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And then we waited.
32
PRESLEY
Iwoke to my dad gently shaking my shoulder. “Presley, wake up. Ink’s asking for you.”
My eyes shot open, and I jumped out of my chair positioned beside Ariel’s bed. “How is she?” I asked, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
“No changes,” my dad said. “I’ll let you know if there are.”
“Thanks,” I said and walked down to Ink’s room.
“Presley,” he breathed as soon as he saw me. “How’s Ariel?”
“She’s still sleeping,” I said carefully and leaned down to kiss him. “How are you?”
“My head hurts like a motherfucker, but I’m told that’s to be expected.”
“Yeah, it is,” I confirmed.
He scooted over and patted the bed. “Sit down, baby.”
I did and reached for his hand. “Do you remember what happened?”
“Some of it,” he said and glanced around the room. “Can’t say much about it right now.”
I nodded in understanding. “I have some things to tell you, but I need you to stay calm so your headache doesn’t get worse.”
“I knew you lied to me.”
“What?” I asked in surprise.
“About Ariel being okay. I was going to say something, but I threw up instead. Then one of your cronies silenced me with a magic potion she pulled from her pocket.”
I smiled and shook my head. “You needed it.”
“Maybe, but now I need to know about Ariel.”
I shifted uncomfortably. “She was barely conscious when we found her, and she lost consciousness moments later. She hasn’t woken up yet.”
“What happened?” he asked. “I thought she was okay. I saw her run away.”
“You didn’t see what happened to her?”
“I don’t think so. I remember seeing her standing near her car and telling her to run, but I don’t remember seeing anything happen to her.”
“She must have been running on adrenaline,” I said.
“I would imagine so,” Ink said in a way that made me think he knew something I didn’t.
“Why did you say it like that?”
Ink gently squeezed my hand. “I don’t think I saw it happen, but from what I recall, I think she had to make use of the item that belongs to you and was left in her car by your father.”
Inhaling deeply, I closed my eyes for a moment. “Yeah, that’s what we thought, too.”
“I might know it,” Ink said quietly. “I might know a lot more, and I’ll share it with you later.”
