Page 848 of Coal Hearts

I flinched and ran my fingers along my neck.

I stilled.

No collar.

My heartrate picked up as I looked at my arms.

No cuffs.

“I...I’m so sorry, Krish, but someone took it and—”

“It’s okay. I’ll get you another.”

“That would be amazing. Thank you.”

He nodded as my fingers returned to my neck, tracking a thick bandage.

Victor.

I remembered him cutting me.

How everything had gone slowly weak and wobbly.

A crack of gunfire.

Peter!

I jack-knifed up in bed.

A machine beeped loudly to my right as my pulse skyrocketed. Pain lashed through me. A deep, syrupy kind of pain that lurked in my very veins. I gasped for breath, willing the discomfort to subside. “Peter. Has anyone seen Peter?”

“Peter?” My mum wrinkled her nose. “No, I haven’t heard that name. There’s a Rachel and a few others. And the man who owns this place is called Quincy, I believe. Oh and there’s Tess and Franco and Suzette, but no Peter.”

“She’s looking for a Henri too,” Krish said helpfully.

“Oh. No.” Mum wrinkled her button nose. “I haven’t seen him either, I’m afraid.”

Wrenching back the covers with feeble arms, I went to stand.

Only...two men walked into the room.

I froze as my eyes locked on the one beside my father even as my dad charged to my side and bundled me into his arms. He kissed my entire face as madly as Mum had, his tears mingling with mine. His bushy beard and shaggy hair looked far too unkempt for a renowned cardiologist.

“Oh, thank goodness. Thank goodness.” He cupped my cheeks. “I can’t believe you’re here. That you’re awake. How’s your heart? It restarted approximately eighteen hours ago but sometimes those who have been defibrillated suffer dangerous arrhythmia. The doctors who cared for you have been wonderful. They ensured you had two transfusions and were stitched to the best of their care, but I would still like to assess you myself.”

Defibrillated?

Transfusions?

My mind swam with words that made no sense.

“I’m okay, Papaji.” I cupped his weathered whiskered cheek. “I’m a little sore but honestly, I feel better than I have in a while.”

He probably thought I was crazy for saying that. For actually meaning it. But it was true. After a month in a dungeon and hardly any food, followed by a month of being chained to a wall watching Henri being tortured...this was easy.

A holiday compared.

“Wait.” I blinked, the words finally making sense. “My heart stopped?”