Page 1 of Tethered

Chapter One

Flashes of light. Yelling. I hear my name spoken, first as a plea and then as a bargain, but my mouth refuses to reply.

Hands push on my chest. I want to scream that it hurts, that I can feel my bones cracking from the force, but I can’t make my body respond. Lips move over mine, forcing air into my lungs as the heavens open and rain pelts down over me. The darkness pulls me under again, and I let it, drifting away into the nothing for what feels like an eternity.

Voices drag me back to the surface. I try to ignore them, happy to stay here where it’s safe. But like a person who won’t go away, they don’t relent, working my last nerve. When I open my eyes, I wince at the light, closing them again immediately.

“Calliope?”

I turn my head toward the voice, startling when I feel a hand on my cheek. I crack my eyes open once more, and there he is. Austin fucking Dyer. My angel of death.

“Why won’t you just let me die?” I croak, the incessant beeping speeding up.

He looks like I’ve wounded him, but I don’t care. “Please listen to me,” he says softly.

I shake my head. “Fuck you. Just go. Go!” I scream.

“Opie?”

I turn at the sound of Riggs’s voice, and relief washes over me. I don’t realize I’m reaching for him until he’s beside me, his arms cradling me gently as I sob into his shoulder.

“Make him leave. Please make him leave.”

“You heard her. I think it’s time for you to go.” Only that’s not Riggs; that’s Shepard. I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down, but holy fuck, that hurts.

“Careful. You have a few cracked ribs. You’ll need to take it easy for a while,” Riggs murmurs.

I hear shuffling. Austin is leaving, thank god.

“How long was I out?”

“Three long fucking weeks. I swear to god, you pull something like this again, I’ll spank your ass until it blisters. You scared the shit out of me.” I hear the break in his voice and tighten my grip.

“I’m sorry.”

“What the fuck happened, Calliope? That fucker wouldn’t tell us anything other than the fact you collapsed.”

“That’s what I want to know,” Shepard grunts.

Riggs pulls back so Shepard can move in. He rests his forehead against mine and breathes me in. He doesn’t say anything for a minute, just drawing comfort from me being alive. The questions will come, questions I don’t know how to answer.

“When can I go home?”

“You were in a coma, Poppy. They only weaned you off the breathing tube two days ago.”

“I’m okay now.”

“You were bleeding from your fucking ears and eyes. Don’t tell me you’re okay. I?—”

I reach up and cup his jaw. “I’m sorry I scared you.”

He pulls away, and I see a shutter fall over his eyes. “I have to get back. I’ll come see you later.”

“Okay.” My voice comes out small, prompting Riggs to move in closer.

“I just…I can’t keep losing people, Calliope. I’m sorry,” Shepard says gently. He’s trying not to hurt my feelings, but it’s far too late for that. I don’t let it show, though.

I blank my face and offer him a polite smile. “It’s fine. Goodbye, Sheriff.”