Page 128 of The Cannibal

“What is it?” It came out as a tired whine.

The lack of answers was only making things worse. My head began to throb, so did my body. Everything was in a fog, I could barely remember the questions that came and went from my mind on how I got here in the first place. There was a needle in my arm, a tube of blood connected to one of my apparatuses, blood remaining in the cylinder for transfusion.

“We found you on the sidewalk,” Silas said. He sat on the edge of the bed, brushing my damp hair from my face. His hand felt cold against me for once. But the clamminess of my skin made me shrink up.

“I fell on the sidewalk?” I tipped my head back. “I was doing so well. I thought my seizures would have stopped by now.”

Silas looked to Luka again.

“Stop looking at him!” I screamed, sitting up sharply before the dizziness took over. “Everyone leave!” My voice cracked as I pulled the needle and tube from my arm, the apparatus knocking from the bedside and the glass shattering on the floor.

“Stop, you’ll hurt yourself.” Silas took my hands, forcing me on my back again with my head against the pillow.

The team scattered.

Luka quickly pushed the remaining doctors and staff out, pressing the door firmly behind them.

“Tell me!” I screamed in his face. “Tell me what happened or I will pull all my hair from my head and strangle you with it!” I seethed.

Silas held me down as I squirmed, leaning over me as he waited for me to calm down.

The outburst was short-lived. There was nothing left of me to fight. Everything was hurting, even to think was causing me such acute pain I thought a medical sharp through the temple would be more comfortable.

“You took a fall,” Silas said very slowly, “from the rooftop.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I slept.”

“Maybe after the fall, surely,” he said positively.

“Don’t do that,” Luka sneered at him. “Do you think this is funny?”

“Of course not,” Silas snapped. “I’m trying not to distress her.”

“Then unhand her, you fool.” Luka wiped his face with his palm. “She’s awake, that’s good.”

“Where’s Phoebe?” I mumbled. “I did fall asleep. In her room. I was reading . . .” The more I tried to remember, the worse it got. I had to close my eyes to keep it from affecting my stomach.

“It’s all right, you just need to rest. At least for the day. No exceptions,” Silas said sternly. “Phoebe will visit. John asked to see you too.”

“John?” I breathed a sigh of relief. “He is well?”

“Recovering slowly,” Luka interjected, “as you will too, if you allow it.”

“I’m putting Sidney outside your room.” Silas brushed his fingers through my hair. He must have felt my breathing pick up. “Just to make sure no one bothers you,” he assured me. “I would prefer you stay on bedrest as your legs heal.”

“My legs?”

“You broke them.” He winced. “We set them, it won’t be more than a day or two of healing if you don’t agitate them.”

I moved my legs, the compression of the bandages noticeable now.

“Fine,” I breathed, closing my eyes. “Fine.”

“That’s my girl,” Silas whispered, pressing a kiss to my cheek before the bed adjusted to his absence.

If I stayed very still, the pain would fade just enough so as to not be nauseated over it. The curtains hushed as someone pulled them over the window, only a sliver of light peeking between them. It did help my head when the shadows cast over the room.

“Tell Sidney he’s not allowed to take a single step from the spot he’s in now,” Silas said lower to Luka, but I heard him perfectly fine.