66. Sydney
sixty-six
sydney
I’m in the hospital.
At least, I think it’s the hospital. There’s a faint beeping of a monitor, and the smell of antiseptic sticks in my nose. I shift in the bed, wanting to wake up but being unable to drag myself out of the darkness.
I’m just so tired. At least it doesn’t hurt anymore.
The last thing I remember is…
Oliver.
Penn.
I was so fucking mad at Penn. Terrified when my body went up, lifted into someone’s arms. And yet, everything went calm as soon as I registered that it was him. The minute I heard his voice. I settled… and I don’t know, something like peace swept through me.
Now, this.
Even though I’m still not convinced I’m not dying.
Would dying hurt?
Wait.
There’s no pain. That means I’m dead, right? Because pain ends there. Shit, I don’t want to be dead. There’s a lot I have left to do?—
“Why isn’t she opening her eyes?”
Oliver.
The beeping increases in frequency. I will my eyes to open, to push away that repressive darkness, and?—
There.
His face is the first thing I see, followed closely by Penn’s.
Penn, who I should still be furious at, but somehow only feel grateful that he stuck around.
They got me away from Bear and his brother. They saved me. I have the vaguest memory of Carter picking me up, too. The painful pinch of something around my upper leg.
Did they call my dad?
I reach for them. Both hands. My muscles ache, and even that seems to take all my remaining effort. I’m going under again. They each take one, their hands warm and dry against my freezing fingers.
My vision dims, then darkens completely. My eyes close…
I don’t know where I go.
Away .