Lies

Chapter 43

Kagami

"She's stable. Although she needs to rest for a few weeks. The bruises left on her neck punctured her vocal box. We'll need to see how she does."

It's strange. The sound. I've never heard a voice this deep. It's foreign. I feel warm. Safe. It's soft where I am.

My eyes are too tired to open. Maybe if I sleep a bit longer.

***

"She..contusion..center..talk...her." I could hear someone talking, but still not sure who.

It's cold now. Someone removed the warmth surrounding me. I try to reach for the blanket, but I feel something soft. It's warm. Not like a blanket, but close.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't there sooner, Kagami." The voice is deep. It sounds muffled.

"Please wake up. I know you're strong and stubborn. Wake up so I can see your beautiful eyes. That scowl that you always give me. Wake up so I can hear your snide comments. Give me another chance to retort. Allow me the chance to argue, smile, kiss and love you. I still need to give you your birthday present. I think you'll like it. My mother and I went to go pick it out together." He sobs and I feel the movement against my leg.

Don't cry. Why are you crying?

My hand tries to comfort whoever is speaking to me. I can't seem to figure out who though.

"Mrs. Tsurugi." I can't feel the person's warmth anymore.

"Who are you?"

Something begins to take me from my consciousness. Black clouds flood my mind. The noise sounds muffled as if I'm under water. It's dark.

***

Felix

Mrs. Tsurugi walks in as I let go of Tsurugi's hand. She hasn't made any progress since yesterday. The doctor had told me that she had a concussion. Which I had already known. The doctor had asked me what happened. I could only relay what I heard.

The idea of her being alone in that room with him was painful. Excruciating. I was of no use when she needed me. I came late. I arrived in the aftermath.

This angered me.

The doctor also told me that the police came by earlier when I was asleep. I fell asleep next to Kagami as her calm breathing soothed me enough to know I could close my eyes for a bit. She didn't move from her position and the brace around her neck made me think she couldn't, even if she wanted to.

Those marks on her neck worried me. Everything about her laying in this bed worries me. Why didn't her mother show up sooner? Where had she been?

Her mother stood at the door. Her cane underneath both her hands. She seems too relaxed for a mother whose daughter is in the hospital unconscious.

"I'm Felix Graham de Vanily." I answer.

"Graham de Vanily?" She tests the name on her tongue. Her lips pinch together as she moves them to the side. "The police had told me that you saved my daughter."

"I'm not sure I would've used that word." I stare at Kagami lying still on the hospital bed. The only indication of her being alive is her breathing and the heart monitor beeping.

"I believe if you stopped a premeditated crime, you saved her and I thank you for that." Her mother hadn't moved and I wonder if it's because I'm seated in the spot she should be standing by.

"Would you like to take my seat?" I ask.

"How does she look?" Her question catches me off guard.

My eyes scan over Kagami. How could I describe this to her? It would ruin the thought of Kagami. Her hair is unwashed, the side of her chin is bruised, her neck is imprinted with Logan's hands and her nails are broken. My fists clenched tightly.