Page 14 of Amethyst Queen
“This way,” the steady hand at her back pushed her through the masses of people. Many of them cried out to her, asking what has happened. She couldn’t answer them… there was no reason for any of this.
“Your Majesty,” a man wearing scrubs approached them, “You’re here about the woman they pulled from the house?”
Amalee nodded, her voice gone.
“She was lucky she survived at all. I can take you to her but be warned it isn’t pretty. Luckily she isn’t on a ventilator and breathing on her own.”
“Is she conscious?” Officer Stephens asked, still guiding Amalee through the hallway.
“In and out, I’m afraid.”
“Wait,” Amalee halted, “she isn’t talking or awake?”
“Not right now. Like I said, she is in and out.”
“Ok,” her voice cracked with emotion, “thank you.”
They were led into a small room. The walls were lined with a variety of machines. Each monitoring something different. The woman was covered in bandages from head to toe, with wires and tubes coming out of her.
“Her name is…”
“Sarah Marks, I know.” Amalee cut him off, saying her name out loud.
“You know the victim?” Officer Stephens's expression was filled with confusion as he spoke.
“Yes – she took care of me when I did my year of study at college. If you don’t mind, I’d like to sit with her alone.”
“I’ll be back to check her vitals soon.”
Pulling a chair beside the bed, Amalee laid her palm over Sarah’s hand.
“Chris, would you mind standing guard outside? I’d like to sit with her alone.”
Hesitating a moment, he finally nodded, “If that’s what you want. I’ll be right outside, Amalee.”
“Can you do me a favor and call the Commander? I’d like to see if they’ve recovered anyone else from the wreckage.”
“Anything I should tell them specifically?”
“Yes. She was married and had a little boy.”
Her voice cracked, emotions bubbling up. Swallowing, she forced herself to calm down. Once the door was shut, Amalee listened to the steady beeping of the machines.
“Sarah, can you hear me?”
Amalee whispered as she rubbed her finger over the exposed knuckles of her hand. Sarah’s fingers were bruised, her nails cracked and still caked in blood and grime.
“Please, wake up… I need to know if he was in the house with you.”
