Ghosts of July (Shamans of the Divide, Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-nine

I didn't want to open my eyes. In fact, if I'd had my way, I'd have stayed in that blissful dream-like state for at least another thousand years. It was warm and fluffy and dreamy—and quiet.

But I couldn't help but feel the rough pull coming from outside and so I followed it reluctantly.

My eyes fluttered open and it took a few seconds for me to focus. Bright fluorescent lights overhead and the hum of activity nearby.

Beeps. Clicks. Whirs. Far off voices.

A hospital.

Blinking, I forced myself to focus and look around.

I was in a hospital room, awash in dull yellow light. A bug circled the light fixture above me, crashing into the Plexiglas over and over, buzzing in frustration.

My feet were covered in a standard-issue thin blue hospital blanket, and beneath the blankets, the outline of my left leg was considerably bigger than my right. That was good—at least it was still there.

I had an IV in my hand secured down with white hospital tape. My hands were bruised and covered in scrapes. Same as my arms.

Glancing around the room, I saw Nana sitting in the chair, reading a magazine. She looked so tired.

"Hey," I said with a weak voice. My throat felt thick and sticky, so I coughed to clear it.

Nana's face brightened into a smile.

"Oh, Buttercup," she said, setting the magazine down. "I'm so happy you're finally awake."

My last memory was of Renn carrying me away from the edge of Dull Blade. I remember Leonard and Billie were there, too, but it was only Nana in the room with me. I wonder what story they'd told the hospital. I decided to play dumb.

"What happened?" I asked.

"You don't remember?"

I shook my head. Of course I remembered; I just wasn't sure exactly what I was supposed to remember for her sake.

"Honey," she said. "A couple of bears were loose in downtown and attacked whoever they ran into. Two people were killed and two were seriously injured—you included."

That sounded about right.

"Poor Lara and Deputy Willard were mauled to death," Nana said with a hitch in her voice. "You and an older gentleman were attacked at the gas station or right outside it. You both survived, but he's still in pretty rough shape. Your friends from the diner happened to drive by and found you and called for help. The county airlifted you here to Casper."

Bears. Although it seemed almost silly to me, it would probably appease the few terrified witnesses who might have seen the dzoavits.

"Your friend has been visiting you a lot," she said and looked at me pointedly. I knew that look—she wanted to know who this friend was.

"A boy?" I asked, delaying a bit.

"A very handsome boy," she said. "Who I have never met."

A very handsome boy. Indeed.

"His name is Renn," I said. "I met him at the diner. Just a friend, though."

Nana gave me a wink.

"Bring him round to the diner when I'm there sometime," she said. "Me and Lem would like to meet him."

I agreed and Nana let out a yawn.

"You should get some sleep," I said and looked at the clock on the wall. It was almost midnight.