Page 19 of Jase
“So, you are here…or this is a ghost. Great. A haunted hospital suite. I should have known this nice room was too good to be true.”
I clicked through the guide, stopping on a show about ghosts. Kody wiped the tears, leaning back to stare towards me.
“A ghost with a sense of humor. I like that. I think I like this show. I’ve seen it once before.”
“Have you, now? What else do you like, Kody?”
She didn’t answer my silent question. She didn’t say another word as she lost herself in the investigation of the dark rooms of the Miller Estate. While she did, I let myself go over what I knew. The moment she felt my presence, Kody relaxed. She surrendered from the fear she seemed to constantly dwell in. That spoke volumes. That told me I’d done more than help her out of the dungeon. My very existence held weight not only in the physical, but the mental as well. I meant something, and it wasn’t just me who needed her.Kody needed me too.
Chapter 8
Kody
Maybe it was the view of the city from my luxurious sitting area. Or the sun, high in the clear, blue sky. Maybe it was the guard standing not twenty feet away, erasing every single question that wanted to keep me on my toes. Or just maybe…it was the illusion of it all.
I couldn’t pretend when I left this place things weren’t going to change. I’d have no guard. I’d have no real view. I’d have no gourmet meals or bakery goodies at my beck and call. I’d go back to frozen pizza, freezer meals, and a pop tart for dessert. I was okay with that. Truthfully, all I did was yearn for my boring routine. I missed solitude. I missed silence. Most of all, I missed the ease of sleep.
Although the nurses kept me up; the dreams were worse. Some nights were better than others. Some nights, the terror kept me staring at either my walls or my television screen until dawn. I spoke to myself a lot. No…I spoke to him.Most of the time my savior didn’t reply, but there were moments that told me he had to be there. The power to the television, for one. It was the most obvious. Sometimes my lights would even flicker. Maybe it was all a dream. A delusion I was creating to cope with what had happened to me. I’d been hospitalized seven days, and although I was getting stronger, I wasn’t adjusting as well as I had hoped.
My broken hand stayed at my chest as I used my other to curl around my stomach. The stitches, the wounds, every pull against them with every breath was a constant reminder of what I’d undergone. Every look from the guests on the floor: pity, maybe even a tinge of fear. I couldn’t escape who I was now. I’d walked these halls at my nurse’s request a million times in the last few days. There was always someone not able to look away from the train wreck I had become. If it was a guest on the floor, they’d whisper to whoever they were with, they’d glance my way and not be able to hide the shock. It was too much. Luckily, I didn’t see them often, but their expressions were enough to stay with me. I wanted to leave here. I didn’t want to think about having to stay another three to five days like my doctor had mentioned only hours ago. Tests. Infections. Monitoring. The list was endless. I just wanted to go home. I wanted to disappear. I was safe, but I couldn’t breathe.
“Ms. Marshall?”
At the male tone, I couldn’t help but jump. It’d been closer than I’d liked, and I hadn’t been prepared. My caregivers were all female, as were the doctors. The only men I was exposed to were guards, and they kept their distance. Even the one posted at my door was very cautious on how close to get to me, which I didn’t mind.
“You. I know you. You helped with the flowers. You’re from the church. I saw the card that was left.” I took in the curly, brown hair of the teenager who was only a foot from the lounger I was resting on. He was lean and of average height. The white hoodie he sported rested over dark denim jeans, and his worn sneakers said they’d gotten lots of use. He smiled, but he looked nervous as he peered over at me.
“I’m sorry to bother you. I left a few books in your room. One of the nurses mentioned you liked to read. I hope you don’t mind.”
“That was kind of you. Thank you.”
He shrugged. “My grandma’s a big reader. I was with her the night we helped bring up the flowers. We were just hoping—”
Ringing came from his pocket causing him to look down.
“I’m sorry. I could have sworn I turned off my phone.” He took it out, his head rocking a little back as he took in the number. He quickly hit the button to end the call. “I was just saying, we hope you—” Again, his phone started ringing. “I’m so sorry. I was holding the button down, trying to turn it off.”
My good hand rose as I glanced over noticing an older woman and a tall man with blondish-brown hair in the distance, talking. The wide shoulders and lean waist gave me pause as he turned more in my direction, laughing and fiddling with his phone as if he were texting. But he didn’t face me completely. I could barely see his profile. I returned my gaze back to the boy. “No worries. It seems important. You better take that. I’m doing great, so…” I shrugged. “Thank you so much for the books. They’re exactly what I need.”
“It’s okay. I don’t even know who it is. They can wait. I’m glad you’re doing better. Really, I’m sorry again for—”
More ringing. The boy’s eyes widened. “I saw it power off.”
“Must be a sign you should answer. I’m getting tired anyway. Thank you for the books.”
He nodded, glancing down at his now silent phone. “Of course. I hope you have a good nap. My apologies.” He took a step back, spinning as he walked off. As I brought my hand back in, I hadn’t realized how bad it had been shaking. I’d done my best to force myself out of my room, but it was time I got back. Every door I passed. Every person I encountered. It was either fear or shame that left me fleeing back to the safe haven of my room, and here I was, standing and getting ready to run back to it again.
A deep breath left me as I took in the now opened space. The man and older woman were suddenly nowhere to be seen. Only a random nurse was heading towards the hall to my left. I kept my steps as fast as I felt comfortable, slowing as the boy’s voice made its way from around the other side of the nurse’s station.
“I don’t understand it, Grandma.” His hands were lifted as his head shook. “I did exactly as you said. I know I turned it off in the parking lot, yet it started ringing…three different times. I could barely get a word in with Ms. Marshall. It wasn’t even picking up a number. It said No Caller ID. It’s so strange. We turned off our phones together. I don’t understand how it kept turning back on.”
I tore my eyes from them, averting my gaze to the guard as I approached my door. I couldn’t bear to talk to anyone else. What I wanted was peace. Or maybe I could talk to…” I slowed, looking over my shoulder back to the kid and his grandma as they stood outside of the elevator. Surely, it wasn’t—it couldn’t be.
I was letting my delusions get the best of me again.
Stopping, I looked around the nurse’s station and towards the different halls. Cameras were at the entrance of each one. There was even one pointing right at my door. They were everywhere. No. Perhaps it was time I talked to the shrink they suggested. I couldn’t tell her this though. I couldn’t tell a soul.
“How are you feeling?” I jumped as the nurse continued. “Are you ready for your next dose? I think you’ve pushed it back long enough.”
