The Gentle Sniper

Chapter 17: Unexpected Sting Part 2

Astrid shot up in her hospital bed, before just as quickly doubling over as a bout of coughing racked her body. Once the coughing subsided, she examined her hands, with bubbly red skin covering the back of both, contrasting against the pale smoothness of her palms.

"Great," Astrid said in a rasp.

"Hello neighbour," said a voice, coming from her right.

Looking over, she was met with a girl with blue eyes, blonde hair and a large chest sitting up in bed, a phone in her lap.

"Hello. Cami, right?" Astrid returned.

"Yep." Cami nodded, looking her in the eye before her eyes drifted to her hands. "That looks painful. Does it hurt?"

"No, it mostly feels dry and itchy. But my throat feels worse."

"Yeah, breathing in smoke doesn't sound nice."

"So, has anything happened since the fire?"

"Well, I imagine Krogan and Grimmel are long gone by now. Nobody died in that fire either, which is good."

Then, Cami's voice dropped to a whisper as she gazed at her lap. "Nobody died," she murmured, her hands curling around her body like she was hugging herself while repeating the words to herself, quieter each time she said it.

Nobody lost anyone like I lost Ben, Cami thought to herself, while she kept her hands wrapped around her torso.

"Alright then." Guessing the conversation was over after thirty seconds passed with no further response from Cami, Astrid threw back the white duvet on her bed, then stood up and headed for the door that was across the room on her left.

Crossing the room while holding her hospital gown closed with one hand, her bare feet traversed the cold tile as sunlight entered the room through the white curtains behind her.

Opening the door, Astrid found her way blocked by a seven-foot-tall red-haired mountain of a woman, who had just been about to enter, judging by how she had a hand reaching for the handle of the door. "I see you're awake. Good. I was just about to find out how you're doing on Mala's behalf, but I can see that is a non-issue."

"Not intending to sound rude at the moment, but who are you? And where is Mala? I'd like to speak to her about some things."

"DSIS agent Bertha Boggs," the woman introduced herself, looking down at Astrid. "I'm here to speak with my daughter. Mala is in the next room over," she added, stepping aside and pointing past Astrid down the corridor.

"Thank you. And nice to meet you. I'm Officer Hofferson."

"Nice to meet you as well, officer Hofferson."

Leaving Bertha behind, Astrid entered the room on her left that the DSIS agent had pointed out.

"-let Hofferson and the others know when they're up and about, alright?" she heard Mala say as she slowly opened the door.

"Yes, Chief," nodded Heather before glancing her way. "Speaking of Astrid..." the raven-haired woman pointed at the door.

Mala looked at Astrid, smiled, then stood up. "Well, that saves you some explaining. I'll take my leave now."

"Well, your voice seems to be in better shape than mine," Astrid rasped. "How did you manage that?"

"Guess I was just luckier than you," Heather winked before frowning. "Raven Point police station burned down, Krogan and Grimmel escaped and we're all transferring to Berk Central until they rebuild it. However long that takes."

"Sounds like a mess."

"You got that right, Astrid Freyja 'raspy' Hofferson ."

"I can easily make you as raspy as I am right now. I'll just need my hands and your neck."

"Yeah, yeah. Threaten me later, Astrid. You should go see your sister and your dad in those beds over there."

Following Heather's finger with her eyes, Astrid spotted them lying in the beds beside Heather's own, the only sign they were alive being the rise and fall of their chests.

Wordlessly, Astrid scrambled over to them, sitting beside her sister's bed and running her right hand through her sister's hair while gazing at the mostly still form of her father.

There was the sound of the drawing back of a duvet and footsteps across the carpet before Heather joined her, sitting beside her and gently taking Astrid's left hand in her own.