Page 122 of The Persistence of Thornes
“Name?”
“Caleb Thorne,” I answer. “Go,” I tell Halle. “Don’t wait for me.”
She bites her lip, brow furrowed like she doesn’t want to leave me. But her worry for her brother wins out, as it should, and she takes off.
“Here you go.”
I stick the badge to my shirt, heading in the direction Halle disappeared in.
A minute later, I find her in room twelve. Casen lies in a bed that takes up the majority of the space in this small room, his normal olive-toned complexion replaced with an ashen pallor.
Halle’s hands flutter around his body like a frightened butterfly unsure of where to land.
“Case,” she whines. “What happened?”
He winces. “I fell wrong during gym glass.”
“Your leg is broken!” Tears pool in her eyes. “That’s a big thing.”
He groans, covering his face. “I know.”
“Have they given you anything for pain yet?”
He nods, his bottom lip wobbling in a way that’s rare for fourteen-year-old boys. “I overheard the doctor saying I’ll need surgery to set the bone. I don’t want to have surgery, Hal.”
“Fuck,” she curses, taking a step closer. “It’s okay. If that’s what has to be done, we’ll get through this. I’m here for you, no matter what you need.”
“Where’s Quinn?” he asks.
The question isn’t a surprise. Of course he’d want his twin here.
“Still at school,” she answers.
“Is he going to come?” Casen asks.
Halle sighs, clearly too overwhelmed to process how to handle the situation.
“School will be out in an hour or so,” I say, squeezing Halle’s shoulder. “When he gets off the bus, I’ll have someone bring him straight here, okay?”
Casen assesses me, his expression full of more emotional intelligence than a kid his age has any right to possess. “Thank you.”
I dip my head in acknowledgment and pull out my phone. I shoot off a quick text to Salem, who responds almost instantly, more than happy to help out.
“Can I hug you?” Halle asks her brother. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I just… I really need to hug you, okay?”
Casen opens his arms. “It’s just my leg, sis. My arms are fine for a hug.”
With a watery laugh, she dives in to hug him. “When the school said you were being transported by ambulance, I was so scared. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Back at you, Hal.” He pats her back and lets go.
“What happened?” she asks him, plopping into the chair on his left.
He sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face. “We were playing football outside. I was running for the ball, and my feet got tangled.” He holds out one arm, his hospital bracelet slipping down his wrist. “Now I’m here.”
Halle laughs, though the sound lacks humor. “You were a clumsy baby, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you’re a clumsy teenager too.”
“Hey,” he laughs. “Don’t kick me when I’m already down.”
