43. Bella - The Girls
Chapter forty-three
Bella - The Girls
We take Hazel to the clinic. Fear spreads faster than illness.
The two girls, Jenna and Maris, arrive trembling and pale, with some light webbing growing on their arms. We give them sedatives to slow the process and some of Lucy’s herbal liquid.
Lena begins crying the second I examine her.
“It won’t stop spreading,” she whispers. I gently push her sleeve upward. The webbing beneath her skin has darkened dramatically. It seems alive and moving.
“Let’s increase the dose of sedation, Finn, and continue with Lucy’s blend more aggressively,” I say, touching Lena softly. “Just remember to breathe slowly, like I showed you, Lena.”
We move to the hall. “We’re running low on sedation, doc. The ferry arrives tomorrow and the new supply should be on it,” Finn says.
“Okay, I’m glad you over-ordered,” I breathe.
Maris is in the reception area with a blanket over shoulders. She stares toward the windows.
“He keeps whispering.”
My pulse spikes.
“Who?”
“In the forest.”
Charlie moves immediately closer to me. Bad bad bad.
I take her hand and lead her back to a room. She and Jenna will be isolated together. Finn gives an additional dose of Lucy’s liquid. These girls have advanced to stage two.
I am back with Lena now, who grips my hand suddenly. “Please don’t let me walk out there like Tom did. It wants me to.”
My heart nearly breaks.
Silas calls me to his room. “Doc, I asked my friend Fred to come with supplies. He owns the hardware store. Fred will nail wood across the patient windows to stop escapes. You just secure the doors.”
“That’s really helpful, Silas. Thanks.”
Jenna starts crying.
“It says the bells hurt it.”
Darius arrived and hears Jenna. His expression darkens.
“The island knew before we did,” he says quietly.
Outside, the fog thickens around Bloodhaven Cove.
And somewhere deep within The Wilds something hungry listens. And waits. And calls.