Page 102 of Breathing Her Fire

NATALIE

Waking up with machines beeping and the low burn of pain is still disorienting despite knowing where I am now. I haven’t been able to get anyone to tell me what happened or why my skin feels like it’s on fire.

I’ve tried to take inventory of my injuries, but the meds have my brain in a fog and the pain at a minimum. My head’s the worst of it right now. It feels like a massive anvil has landed on my skull like those old cartoons. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are stars spinning around my head right now.

I peel my eyelids open and look around the room, surprised to find it empty. Taking advantage of the moment alone, I lift up the covers to look at my body. The movement causes the bandages on my arm to stretch and pull at my skin, which feels weird and not like it normally does.

I see bandages covering my legs and move my hospital gown out of the way to see bandages on my abdomen as well. I must’ve been in a serious accident to require all of this.

I wish I could remember what happened, but it’s all blank. Tucker was about to tell me but the nurse interrupted us before he could. What could have freaked him out so quickly? And why didn’t he tell me what it was?

Mom hasn’t told me anything either, and it’s almost like she refuses to talk about it now. When I brought it up earlier, she told me we’d talk about it later, but then I fell asleep before I could press her any further.

I see my friends hanging outside of my room and use the remote to raise my head to sit up. I feel like my body barely has the strength to keep my eyes open, let alone try to sit up by myself.

Megan sees me moving and immediately comes into the room.

“Hi, there. Glad to see you’re awake.”

“I feel like a puppy who passes out in two seconds without the chance to play very hard.”

Megan laughs and sits down in the chair next to my bed. “Your body’s been through a lot, so it’s not a surprise you can’t stay awake.”

“Yes, but what has it been through? No one will tell me anything.”

She looks out in the hallway at Cooper and Todd, who have their heads together.

“It would be better if Cooper told you what’s going on because I don’t know all of the details.”

I give her a hard look because I’m tired of them purposefully keeping me in the dark.

Megan sighs. “Fine, let me go get him.”

Grabbing Cooper’s attention, she beckons them into the room. Before they can say anything, I start. “I know you’re going to try and sugarcoat whatever happened to me, but I don’t want to hear it. Tell me the whole story, and don’t make it sound better than it is. My skin is on fire, I have bandages everywhere, and I know something big went down, so tell me what the fuck happened.”

The three of them stare at me with wide eyes because they weren’t ready for my outburst. I just raise my eyebrow and wait for someone to start talking.

Cooper clears his throat. “Um... Tucker said the last thing you remember is your mom helping you pack?”

I nod my head despite the pain shooting through my skull.

“Well, we aren’t sure on the specifics, but it seems someone... set fire to your house, and Tucker had to rescue you. You’ve got second and third-degree burns and lost your spleen from internal damages.

“You also had to be put into a coma because your brain was swelling, but since you woke up, it’s less of a concern.”

I narrow my eyes at Cooper. He looks at Todd and Megan and then back at me before looking at the floor.

“What else?”

“What do you mean?” His eyes find mine again but don’t stay there.

“There’s something else you aren’t telling me. What is it?”

Cooper sighs. “When Tucker rescued you, he found you… um… handcuffed to the headboard of your bed.” He reaches behind his head and squeezes his neck, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation.

“Handcuffed to the bed? I don’t understand.”

“We’re not exactly sure of the details, but we think the person who set fire to your house must’ve handcuffed you to your bed so you couldn’t get away.”

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