Page 65 of Through the Water

With a small grumble of disapproval, she scraped the chair along the floor while muttering something about ‘young people today.’

This was her fault.

If she’d left Ari alone yesterday, then—then what—I wouldn’t have gone out of my way to protect her?

The old woman made a show of settling into her seat, radiating with excitement despite the grave look on her face. The sudden change was either the result of a new medication, or Helen had finally found a way to sue True North for not living up to her high expectations.

With the way she was leaning across the table, I wouldn’t have to wait to find out. “I’m sure, by now, you’ve seen my face and have some questions.”

I narrowed my eyes, seeing the exact same wrinkles and fine lines as the last time I’d been forced to interact with her. “Do you mean now, or was it off wandering the building alone?”

Helen slapped her palm against the table and cackled before becoming solemn again. “Yes, well, you’re very kind not to draw attention to it. If you must know—” She paused dramatically. “I was attacked this morning by another patient. It seemed only fitting you should be told.”

“What happened?” Despite my every attempt to remain indifferent, the old bat had piqued my curiosity. I took another glance, still seeing no visible evidence that she’d been injured or maimed in any way.

She paused to sniffle into her tissue before palpating her cheek with a sharp wince. “Well, I was sitting in the gardens, just enjoying the sun when she came out of nowhere—”

“Who came out of nowhere?”

“That girl, of course,” Helen snapped as if there could be no other culprit.

“Ari?”

It didn’t make sense.

She lifted her shoulder before spearing a piece of chicken. “Is that what people call her? I swear, she’s more hellhound than human. I told the staff that she is a danger to everyone here, but it seems they’re not making my injury their top priority. So, I’ve taken it upon myself to warn as many people as possible. If enough of us speak out, they’ll be forced to transfer the little demon to another facility.”

I scratched at my jaw, watching Helen shovel food into her mouth, and growing more confused by the second. Ari might have been a little different, but she wasn’t a violent person.

Not even remotely.

Violent people didn’t brush their lips against your jaw or smile up at you in admiration. They didn’t look at you like maybe you deserved a life without caveats.

Christ, what was I doing?

The old woman startled at my sudden grunt before going back to her chicken.

I shook my head, fighting to clear my head. “Wait. You’re telling me that Ari, the woman you had lunch with yesterday, attacked you?”

“Yep.” She nodded emphatically. “I’m telling you, there was evil in that girl’s eyes.”

“Ari, the woman who is usually in a wheelchair with a nurse present, came at you, unprovoked?” I drummed my fingers against the table, suddenly keyed up.

Given the way Helen had treated her, Ari would have been well within her rights to lay the old woman out.

But it didn’t fit with the girl I knew.

“I don’t know what you’re not understanding here, young man.” Helen’s voice grew louder. “She attacked me and that—that oriental nurse of hers practically encouraged it! And do you know the worst part? That mulatto director says I can’t claim it was racially motivated, even though it’s obvious the cow worshipper has it out for me.”

Jesus Christ.

I didn’t even know where to begin in tackling half the things she’d just said. “Uh, Tsega is Ethiopian, Helen. You’d know that if you’d taken the time to read the staff bios in the hallway. And I’m like one-hundred percent sure that every term you just used is politically incorrect, not to mention, offensive to—well, to basically everybody.”

Her lips curled up in a sneer. “Are you calling me a liar? Look, I’m just telling you to stay away from that girl because she’s a menace. And after everything I did for her—”

“What exactly did you do for her?” I instantly regretted asking.

“Um…” Helen cleared her throat and lowered her chin to her chest, suddenly finding her half-eaten chicken riveting. “Nothing, really.”

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