Page 189 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

Maddie woke with a jerk and sat bolt upright. Cole wasn’t there. She was alone and yet for a second she could swear someone was moving around, that a shadow was lurking. That she was in danger.

She scratched the skin on her arm almost manically. Maybe she was going crazy. Maybe she was actually losing it.

“You’re awake.” Cole said looking in and she nodded. “Do you want some breakfast?”

“Yes.” She pulled her hand away, pretending to be normal.

He disappeared and came back with a tray filled with fruit, yoghurt and a plate heaped up with fried bacon, sausages and eggs.

“This does not look like normal hospital food.” Maddie said eyeing it suspiciously.

“That’s because this isn’t a normal hospital Maddie.”

“Where am I?” She asked feeling a jolt of adrenaline.

“You’re at a BlackWater one.”

“What?”

“It was the closest hospital and it made sense considering.”

“BlackWater has hospitals?” She said and as he smirked she rolled her eyes. Of course it had hospitals, it had everything else didn’t it?

“Eat Maddie, you need to get your strength up.” He said laying the tray down on her lap.

“I can’t eat all this.”

“Yeah you can.” He said pulling up a chair.

She narrowed her eyes at him and took a sip of her juice. It hurt to swallow. Her mouth felt so dry still but as she drank it got easier. She tried to pick at the fruit but her hands were too bruised to make them work.

“Here I’ll do it.” Cole said lifting up some orange segments and moving them to her lips.

“Are you going to feed me Cole?” She teased before she could stop herself and he grinned.

“Open wide.” He said more seductively than he meant and she rolled her eyes as she let him slowly feed her bits of food from the plate.

“I see you’re feeling better.” Brandon said as he walked in.

She looked up and smiled. “Hey.”

“Hey to you too.” Brandon said. “How’re you feeling?”

“Like shit.” She said and Brandon nodded.

“I reckon being buried alive probably does that.” Brandon said and Cole shot him a look.

“It’s fine Cole.” Maddie said quietly. He was going to be super protective now wasn’t he, she realised.

“Do you need anything Brandon?” Cole asked.

“I just wanted to check on my favourite Agent.” Brandon said. “Also, I thought you’d both like to know that Max is being woken up today.”

“Really?” Maddie gasped.

“Yeah. He’ll still be in ICU for a bit but he’s doing better.”

She nodded choosing not to ask about Jaz. If there was news they would have told her whether it was good or bad.

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