Page 53 of Soul

“Bryony!” Soul shouted with worry in his voice. I rushed over from where I’d been given a statement to an officer and peered at Maci.

I turned back to the cop. “How much longer for this ambulance? Maci’s starting to have a turn,” I explained.

“Three minutes, ma’am,” he replied. “What can we do?”

“Soul, pick Maci up and lay her on the floor, put her in the recovery position,” I said.

Soul did as I requested, and I kept a sharp eye on Maci as I took her wrist and started taking her pulse.

“Slasher’s gonna meet us there,” Soul murmured, and I nodded.

“I’m Detective Noah Myers. One of my officers has brought me up to date. Is Maci okay?” a man asked.

I looked up as Soul growled. “No, she’s lapsing into an attack,” I answered as Maci began shaking more violently, and her breathing became stuttered.

“Does she need oxygen?” Myers inquired, and I nodded, so an officer took off at a run. “What is this?”

“Guillain-Barré syndrome. She caught it through anuntreated infection several years ago and has suffered ever since,” I replied. I stroked Maci’s hair as her face scrunched up in pain.

I glanced at Ham, who Lindy had wrapped up in her arms. A trickle of sweat dripped down his head as his wide eyes took Maci in.

“What can we do?” Soul demanded.

Maci’s arms and legs were starting to stiffen more than usual, and tears trickled down her cheeks. Her eyes closed as the officer rushed in carrying an oxygen cannister and mask. I snatched it from him and placed it over Maci’s mouth and nose.

“Nothing, Soul. If Maci was going to recover from Guillain-Barré, she would have a long time ago. This is her life now, and during an attack, all we can make her be is comfortable until she gets to the hospital and receives morphine,” I replied.

Soul hovered over Maci, looking helpless as we finally heard sirens in the distance. A few minutes passed in silence, and I realised that Toby and his family were still present.

“You little bastard,” I hissed. “This is what your bullying son has caused. What a treasure he is. I hope Ham breaks his fucking nose every day!”

Mr and Mrs Watcher were pale, and this time, neither of them had a comeback. I glowered at Mr Kane.

“Maci getting this bad could have been avoided if you’d done your damn job and investigated. Her wounds would have been noticed sooner, and an ambulance called. I’ll have your job for this!” I snarled.

“That’s the culprit?” Myers asked.

“Yes. That little shit stabbed Maci with a drawing compass multiple times,” I answered.

“Take them down to the station,” Myers said. “Were other children involved?”

“Several were punched. Two female officers are with them taking statements,” an officer replied.

“I want everything on my desk. Have you given a statement?” Myers turned to me.

“Ham and Maci haven’t no, and neither have I. And it’s not a good time right now,” I answered, waving a hand at Maci.

“No, but with what I’ve seen, I can proceed. Maybe we’ll talk at the hospital when Maci is better?” Myers inquired.

“Please.” I looked up as two paramedics hurried in. Five minutes later, I was in the back of an ambulance as Maci was rushed to the emergency room.

Soul

I searched up Guillain-Barré syndrome and winced at what the long-lasting effects were. Maci would experience tingling in her hands and feet, sharp shooting nerve pains, constant tiredness, muscle pain and weakness, which was why she was in a wheelchair, no doubt.

Maci also couldn’t walk without help again. And she might suffer from anxiety and depression, breathing problems, and spasms. Most sufferers lived with some or all of those symptoms daily. But a flare up would make them intensify, which is what had happened just now.

I paced back and forth in the waiting room with Ham beside me. I’d been surprised that Bryony had left him with me but honoured at the same time.

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