Page 59 of The Headmistress

“I’m fine, it’s your blood. A part of the staircase collapsed, Sam.” Magdalene’s head bobbed and a sob escaped. “I couldn’t get to you, I had Lily and Amanda, and the splintered wood from that massive banister was so heavy and I couldn’t get to you…”

She hiccuped and gulped noisily, trying but failing to keep another sob from escaping.

“Plus, my cat was in there, so clearly I had to get the animal.”

“Oh, now he’s not a stray anymore, but your cat?”

“He’s nothing but trouble, but he led us out of that hallway, so he’s the one man in this life who has a claim on my heart. Don’t worry, it’s your blood, you reckless creature.”

“Don’t lie to that girl now, Headmistress. Half that blood is yours since you tore the skin off your hands trying to get to her.” Joanne’s voice was hoarse and her face solemn with worry. “And you, missy, have a ton of explaining to do. Thought I’d lost you, you stubborn idiot.” And now there were two women crying over Sam, and her body wisely decided that, instead of staying awake for the scolding, she’d do well to pass out again, which she promptly did.

* * *

She woke next when the town doctor, in a rumpled shirt, lifted her eyelid and pointed a light in her eye.

“Cut it out, Franz!”

“Yeah, I think she might be concussed, but not too seriously, and I do not fear brain damage. She’s clearly lucid enough to want to tell me to fuck off, but holding back because there are children present.”

“Hey, don’t talk smack about my teacher.” Lily sounded remarkably cheerful all things considered, and when her face appeared in Sam’s line of vision, she had to smile. The mischievous grin was back on the grimy face. “You have a hard head there, teach!”

“I wouldn’t be speaking so loudly, if I were you, Lils. In fact, I’d be nowhere near me when I get my strength back, young lady. You have a lecture coming, your ears will fall off. Running into a burning building?”

Lily’s smile was gone now and fresh tears sprang up. Instantly Sam felt like shit.

“Hey, hey, come here.” When Lily came closer, still sniffling and trying to wipe her face with the long sleeve of her hoodie, Sam just grabbed her by the thin shoulders and held her tight.

“You beautiful, beautiful kiddo. How is that for agency? Saving the day? Saving your girl, saving both the Headmistress and myself in there? You did good, you reckless fool, but if you do it again, I swear…”

They hugged for a long while until Lily’s tears subsided, and the girl left Sam to go and find Amanda with promises to be back soon.

A voice from behind Sam that sounded remarkably like Alden demanded that Sam be airlifted to Boston for further diagnosis and treatment, and Sam felt her hand being squeezed gently. Magdalene’s fingers were intertwined with hers, holding on tenderly, as if telling her she’d be safe, that she would be protected, that she wouldn’t be let go of. Sam chose the easy way out and closed her eyes, instead of arguing with whomever it was. She thought she might have a bigger concussion than that asshole Franz was implying since there was no way Alden was on the island in the middle of the night. Then sleep claimed her.

* * *

Sam woke for the third time with a slight breeze on her face and a blanket being pulled tighter over her, as dawn broke over Dragons. She knew right away that her face was clean, as Magdalene’s fingers traveled freely over her features, unencumbered by blood or soot or grime. It felt like heaven to feel those cool, gentle fingertips tracing the contours of her face, her cheekbones, her nose, her brows, her forehead.

“I guess I refused hospitalization?”

“In a manner of speaking, darling. Franz insisted you only have a relatively small concussion and a cut on your temple, which he stitched. Since you were so vehement about not wanting to go anywhere, he and I almost had to fight Alden on not taking you to Boston by helicopter. They’re about to move you to Franz’s clinic. He’s mostly assisting the few firefighters now, after assessing Amanda and Lily’s respective degrees of smoke inhalation, and you were resting peacefully, so there was no need to hurry anyone along.”

“Has he checked you out? You were just as exposed as everyone else.” At Magdalene’s eye roll, Sam tugged at her hand and refused to let go until she relented and nodded.

“Yes, yes, he did. I’m fine,” Magdalene acquiesced. “How are you?”

“Ah, I think Franz was right, damn his hide.” Sam sat up and marveled that it was much easier than she’d expected. She had some small nicks on her hands and arms, and she could tell she might have bruises on her legs as well, but aside from the mother of all headaches, she felt remarkably fine.

“Why was he right, darling?” Magdalene moved to assist her and wrap the blanket around her shoulders. She was still pale, but her eyes had lost the deathly fear they had held when Sam had awoken the first time.

“I thought I had hallucinated Alden’s voice earlier. Turns out I hadn’t, so clearly I’m in great shape. What is he even doing here?”

Sam huddled into the blanket, watching as the sun rose majestically over the ocean, slowly illuminating the surrounding destruction. She knew she only had to turn her head to see the school’s ruins behind them. She had no doubts she’d see not only the carnage of the Main Hall, but the dormitory wings had probably burned to the ground as well. However, she wasn’t ready to face it. Not yet anyway. So she looked at the rising sun, although it hurt her eyes, and she listened to Magdalene’s breathing next to her, despite knowing that she had no business being this close to her, or touching Sam’s face or hugging her shoulders, tucking her in the blanket more snugly.

“He arrived by private boat about an hour and a half after I called to inform him that the school was burning. He has helped in every way he can. And he didn’t step away from you for a second after you were pulled out of the rubble. He’d be here now, except they are organizing the transportation of the children to town, and I asked him to help.”

“That’s a bit weird, wouldn’t you say?”

Magdalene just peered into the sunrise, and her lips thinned.

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