Page 56 of Fighting for Mallory

Fadhel asked Ali to hand him the neck brace, and he fit it carefully around her neck. He cleansed Mallory’s cuts and scrapes with alcohol wipes, bandaged them, and stitched the gash in her hand.

“Please help me turn her to her side,” Fadhel ordered Ali and Omar. “Gently.”

They rolled her away from them, and she heard one of the men gasp in shock.

“What is it?” she demanded. The movement caused pain to radiate through her, and she felt a rush of blood.

“Mallory Hayes, you have a piece of stalagmite sticking out of your back,” Fadhel replied.

She shivered. “For heaven’s sake! You must take me to the hospital!”

No one said a word. Then Omar blurted, “No! It is impossible! We cannot!”

“Fadhel, please. You’re studying to be a doctor. You have to take an oath and promise to do no harm. How can you just stand by and allow this to happen to me?”

“I am sorry, Mallory Hayes. I do not have a choice. I can help you, though, by removing the stalagmite and suturing the wound.”

“Saving me for death?” she tossed. Bitter sarcasm tinged her voice.

“We all must die someday, Mallory Hayes.”

“Yes, so I’ve been told. Death is coming for you sooner than you think. My avenging angel will send all three of you straight to Hell. None of you will escape his wrath.”

“Keep her still,” Fadhel ordered Ali and Omar. He administered a local anesthetic, and before it could take effect, he yanked hard on the stalagmite in her back.

Mallory screamed and wanted to puke.

“There now, Mallory Hayes. The worst is over. I will cleanse the wound and suture it. Afterward, I will give you a shot of antibiotics and pain medication to help you sleep.”

Maybe she’d sleep through the ritual and wake up on the other side. Separated from Luca until death reunited them. She didn’t doubt that he would spend the rest of his life mourning her.

Mallory closed her eyes. After a few minutes, she didn’t feel the needle puncturing her skin anymore.

Luca, where are you?

“Ali,” she whispered. “Is he alive?” She needed to hear confirmation of the truth. She believed in her heart that Luca had survived being shot, but she needed to hear someone say it.

“Do not answer her,” Omar commanded, his voice rough with warning. “It will inspire hope when she has none.”

Mallory smiled. “You can’t rob me of my hope. You’d better hope and pray to Osiris that Luca is dead. If not, you’re a dead man walking for what you’ve done to me.”

Fadhel finished suturing her wound and asked if she were allergic to penicillin or morphine. She found his due diligence laughable under the circumstances. “No.” She let out a harsh laugh.

With care, they transferred her to the flat board. As they left the cavern, Omar noticed the message she’d written in rocks, and cursed at her. He kicked the rocks to destroy it.

The morphine began to take effect, and Mallory fought to stay awake. She surmised she only had one chance to try to convince Ali to help her.

Oh, God, her eyes were closing…

The trek to the Cave of Osiris was taking too long…

Mallory jerked awake. She recognized the golden brightness of Osiris’ cave and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry hysterically. Possibly both. She lay snug in a sleeping bag, her wrists and feet bound with cable ties instead of rope. She guessed Ali and Omar learned their lesson.

“He is alive,” Ali whispered. He squatted next to her. “Your avenging angel.”

She couldn’t contain a sob of relief. “Oh, thank God!”

“You believe he is coming for you?”

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