Page 15 of Bones
“Bones, you are good?—”
“I’m not!” I interrupted. “I can’t…I can’t do enough. It’s too much?—”
Pain stabbed behind my eyes, and I squeezed them shut. My head swam as though I was spinning in circles.
A clattering noise. Voices.
“Is he dead?” I tried to ask, but I couldn’t tell if I spoke or not. I needed to know, but I couldn’t remember who?—
Someone’s hand rested on my forehead, and they gave a muttered curse. “She’s still burning up.”
Something ice-cold pressed against my face and I tried to jerk away, but it followed me.
“It’s cold,” I mumbled, my teeth chattering as I tried to raise my hand to push it away.
“I know,” a voice said as a hand captured my wrist and pulled it back down, “but we gotta bring your fever down.”
“I don’t get sick,” I tried to say, but the room spun faster and faster.
“It’s alright, Bones,” the voice said, “just try to sleep.”
* * *
“Clarity, I’m telling you, I could! I could get you out.”
“Trey, stop,” a soft, feminine voice spoke. “I can take care of myself.”
“Clarity, you nearlydied.” Trey’s voice sharpened. “I can’t?—”
“She’s waking up.”
I cracked my eyes open. Red silks draped across the window, swaying in the breeze. Trey’s face appeared, his eyes wide and concerned.
“Bones?”
I parted my lips and they cracked.
“Water?” I croaked.
Another face appeared, and I stared at a beautiful girl about my age dressed in a skimpy red silk slip. She wore her curly black hair done up on top of her head in a pretty, delicate style. She held a bowl of water to my lips, and I gulped it. I’d never been so weak before. I tried to hold the bowl of water steady, but my hands shook so much water started sloshing over the sides. The girl, Clarity I guessed, covered my hands with hers, helping me hold it still.
“Easy,” she said in a sweet, gentle voice. “Don’t drink it too fast.”
After I drank, I collapsed back onto the silken pillow, exhausted. Memories flashed through my mind, and it took all my control to keep my emotions in check. Madame had tortured that man. Just to see what I could do, how far she could push me. And I’d done everything she’d asked. I thought if I could escape Juck, I’d be free of thatevil?—
“Bones?” Trey’s hands wrapped around one of mine.
I jerked away from his touch. He let go, guilt flashing across his face.
“Bones. It’s ok. You’re safe.”
A raspy sarcastic laugh crawled out of my throat like a wheeze. Safe? Safe didn’t exist for me.
“You’re safe,” Trey said again, and I had to fight the urge to scream at him.
“Get out,” I rasped, still refusing to meet his gaze.
He stood quietly for a moment. “I’m so sorry,” he finally said, soft and pained, and the tone of his voice almost triggered a memory, but nothing came.
