Page 60 of Chaotic Curse
“Fuck…” Hawk races out of Eagle’s room.
He’s gone for a few minutes.I take a closer look at the bouquet, sliding my fingers over the soft petals.Something’s off, though.
And it hits me quickly.
The bouquet, rather than being tied with ribbon, is tied with barbed wire.
Rusty barbed wire.
I pull my hand away quickly, and a drop of blood oozes from my fingertip.
Hawk storms back into the room, his face flushed and contorted with anger.“I couldn’t find the orderly who delivered the flowers,” he says, “and I didn’t look at him too closely.Do you remember what he looked like, Dani?”
I shake my head.“No.The bouquet is so big.I was looking at it, not the guy who brought it.”
“The hospital has cameras, so we can ask to review the footage.”Hawk shakes his head.“But here’s the thing.I asked a nurse.Flowers aren’t allowed in the ICU.Anyone who actually works here would know that.”
Dread surges through me.
“That’s not all,” I say quietly.
“What?”
“Look at this.”I show him the barbed wire.
“Damn,” Hawk says.“You didn’t touch the wire, did you?”
“Not on purpose.”I show him my finger.
“Fuck.”He grabs a paper towel from above the sink and wraps my finger quickly.“When was your last tetanus shot?”
“I’m not sure, but trust me, my father kept me up to date on all vaccines.He didn’t want me catching anything during my…”
“We’re in a hospital.Let’s get you a booster just to be safe.”He sighs.“I suppose at least he did that much for you.Keeping your vaccines up to date.”
I scoff.“Are you kidding?It wasn’t for me.It was for him.A disease would put me out of commission.”
* * *
Two Years Earlier…
Chlamydia.
The doctor says I have chlamydia.
So that’s what’s causing all the burning and discomfort.
“What?How?”
“It’s a sexually transmitted infection,” the doctor says.“The good news is that it’s treatable.You’ll need to take antibiotics for about a week.And of course, inform your sexual partners.”
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat.
My father.
He’ll be furious.As for my sexual partners?He’ll get to do that informing.I wouldn’t know how to contact them.
“I understand, Doctor,” I manage, my voice barely above a whisper.
