Page 27 of Closing on Lynx

Taping on the window, I watch as his head slowly turns before falling back against the headrest.

“I need to make her feel safe. I’m sorry, Lynx, that I didn’t protect her,” his voice trails off.

“Neo, unlock the doors, and let me get you out. We can work through this,” I demand, taping on the glass to force him to stay awake.

“I should have saved her. Not push her away.” Tears roll down his cheeks as his eyes begin to close.

“Neo, don’t do this. We can work through this together. Open the door.” I give one last attempt and watch in horror as his chest starts to slow, and his eyes droop closed.

“FUCK!” I reach the tool bench and grab the tire iron, swinging it multiple times to break the window. I quickly pull Neo from the car and look at the broken man lying on the ground. He has white powder on his nose, a sign that he used cocaine recently. How much I won’t know until a tox screen is done. His arms are torn up with blade marks running across and up and down, filleting the skin at his right wrist.

“No, no, no, Neo. You have too much life left.” I begin compressions as Skoden enters the area. He quickly calls nine-one-one, telling them the situation and having the ambulance roll out as soon as they can.

“Brother, is he breathing?” Skoden asks, kneeling beside me. I look up at him, tears running down my cheeks.

“I don’t know, I don’t know. He can’t go out, not like this. This is just a misstep on a path set for brightness,” I scream.

“Step back, let me take over.” He waits as I continue to pump on his chest. “Now, Paul. Move to the side and let me help you save him. We are a team and we will make sure all of us bands together, even when one is weak.” He pushes me off Neo and starts to check. “His breathing is shallow, and his heart rate is weak. He is still with us. Now go and show the paramedics where we are.”

Nodding, I stand up and make my way to the door. Pressing the button to open it as the blue and reds flash on the compound. I make it my mission to make sure Spun meets Karma.

Chapter Twenty

Jessikah

Three days later...

The doctor drones on about what I need to be doing. Who needs to be in place. And all I can think about is finally leaving this damn hospital. Stepping out into the sunlight of the world and not the drab florescent lighting of the puke yellow room. At least Slick stuck true to his word. Mine and Tina’s room was filled to the brim with bright flowers, balloons, and edible arrangements. It wasn’t just Slick, though, everyone made sure we had cheer in our room.

Paul didn’t seem to be himself. I know something happened at the clubhouse, but he hasn’t said anything to me. He just keeps telling me that it was dealt with.

Standing and slowly making my way to the bathroom, when voices at my door stop me. It’s Crowne and Skoden.

“Baby, Neo is not good. He has been in a medically induced coma since they rushed him in here. The doctors were able to pump his stomach and stitch up his arm, but his lungs need time to heal,” Skoden states.

“Have they sent in the psychotherapist?” she asks.

“No, they can’t until he is out of the woods. He blames himself for what happened to Jessikah and Tina. When he comes around, he will never be the same person again.” Crowne sniffles.

There is silence on the other side of the door. Leaning against the cold painted wall, like it was my only support system. Neo tried to commit suicide because he blames himself. He blames himself for what someone else did to me. I realize in that moment that all the people that were put in my path always made me feel safe, even Neo.

Wiping the tears that have begun to drip from my chin, I make my way into the bathroom. The urge to vomit is strong. Finishing up, I splash water on my face and take a deep breath. “Time to prove to someone that I am fine.”

When I come out of the washroom, Crowne is in the room. She looks at me, her eyes narrowing before she opens and closes her mouth. “You heard?’

“I want the room number,” I demand, walking slowly to the window. There is a blue teddy bear with a get well soon balloon, and a small vase filled with yellow, purple, and blue sunflowers. I grab them both and turn to look at her.

“Room number, now,” I demand, making my way through the door.

She doesn’t answer me, but she does follow me out of my room and into the hall. I see Skoden, Sue and Paul all standing in a huddle. I march up to them and wait until they turn around.

“My angel, what are you doing?” Paul asks, as he turns his head and lets his eyes roam up and down my body. I have a walking cast on my ankle and the arm that’s in a sling is filled with the vase and bear.

“Listen, you can either tell me where Neo is, or I will scream through the halls until I find a nurse who will give me his room number,” I state and watch all three men smirk.

“You need to relax,” Paul states.

“No, I don’t. I need to go and talk to a man who thinks I am in this place because of him. It wasn’t his decision to brutally rape me and Tina. It wasn’t his actions that brutally abused me and Tina as they talked about the local news. No, that asshole is gone. That asshole needs to be buried in my garden with trilliums growing from his ass. I am in this hospital because a man turned into the devil’s enemy. Now you have one choice. Either tell me where the fuck Neo is, so I can start to heal his mind. Or let me find it on my own,” I finished, my chest rising and falling and every man, woman and child are staring at me.

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