As though reading my mind, my phone vibrated in my pocket and it was Cal.
“Hi,” I said.
“You’re okay,” Cal said. He sounded so relieved it brought tears to my eyes.
“I’m okay, just bumps and bruises,” I said. “But Emma is stil unconscious. The doctors are with her now.”
“Have you cal ed her parents?” Cal asked.
“Um, I was just trying to decide if I should,” I said.
“Do it,” Cal said. “They won’t stay mad about the car, but they wil be angry if you don’t cal to let them know what happened.”
“You’re right,” I said. “Are you coming too?”
“Soon,” Cal said. “I only just changed back and some of the younger members of the pack are stil in wolf form. I’l come straight to the hospital as soon as I can.”
“I love you,” I said.
“I love you more,” Cal said, hanging up.
Taking a deep calming breath, I dialed Emma’s parents.
*****
Simon walked back to our seats, getting smiles and leers from the female staff as he strut his stuff across the carpet. That guy could real y work a room. I was holding two coffees and passed the second cup to Simon as he sat down.
“Oh not another one,” Simon said.
“Trust me, you’l need it,” I said.
“And why would I possibly want another caffeine concoction at this hour?” Simon asked.
“You’l want to be alert as possible,” I said. “Emma’s parents are on their way.”
Simon shut up and drank his coffee.
*****
Emma’s parents, and my own, were back behind closed doors consulting with the doctors. Fortunately for me, I was hanging out with two werewolves who could hear everything that was being said. Simon was leaning against the wal across the hal from the meeting and Cal and I were sitting together in the waiting area nearby.
I cal ed my parents when I realized that Emma’s condition was indeed serious enough to warrant an overnight stay…even though the night was nearly over. I didn’t want them to freak out, so I covered the worst of my bruises with concealer and heavy, white face powder.
Thank goodness for dramatic goth makeup—it worked wonders.
I had no idea what to tel any of our parents, but Cal arrived just before the adults and suggested I tel the truth. I made sure to omit anything to do with ghosts or werewolves, but I did include the rain of toads. They would find toads on and around Emma’s car anyway and according to Simon there were reports of the sky raining toads during micro-burst tornados. It was weird, but not necessarily supernatural weird.
The doctors were explaining Emma’s medical status to our parents. According to my eavesdropping wolves, Emma’s prognosis was iffy. She had multiple broken ribs, but the primary concern was head injury. The MRI didn’t show any damage, but Emma stil hadn’t regained consciousness. We were al supposed to just wait and see.
Waiting for news was hard, but pretending to ignore the ghosts in the room was even more difficult. My head hurt so badly when I first arrived in the emergency room that I hadn’t recognized the signs of an emerging smel impression headache. It was only when the adrenaline wore off and I was sitting in the lobby smel ing the coffee and baked goods that I realized something was amiss.
Baked goods didn’t usual y smel like feet.
Even then, I just assumed it was Simon. What? Wel , he did look rumpled, for Simon, so I figured he was wearing old socks or something. As the smel impression intensified with my growing headache, I realized that it was more of a sweaty gauze odor than dirty socks. That was my first sign to worry.
I had always tried to avoid hospitals, and anywhere else spirits of the dead had a tendency to gather, for good reason. Ghosts seemed to sense that I could feel their presence and sought me out.
Lucky me.
Currently I was being fol owed closely by ghosts that smel ed like curry, sweaty gauze, asphalt, cotton candy, and sawdust. A rose scented ghost was also flitting in and out of the waiting room at the top of every hour. It was distracting, to say the least.
My nose twitched and Cal squeezed my hand. He flashed a toothy grin, maybe a little too toothy, and bumped his hip against mine.
“Come on,” Cal said. “Let’s grab some snacks.”
“We already have snacks,” I said.
We had raided the vending machines and the Starbucks less than an hour ago.
“But it may be less crowded at the vending machine,” Cal said pointedly.
Ahhh…it would be nice to escape my stinky ghost stalkers, if even for a few minutes, and I wasn’t quite ready to face Emma’s mom and her sad makeup smudged face.
“Oh, right, I’m starving,” I said, winking.
In reality there was no freaking way I could eat a single pretzel, cheese puff, or peanut. My nervous stomach was fil ed with vampire bats and the multitude of smel impressions was making my head pound.
Cal pul ed me to my feet and signaled to Simon that we would be right back. Cal walked slowly, giving me time to limp down the hal without looking too injured.
“How are you real y?” Cal asked in a low voice.
“I’m oka…actual y I hurt al over,” I said sighing. I might as wel be honest with Cal. With him I had nothing to hide.
“I think I cracked a few ribs, but the rest are just pul ed muscles and bruises. Oh, and a nasty welt from the seat belt.”
Cal pul ed me over to a secluded corner and gently wrapped his arms around me. I sank into his arms, but didn’t squeeze. My ribs were too sore.
“Does this hurt?” Cal asked.
“No,” I said, a little breathless.
Cal raised my hand and the bel sleeve of my blouse fel back to reveal a bruised forearm. He bent down and brushed his lips over the purpling skin.
“And this?” Cal asked.
I sucked in a breath, but not because it hurt. Cal left a trail of kisses up each arm and on my bruised cheek and brought his lips to mine.
“I thought I lost you,” Cal said.
“I’m not that easy to lose,” I said. Electric tingles were running across my skin as his lips grazed mine with every word.
“Come with me next time,” Cal said.
“Next time?” I asked.
“On the next ful moon,” Cal said. “Come with me? At least that way I’l know that you’re safe.”
Oh, right, safe with a camp overflowing with
werewolves…during the full moon.
“Maybe,” I said.
“Maybe is better than no,” Cal said.
He pressed closer and kissed me until my legs started shaking.
“We should be getting back,” Cal said, eyes sparkling.
I felt a little guilty about being happy while Emma lay unconscious in a hospital bed, but I was glad to share that moment with Cal. Every experience was al the more precious when death lingered nearby.
*****
My parents were waiting for me when we returned with our snacks. Dad was leaving with Emma’s father to make arrangements for towing, and possibly repairing, her car.
He gave me a quick hug and I tried not to wince.
“You sure you’re okay?” Mom asked, as they left.
“Yeah, I’m fine, just worried about Emma,” I said. “I’m so sorry this happened. You know she was driving real y safe and everything. We weren’t horsing around or partying or anything.”
“I know, sweetie,” Mom said. “You are both good girls and Emma is a safer driver than I am.”
My mom patted me on the shoulder, letting me know that we were okay, then fluffed her hair.
“Wel , I better be off if I want to make it to work this morning,” Mom said.
Was it really morning already?
“Cal me if anything changes. And Yuki? I left our insurance information with Simon. Get yourself examined by one of the doctors before you leave.”
I guess I wasn’t pul ing the wool over my mom’s eyes.
She must have seen my bruises, or possibly my limp.
“Okay, Mom,” I said.
I didn’t want to admit it, but I was pretty sure I needed to be checked out too. The ghosts that were hanging out al around me were starting to glow, just a little. I can’t normal y see ghosts, just smel them, unless I’m wearing Nera’s amulet…and I wasn’t wearing the amulet. I went back to our seats where Cal was waiting.
“Where’s Simon?” I asked.
“In with Emma,” Cal said. “They just moved her into her own room.”
“Is she awake?” I asked excitedly.
“No,” Cal said. He shook his head and his shaggy hair fel into his eyes. “They said we just have to wait and see.
The first twenty-four hours are the most crucial, at least that’s what the doctors were saying to Emma’s mom.”
“Is her mom in the room too?” I asked.
I know it was chicken of me, but I didn’t want to face Emma’s mother. I was worried that she’d blame the evil goth girl for her daughter’s accident. That wasn’t real y a fair assessment, I knew her mom actual y liked me, but I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.
“Yes,” said Cal.
“Okay, let’s go see Emma,” I said with a sigh.
Hand in hand, we walked toward Emma’s hospital room. It was a corner room nearest the nursing station and had doors opening onto both hal ways.
“Sounds like her mom is about to leave the room and go to the cafeteria,” Cal said, smiling.
Werewolf hearing was definitely coming in handy today. I paused to see which exit Emma’s mother would use, then steered us toward the other door.
Yes, I’m a
coward.
At the door I hesitated. Cal raised an eyebrow as I held a finger to my lips, but he didn’t speak.
I knew Cal couldn’t see what I was seeing, but Simon was glowing. I tilted my head, curious, and realized that a ghost was hovering around Simon making him appear to shimmer. The smel of lavender and honey fil ed the room.
I was trying to make sense of al this when Emma twitched and opened her eyes. A look of pure relief flashed across Simon’s face, but he hid it wel .
“What are you looking at?” Emma asked, narrowing her eyes.
“I was pondering the fact that you are almost tolerable when you are unconscious,” Simon said. “Almost.”
“Almost?” Emma asked.
“Yes,” Simon said. “Unfortunately, you snore.”
“I do not,” Emma said.
“Actual y, darling, you not only snore…you drool too,” Simon said, giving an exaggerated shudder.
“Um, guys?” I said, final y interrupting. “Epic friend moment here.”
I looked at each of my friends in turn and their faces split into massive grins.
“You okay?” Cal asked, walking over and taking Emma’s hand.
“I think so…” Emma said. “My head hurts and I’m starving, but I’m sure there’s nothing in this place that I can eat.
“I found some vegan potato chips,” I said. “We just, um, got back from the vending machines.”
I could feel my face burning and knew that I was blushing.
“Okay, help me up,” Emma said.
Cal reached over and helped Emma into a sitting position and I handed over the bag of chips. Simon stood there with his hands in his pockets looking uncomfortable.
He was stil glowing, and smel ing of lavender and honey, but I didn’t say anything.
“We should get the doctors,” Cal said. “They need to know that you’re awake.”
“Good idea,” I said. “I’l go with you. We’l be right back, Emma.”
She looked tired and her eyelids were starting to droop.
“Okay,” Emma said.
With one last glance at Simon’s glowing form, I waved and fol owed Cal into the hal .
****
Cal spoke with someone at the nurses’ station about Emma and they sent staff into her room. He was about to fol ow them when I put a hand on his arm.
“I think I might need to get checked out,” I said.
Cal raised an eyebrow, but let me explain.
“I mean, I probably need to get my head examined,” I said. That made us both chuckle. “Ever since the accident, I’ve been seeing the glowing shapes of ghosts.”
“You’re not wearing the amulet?” Cal asked.
“No, I don’t even have the amulet with me,” I said. “It’s back at home. Do you think something is wrong with me?”
“How about we tel the doctors that you also hit your head in the accident and would like to get things looked at,” Cal said. “But leave out the part about seeing ghosts—for now.”
“Good idea,” I said.
We were standing beside the directory sign for the nearby elevator which let visitors know that the inpatient psychiatric wing could be accessed on the fourth floor. I shivered and bit my lip.
Cal reached out and slid his warm hand into mine. He was here with me and that gave me courage. We walked down to the Emergency Room to find a doctor. I just hoped that I was alright.
Fingers crossed, toes too.
*****
“I can’t believe they made me take my boots off,” I said, complaining to Cal.
It had taken me forever to buckle my boots. Plus, bending over with a headache was not fun. I crossed my arms and stomped my foot, which only made Cal laugh.
“I’m sure it’s just standard procedure,” Cal said.
“But I was in the ER to get my
head
checked out, not my feet!” I said.
“Wel , just be thankful they didn’t make you parade up and down the hal s in your Johnny,” Cal said.
“What?” I squeaked. “They’d do that?”
“Yes, so you see, you got off easy,” Cal said.
“I am so never coming here again,” I said. “Plus, I passed one of The Grays back there by radiology.” I rubbed my arms and tried not to think about why an evil spirit would be lurking around a hospital. Ghosts were hard enough to get used to, but The Grays were flat out creepy. They looked as if they sucked the light from the room, leaving only a dark, gray stinky splotch against the brightly lit interior.
“Did it notice you?” Cal asked.
He seemed to be taking my new ability to see the dead in stride. That was Cal through and through. He real y was made of awesome.
“Nope,” I said, smiling. “But I know one place that I’l never go on Samhain.”
We took the elevator up to Emma’s floor and walked to her room. Not knowing if she was sleeping, we approached quietly.
Emma’s mom was asleep in the one chair to the left of the room. Someone had been thoughtful enough to drape a blanket over her as she slept.
Simon hovered over Emma’s bed and we stopped at their low voices. I didn’t want to intrude, but I couldn’t help but listen.