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In one instant, all the haze of lack of sleep vanished.
In one instant, I became thankful Iris wasn’t in my arms because my limbs weakened. Everson grabbed me around the waist to keep me from falling.
In an instant, I couldn’t stop my hands from reaching inside and pulling out the familiar teddy bear I’d dragged around from the time I could walk until it was ripped from my hands.
The worn fur.
The one remaining eye.
The face I’d kissed so much as a toddler, only a wire remained as a tongue.
Worlds collided as I held my childhood in my hands and watched it morph into my worst nightmare. The bear’s stomach had been ripped to shreds.
Seven long slices.
But the finishing touch was a yellow scarf wrapped tightly around its neck. Mental torture stifled a scream as I turned my head and vomited.
***
I had no idea what day it was, where I was, or who was around. My eyes felt huge and puffy, and although I knew someone had given me a sedative, sleep had been anything but restful.
How many days have I been out?
Iris.
I raised my head, called her name, and violently shook as flashes of that damn bear rolled through my memory.
“Hey, stop that. If you think you’re getting up, you’re crazy.”
Who the hell?
“Faith?”
His unmistakable chuckle bristled my dulled senses. “I know I can hit some high notes, but let’s not get carried away, princess.”
“Julian?”
“Rest, baby.”
“Why are you here?” Dizziness claimed me, darkening my clouded vision.
“Because you needed me.” Familiar full lips grazed my throat as he tucked the blanket around me. Immediately, the shaking stopped. His touch had always been a salve to my soul.
“Iris…”
“Iris is fine,” he assured me with a hand against my cheek. “I may be new at this dad thing, but little princess and I have this thing covered. You sleep.”
I needed him to know about the bear. I was sure Everson and McKellan filled him in, but I had to let him know the significance of the yellow scarf. “Julian, you need to know what happened.”
“Baby, I know. I saw it. I don’t want you to worry anymore. I’ve got everything handled. You’re safe. I swear to god, you’re safe.”
“But you don’t understand what he means,” I protested, the light circling as my lids lowered. Why the hell couldn’t I stay awake? “You don’t know what…”
I never finished.
***
I stared at the little blue pill in my hand.
