Page 55 of Zero
“Um—her brother is also in the hospital.” I told him. “I’m JDF. Rei Hakama.”
“Very well, Ms. Smith has lost a lot of blood.” The doctor reported. “We’ve managed to stop the bleeding and removed the bullet. But it came dangerously close to her heart. We’ve moved her to ICU to keep an eye on her. Right now, she’s hooked up to a machine to help her heart just in case of anything—if she can make it through tonight, she’ll be one step closer to recovering.”
“Can we see her?” I asked.
“She won’t be in any position to tell you anything.” The doctor replied. “Ms. Smith is heavily sedated at the moment and very weak.”
“I don’t want to question her, doctor.” I growled.
Someone rested a palm to my back.
“She’s also my girlfriend. I just want to see her.”
He pressed his lips into a thin line. “Very well. But only you. Everyone else will have to wait.”
The doctor called a nurse to escort me to the room where Bailey was, and I thanked her. But I wasn’t prepared for seeing Bailey like that. I knew now how Barbie must have felt when she walked into that hospital room to see Crash this way.
I knew the anger and the pain Beast must have felt after rescuing Fleur. As I stood by her bedside looking down at her, I wanted to set the world on fire. But all I could do was pull a chair up to her side, sat and took her hand in mine. I brought it and brushed my lips to the back.
“Es tut mir leid.” I whispered. “I’m so sorry. I was supposed to have protected you.Es tut mir leid.”
The slow beeps and hiss of the machines filled the space around me.
I bowed my head to her stomach and for the first time since I was a child – I prayed.
Chapter 12
Bailey
From somewhere far away the soft laughter of a madman filled my head. The darkness thick like a cloak around me as my tongue glued itself to the dry roof of my mouth. My head throbbed, my fingers stiff and every muscle in my body hurt.
The scent was different than my restaurant—it smelled like disinfectant, a heavy duty type, while something heavy sat against the right side of my stomach.
Though I tried opening my eyes, they didn’t seem to want to work, and something was lodged in my throat. I reached up to pull it out, but strong arms caught my hands.
Panicked, I tried screaming for Rei.
The thing in my throat wouldn’t let me and I struggled against being restrained.
“Hoshi—I’m here.”
The only person who called me that was Rei.
But was he real or had I imagined him?
“It’s okay, sweetheart.” A gentle touch landed against my right cheek before warm lips brushed my forehead. “I’m right here. Can you open your eyes?’
I tried for him.
The worry in his voice was breaking my heart. I wanted to open my eyes if that was all it took for him to be happy again.
Opening my eyes hurt. Each time I tried, the brightness of the room caused me to clamp them closed again.
“Turn down the light.” Someone ordered.
“Okay, Hoshi.” Rei was close now. “Try again.”
Slowly, I did as he asked.
