Page 49 of Make Her Bleed
If I don't do something … It doesn't bother me but I'm not done with her yet.
Stop lying to yourself. You couldn't save Teigen but you can save Aria.
I growl at my conscience, who rarely shows up. I usually have him blocked out but the reminder of what I did to Teagan brings it forth.
I'm not a hero. I don't save people. I hurt people.
I can't leave Aria like this. Something inside me can't abandon her even if I really want to leave her down here.
She has a power over me she doesn't deserve and only her death would erase it. Still, I can't leave her here.
"Why? Don't tell me you actually care if I live or die," she grumbles without much emotion behind it.
I don't care. It'd be so easy to let her drift away.
If only I could.
I carry her out of the basement and run for my car. My father isn't going to be enough to help her. She needs a hospital.
* * *
I rushinto the emergency entrance of the hospital with Aria in my arms, her arms latched around my neck.
"I need help!" I announce and the nurses sitting around doing nothing hurry over to help.
"What happened here?" the youngest nurse asks with a chart in her hand.
I have no clue what to say. Everyone in Royal City knows not to get on my bad side so I give her a dark look and she shuts up. I’ve never brought anyone into the hospital before but they know to stay out of my business.
An orderly brings over a gurney, and I lie Aria down. She hesitates for a moment with her arms still clutching around my neck but after a minute, she releases me, groaning in pain.
I follow the group of nurses with Aria into the back and listen closely to what they say.
"Sweetheart, what's your name?" the youngest nurse asks.
"Aria … James," she hisses the answer after the gurney goes over a bump then into the triage area of the emergency room.
"Can you tell me what's bothering you, Aria?" the older nurse asks.
"Pain," she mumbles weakly.
"What was that?"
Anger blazes through me but I contain it as much as I can. "She said she's in pain, you fucking idiot!"
"Sorry, Mr. Harris," the youngest nurse squeals in fear.
"What's going on here?" Dr. Calvin, one of the hundreds of people I have within my pocket, asks as he walks along the stretcher being led to a room.
"Room two is open, Dr. Calvin," one of the nurses announces.
"Nurse Jane, you stay. Everyone else clear out!" Dr. Calvin snaps before looking right at me.
He knows I'm responsible for whatever is happening here.
I still don't speak.
"Patient's name is Aria James," Jane, the oldest nurse, states with the chart in her hand.
