June 12 | Thursday
Will came to for a moment as they were pulling into the hospital. A flood of voices disoriented him at first, then terrified him, and an instant later, vanished beneath an all-consuming pain. Will felt as if something were tearing his chest apart. He thought he was dying.
After that, he drifted in and out of consciousness.
Lights, tests, words… Everything blurred before he could fully surface and grasp what was happening to him.
He had no spinal damage—that was the first good news he heard.
He did, however, have swelling of the brain, which caused him to fall asleep uncontrollably for the first two days.
The symptoms and the swelling itself later subsided—a recovery so unusual the doctors debated whether their tests had been flawed.
His internal organs were fine, too—another fantastic piece of information.
These great, wonderful, promising updates clashed sharply with the overwhelming pain, the limited movement, and the feeling that at the moment he needed help the most, he’d been left all alone.
He had cracked ribs, a broken leg, and a dislocated arm—most of the injuries were concentrated on the right side of his body, though Will couldn’t have said so. It felt like everything hurt.
Several days passed before he was moved from intensive care to a regular room. He was on strong painkillers. He slept a lot.
Today, sleep had claimed him right after his morning tests, and he didn’t wake until around two in the afternoon. He was surprised to spot a card lying on his nightstand. Wincing in pain, he reached for it. It looked like a standard get-well card. Will opened it.
Buying a card seemed like a great idea, but I have no clue what to write. I was here, but you were asleep. I’ll swing by later. —Liam.
Will smiled internally, though his mouth remained fixed in the same grimace. He felt hopeless and wanted to fall back asleep immediately, but then he heard the door to his room open. Glancing that way, he was sure it was Liam.
Unfortunately, he was mistaken.
“Hey, Will,” Oscar said shyly, entering the room.
Will shut his eyes for a moment. He really didn’t want to see him right now.
“I’m sorry,” Oscar whispered. He looked terrible. He was trembling and clearly holding back tears.
“I know,” Will replied wearily. “It doesn’t change anything.”
“Not for that… I’m so sorry,” Oscar choked out unexpectedly, and Will stared at him, completely stunned. “I don’t even know when it happened… I just wanted to stop you… I had no idea something like that would happen.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“It is my fault. I pushed you.”
Will furrowed his brow.
“What?”
Oscar completely fell apart. Slumping into the chair by Will’s bed, he buried his face in his hands, still crying.
“I’m sorry…”
“Oscar,” Will said firmly. “You didn’t push me.”
“I did.”
“It wasn’t you.”
Oscar looked up at him, his eyes full of astonishment.
“You don’t remember?” he asked quietly.
Will wanted to ask him the exact same question.
“Well, you should know,” Oscar stated with a bitter smile.
“Because someone’s going to tell you sooner or later.
Blake was there, too. And that girl… The driver and…
I really don’t know what to do. If you want to report it…
press charges… I’ll understand. I didn’t do it on purpose, I swear, it all just got out of control, but I’ll understand. ”
“I’m not going to report anything,” Will answered, still thoroughly confused.
Was it possible Oscar was right? Had the accident scrambled his memory and he’d just dreamed up the demon?
No… Definitely not. Oscar said Blake and that girl were there.
He probably meant Abigail. Why hadn’t he mentioned Christine?
“That thing, what happened at the club…”
“Oscar,” Will cut in sharply.
“I want to tell you. I know we don’t have a chance after something like this, but you have to know it wasn’t about you. I really like you. And I was happy with you. And even though you won’t believe me, I swear it was the first time. But I need you to understand why.”
“I know why, Oscar,” Will said in a colorless voice. “Because deep down, it was about me. I’m not good enough for you.”
Poor Willy, who whines because the guy who’s totally out of his league isn’t giving him as much attention as he’d like. That was it.
“That’s not true.”
“It is true. Besides… What are the reasons for cheating on your boyfriend? It’s not that complicated. You were bored, you had an urge, you get a thrill from messing around on the side… It’s fine. It really doesn’t matter anymore.”
“It wasn’t any of those reasons. I just…” Oscar bit his lip until it bled, thinking for a long moment. “I think it was the knowledge that it was wrong. That if someone caught me… there’d be consequences.”
Will gave the other man a look of weary resignation.
“You did it so I would catch you? I highly doubt that.”
“No. I didn’t want you to catch me, but I knew it was possible and that’s why…
” Oscar let out a frustrated sound, as if he couldn’t find the right words.
“I didn’t do things like that before we started dating.
They never even crossed my mind. But ever since we got together…
Ever since I started to care… I really don’t know how to explain it. ”
“Then don’t. I already said it doesn’t matter.”
Oscar was silent for a long moment.
“It matters to me,” he finally declared.
“I do things… Things that are risky. And sometimes, just plain dangerous. Because it’s only when the adrenaline hits that I feel alive.
And I… I feel like there’s something wrong with me,” he whispered, his voice cracking.
“Like I’m always searching for something…
And I’m trying to get myself together, but in the worst possible way.
The thing is, I don’t know how to do it any other way.
I really don’t. And now I’ve hurt you. The one person I would never wish any harm on, because, because… I fell in love with you. I really did.”
Will strongly doubted that.
“Oscar…”
The tone of his voice must have been unmistakable, because Oscar lowered his head and swallowed nervously.
“You need to go now,” Will said quietly. “And please, don’t come back.”
Oscar nodded, though the gesture seemed to take a great deal of effort. He wished Will a speedy recovery, gave him a forced smile, and left.
That wasn’t the only unwanted visit of the day. Toward evening, Norma appeared in Will’s room.
“Hey,” she said as she entered the room. She’d brought a small yellow potted flower, which she set on the table.
“Hey,” Will grunted, his voice guarded.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I got hit by a car.”
Norma smiled nervously.
“I talked to your doctor. I mean, he couldn’t tell me much, since I’m not family and all that, but he said it could have been much worse.”
Will grimaced at that exceptionally comforting remark. Norma sat down in the chair.
“Oscar was here,” Will informed her.
“Oh?”
“He said something weird. He thinks he’s the one who pushed me into the car’s path.”
“Aah…” Norma seemed to know what this was about.
“Right. See, Abby rationally decided that instead of looking for reasons why Christine pushed you in front of a car, it would be better to wipe the memories of everyone not in the know. Luckily she was on the scene, because erasing the last few minutes of someone’s memory is no trouble for her, but when you have to wipe a longer period…
Let’s just say it gets complicated. Anyway, in cases like this, the magic makes the brain fill in the gap on its own.
So Oscar’s subconscious must have decided that the version where he accidentally pushed you in front of a car during a scuffle was the most likely.
The driver bought it, too, and Blake took care of things, so there won’t be any trouble with the police.
It sucks that Oscar is blaming himself, but don’t set him straight. ”
Will had no intention of doing so. He felt that Oscar was, in a way, responsible. Maybe the feeling stemmed from his own grief and resentment, but he couldn’t help but blame him. Just like he blamed the person sitting right next to him now.
“In any case, the demon situation has been resolved,” Norma informed him, forcing a cheerful tone. “For good. You have nothing to worry about.”
“I’ve heard that before.”
“Will…”
“Is this visit over?” he cut her off harshly.
Norma sighed.
“I know you’re angry with me, and you have every right to be, but—”
“I have every right?” Will repeated mockingly.
“You don’t say? I told you from the beginning something was wrong, but you brushed me off!
And when I got really scared, you tried to make me out to be some paranoid, helpless idiot!
You said nothing would happen. That’s just how demons are.
” Norma shot him a warning glance, clearly signaling that he should lower his voice.
“And now, while I’m lying here hooked up to machines, with an IV pumping drugs into my veins so I don’t howl in pain, you come here and tell me I have nothing to worry about?
Oh, thank you, Norma! I feel so comforted that you handled the situation before it became a tragedy! Oh, wait. No, you didn’t.”
“I’m sorry,” Norma whispered. “I didn’t know it would end like this.”
“Right. But you did know a demon was following me, you were just too busy with your super-important parties to help me.”
“Believe it or not, I’ve heard plenty of that over the last few days, so you really don’t need to kick me while I’m down.”
“Oh, my heart bleeds for you, it really does.”
“Will. I’m sorry.”
“I don’t care!” Will exploded again. “You’re just like Oscar! You know you’ve done something wrong, so you come here, make excuses, and say the same thing over and over, and I really don’t want to listen to it!”
“What else am I supposed to say? I can’t turn back time. I made a mistake, okay? I realize that, but the only thing I can do at this point is say I’m sorry.”
“Great. Thanks.”
“Jeez, Will…”
“Just go, okay?”