Crossed Keys

Chapter Fourteen - Strike

Every part of me was stiff.

Voices called excitedly around me, but they were merely a dull hum. The light in the space was right—forcing me to blink while trying to see what was going on. But each time I opened my eyes, a sharp, stabbing pain made me groan and close them again.

"It's okay." A familiar voice told me. "Just a few minutes and you'll be okay—someone turn off the lights."

Pause.

"Okay, baby. Try again."

Baby? I'm single.

Still, I blinked and opened my eyes just a little.

No pain.

I opened them wider and looked up into the face of the man who'd called me baby. I knew then I was dreaming. Dash was back on his island, ignoring my calls and my messages.

There was no way he was there, holding my hand, feathering kisses against my forehead and cheeks. He wasn't there caressing my cheeks, his teardrops falling to my face, burning into my skin.

Dash was on his island, no falling in love with me, not trying to comfort me.

I tried to push him away, but couldn't even lift my hand.

Time passed.

The tube was removed from my throat and soon the room quieted down. Bright left me alone with Dash and I couldn't seem to look at him.

"Dash kho tod." He finally spoke. "I should have told you Code called. But I realized that he was probably much better for you. And I know, it was a dumb thing to have thought—I couldn't help it."

When I tried speaking, my throat was too dry.

Dash must have realized what was happening because he poured some water into a cup, stuck a straw in it and helped me to drink. I drank the entire thing.

"More?" He asked.

I nodded.

After the second cup, he helped me to sit up with pillows behind my back. When he sat again, Dash exhaled loudly.

"It hurts being away from you." He admitted. "I know you're angry at me. And you probably don't want me here. But please let me take care of you until you're better. Then I'll leave."

Closing my eyes, I rested my head back to the pillow.

Bright came back and stood beside my bed.

"Can I—talk to you—alone?" I managed.

Fear filled Dash's eyes.

"Did you two work things out?" Bright asked.

"It—it's okay." Dash scrambled to his feet. "I'll go to the waiting area."

I said nothing.

Bright tried stopping Dash from leaving, but he left anyway and closed the door behind him.

"What's going on?" Bright sat in the chair Dash had vacated. "I gave you two some time to talk."

"I don't know if I want to go there again." I spoke slowly.

"He came all the way here for you." Bright explained. "Even though being here causes him panic attacks. He's had three since he's been here."

"Panic attacks? How long has he been here?"

"Three days. He was attacked here when he was a teen—he almost died." Bright leaned back in his chair and stretched his foot out in front of him. "When he heard you were sick, he got on a train and braved his fears and got here—hell, he even took out Code."