Crowned (Santa Catalina University)

Chapter 25

Hushed but urgent voices pull me from my slumber. As consciousness slowly returns, I find myself in a state of confusion, caught between the remnants of a dream and the reality of the hospital room. Blinking away sleep, I realise Bhodi, Cove, and Reef are gathered around my bed, their expressions a mixture of concern and tension.

“What’s happening?” I manage to whisper, my voice still thick with sleep.

Bhodi looks at me, his normally calm and easy going, playful demeanour strained. “There’s been an incident. Someone tried to attack the hospital.”

My heart skips a beat, adrenaline snapping me awake. “What?” I sit up, ignoring the protests of my strained muscles. “Who?”

“We don’t know,” Reef answers, his jaw tight with worry. “But security has been doubled. It might be related to recent events.”

Dread settles in the pit of my stomach. I can feel the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me. “We have to be careful,” I say, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at me. I should have told them about the threat right away.

Cove nods, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for any sign of danger. “We won’t let anything happen to you, Malia.”

I draw a shaky breath, pushing down the fear threatening to overwhelm me. “What else did they say?” I ask, needing more information to make sense of this new threat.

“They’re investigating,” Bhodi replies, his voice low and full of contempt. “But for now, we need to stay vigilant.”

Reef steps closer, his voice low but firm. “Malia, we can’t stay here. It’s not safe. We need to get you out of the hospital.”

My mind races, conflicting emotions warring within me. “I can’t leave without Vance,” I insist, my voice trembling with determination.

Bhodi hesitates, exchanging a look with Cove. “Malia, Vance…he’s dead,” he says gently, his voice cracking with sorrow.

“No,” I whisper, my heart clenching in denial. “I need to see him. I need to be sure.”

Cove steps forward, his expression pained. “We’ll take you to the morgue,” he says quietly, pushing a nearby wheelchair towards my bed.

With their help, I gather the strength to move, allowing them to settle me into the wheelchair and drape a blanket over my lap. Bhodi pushes from behind, one hand squeezing my shoulder, his touch gentle yet firm. Cove and Reef flank me like sentries.

Navigating the silent corridors, we move swiftly and silently, avoiding the eyes of hospital staff. Everyone seems too busy and preoccupied with the security breach to pay us much attention anyway.

The hospital feels like a maze of shadows and whispers, each step bringing us closer to the truth I’m not sure I’m ready to face.

As we reach the cold, clinical doors of the morgue, I take a deep breath, bracing myself for what lies beyond. Cove pushes open the door, revealing rows of metal drawers. With trembling hands, I point to one in the back. It’s too far away to read what the label says, but as it’s the only one with a label I know it must be the professor.

“Open it,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

Bhodi hesitates for a moment, then nods, his fingers gripping the handle. With a slow, deliberate motion, he pulls open the drawer.

Inside lies Vance, still and unmoving, his face peaceful in repose.

Reality crashes over me like a tidal wave, the truth settling in with crushing finality. Tears spill down my cheeks, a mixture of grief and disbelief.

“He’s gone,” Cove murmurs softly, his hand resting on my shoulder.

Was it all a dream then? Our time in the grove? Him confessing his love? The meeting with Yamaya?

As Cove murmurs softly that Vance is gone, I feel a surge of defiance rising within me. I reach out trembling fingers to stroke Vance’s face, tracing the familiar contours as if trying to imprint his features into my memory forever.

He’s not warm. But he doesn’t feel cold…gone…either.

“No,” I whisper urgently, my voice trembling with emotion. “We need you, Vance. Aerwyna needs you. We need our star to guide us through this darkness.”

Tears stream down my cheeks unchecked as I lean down, pressing a gentle kiss to Vance’s lips. In that moment of despair and desperate longing, I pour all my hope, all my love, into that kiss.

To my astonishment, warmth begins to spread from Vance’s lips to mine.

What’s happening?

I pull back, staring intently at his face.

Was that slight crease between his brows there before?

Or am I seeing hope where there’s none to be had?

I stop breathing, waiting, praying, needing him to be okay. To not be gone. To not be another person in my life who has left me.

After what feels like an eternity, his eyelids flutter, and then slowly, he opens his eyes. The room seems to hold its breath as Vance blinks up at me, confusion giving way to recognition.

“Malia?” he breathes, his voice hoarse with disbelief.

A gasp escapes Bhodi, Cove, and Reef, who stand frozen in astonishment. My heart pounds against my ribcage, a mixture of disbelief and overwhelming relief flooding through me.

“You’re awake,” I whisper, tears of joy now mingling with those of sorrow.

Vance blinks again, as if trying to comprehend what’s happening. His hand trembles as he reaches up to touch my face, his touch warm and alive.

“I…We saw you die,” Bhodi stammers.

But they watched me die too. Yet here I am.

I’m unable to process the miracle unfolding before my eyes.

Vance shakes his head slightly, his gaze never leaving mine. “I don’t know how, but I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Relief washes over me in a tidal wave, leaving me breathless and shaking. Bhodi, Cove, and Reef move closer, their expressions a mix of wonder and gratitude. In that moment, it’s as if the impossible has become reality, and we cling to each other, hesitant to let go of the fragile hope that has sparked between us.

With trembling hands, I help Vance sit up, his strength slowly returning. Cove grabs a hospital gown from a nearby cabinet, tossing it to Vance with a whispered instruction to get dressed quickly. Bhodi and Reef stand guard, their eyes darting nervously toward the door, ready to shield us from any unwanted attention.

Vance struggles into the gown with our help, his movements unsteady but determined. As he stands on shaky legs, we exchange anxious glances, silently communicating our shared determination to get him out of here safely.

“Where should we go?” Cove asks in a low voice, his gaze fixed on Vance.

Vance meets our eyes, his expression grave yet resolute. “The palace,” he says finally, his voice carrying the weight of responsibility. “We need to regroup, share intel, and plan our next move. Trust no one outside of this room.”

Bhodi nods, already scanning the corridors for signs of approaching staff. “Let’s move,” he says quietly, gesturing for us to follow.

With Vance supported between Cove and Reef, and with Bhodi pushing me in the wheelchair, we move cautiously through the quiet hospital corridors. Every distant voice and sudden noise sends a jolt of fear through me, but we press on, driven by the urgency of our mission to get to safety.

Emerging from the hospital, we cross a courtyard adorned with a fountain whose gentle murmur reminds me of the one where I first met Yemaya.

Navigating through the backstreets of Aerwyna, we stick to the shadows, avoiding the main thoroughfares where prying eyes might spot us, even though the streets appear to be deserted. The night air is cool and crisp, a stark contrast to the tension coiled within me. Within all of us.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity of nervous glances and hurried steps, a beautiful large white palace comes into view, its grandeur and solidity offering a semblance of safety – I hope. We pause for a moment at the palace gates, catching our breath and steeling ourselves for what lies ahead.

“We’re here,” Bhodi says quietly, his voice a steadying presence in the darkness.

Vance nods, his gaze fixed on the imposing structure before us. “Let’s rest. In the morning there’s much to discuss and no one can know we’re here, for now at least,” he says, his voice firm with resolve.

With renewed determination, they push open the palace gates and we all step inside, closing them carefully behind us, ready to face whatever challenges await us within.