Page 52 of Healing Hazel

Hazel gazed around, studying her friends and noticing how completely exhausted they looked. Camila seemed to be swaying on her feet. Lucía’s blinks were long.

At a low table, they were given a piece of hard bread and some cheese to eat. Then the leader who had brought them from the road led them toward one of the small structures. He held a lantern, walking before them. Others followed behind the group, their footsteps sounding in the darkness. Hazel chewed the food gratefully, realizing she’d not eaten since early that morning.

The leader called out to another of the men, Ramiro, presumably telling him to open the door.

Hearing the name, Hazel looked up, studying him. Could this man be Jakinda’s husband?

The man with the scar on his neck moved to obey, scooping up another lantern and moving to the structure’s opening.

Other men urged the group closer to the door.

The scarred man pointed, directing them inside. Apparently that was where they were to be kept for the night. He gave the lantern to Jim.

One by one, the medical staff stepped inside. Hazel was the last.

“Ramiro?” She hesitated outside the doorway, asking in Spanish, “Are you Jakinda’s husband?”

Ramiro turned toward her. He gave no sign that he’d understood, aside from the tightening of his eyes.

“Jakinda was my friend.” Her voice cracked as she said the words. She put her hand over her heart. She couldn’t even tell if he understood her attempts at Spanish but felt it was important for him to know that someone who cared had been with Jakinda during her last moments.

Ramiro pointed toward the doorway of the small structure. His meaning was clear; she was to go in.

“There was a letter,” she said, making motions in the air of writing.

Someone pushed her from behind, and she stumbled inside.

Jim caught her before she fell, holding on to her arms until she regained her balance.

The floor of the structure sloped downward, reminding Hazel of a cellar. Perhaps vegetables were stored here. The space was dark and small, and she could hardly see the others in the shadows from the lantern light.

The door closed behind her, and she heard a bar dropped into place, locking it. The smell hit her almost immediately. A damp underground space—bodies too close together.

Tingling pricked her skin, and energy spiked into her toes and fingers. Her breathing came in gasps. Her stomach roiled, and the edges of her vision blurred. Hazel turned, blinded by her panic, and she scrambled for the door handle. “No, no, no.” When she found it, she strained against it, pulling with all her might. “Please, no!” She screamed the words, hitting the door with her palm.

Around her, women and children were terrified and weeping as they hid in the darkness. Her chest was tight with fear.

“Hazel.” Jim caught her arms again.

“I must get out... trapped...” Her teeth were chattering, making her words sound like they were shaking around in her mouth before coming out. She was shaking so badly that her legs gave out and her heart hammered. The panic carried her away, stealing her thoughts and leaving behind only terror.

Chapter 16

Jim helped Hazel sit downon the floor and lean her back against the wall as he sat next to her. Her breathing was irregular, coming out like sobs, and her body shook. He drew the lantern closer, setting it on the floor in front of them and lifting her face. Her eyes were wide, darting, unfocused.

Jim took her wrist, feeling her pulse. Her skin was cool and her heart rate elevated. “Hazel, look at me.”

She curled in on herself, drawing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. “No, no, no.” Her voice was high-pitched. She pressed her face to her knees.

Jim placed a hand on her shoulder. He could feel her trembling.

“What is it?” Dr. Laurent asked from the other side of the room.

“A panic spell,” Jim replied. He’d seen a similar reaction in soldiers, even well after a battle had finished and the danger was gone. He’d seen the same look on her face when she’d come out of Jakinda’s house with the baby and should have recognized it for what it was. Her face had been pale, with her eyes wide and darting, just like now.

Dr. Laurent spoke softly to the other nurses, explaining to them what was happening, and Jim scooted around to face Hazel directly. He rubbed her arms. “Hazel, look at me.”

She shook her head. “I can’t. I need to... get... out.”

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