around him.

My heart fluttered as I crept closer, my bare feet sinking into the powdery snow with each tentative step. The frigid air prickled my skin as he swiveled around in one fluid motion, seeking the source of the sound. His eyes danced like fireflies in the velvet night. He swept his dark hair behind one ear and leaned toward me, cupping his ear.

I could see his chiseled features, with the sharp angles illuminated by the faint moonlight. Despite our closeness, he remained blind to my presence. Or so I thought. In a single heartbeat, he stood before me, our breaths colliding.

A deep sigh escaped him as a smile twitched at the edge of his lips. “You’re back,” he acknowledged.

“How in the hell did I end up here?” I panted.

A shiver ran down my spine as I tried to piece together my reality. Ignoring my confusion, he took hold of my wrist and started inspecting my mother’s bracelet. His touch sent jolts of uncertainty through me. Who was this man, and how did he know me? Part of me wanted to know more, while another part was afraid of what I would discover.

“Let’s go!” His command echoed in the silence.

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