The Key to My Hart

Chapter 28

My breaths were too shallow. A rib had pierced my lung. I could feel blood filling it up. I choked and spat out some blood. How was I still alive? There must be some things my body couldn't heal from.

Apparently a collapsed lung wasn't one of those things. The blood purged itself from my body, coming out of my nose and mouth as my lung healed back up. Peter stood back, looking a little yellow.

"Fuck. Are you dying? You can't die yet!" He placed his instrument of torture on the little stand.

I was back to forward facing. I had no recollection of when he turned me back around. I hadn't hallucinated any of the guys again. Disappointment filled me at the thought that Chogan hadn't made an appearance. I really needed to see him. Even if it wasn't real.

At the rate Peter was going, I'd be dead soon. Or wishing I was. I heaved a deep breath, thankful both lungs were working properly. I ignored Peter as he cleaned around me. He threw a soapy bucket of water on my naked flesh. I shivered. So far, I hadn't gotten any infections, but I'm not sure being splashed with soapy water would have helped any.

Peter sighed. "You not dying is starting to take the fun out of this."

"Well I'm not going to apologize for living." I croaked. "You psycho."

I bit the inside of my lip as his hand met my face. I didn't even flinch that time. He scowled and stomped away, taking the lantern with him. I was left in the dark for the first time since I was placed down here. I shivered. The cold didn't effect me the way it used to, but I wasn't immune to it.

With Peter losing interest in assaulting me, my body was finally starting to fully heal and regulate. Which meant the pain was subsiding, and I was starting to notice the cold. Goosebumps raised along my arms and legs. The metal table was soaking up what little body heat I was producing.

With Peter paying me less attention, maybe I would finally figure out a way to escape. He was still only feeding me soup once a day. Or I assumed it was once a day. The lack of nutrients and an over medication of iron pills was the first problem I would have to tackle. I could attempt to refuse the food again. Maybe knock the bowl out of his hands.

I licked my cracked and bleeding lips, trying to provide moisture but only making it worse. The only sound in the room was my own labored breathing. I yanked on my right arm, but it was no more than a gentle tug.

I started to imagine all the different ways I would kill the fake priest. Decapitation? No... he needed a slower death. Maybe I'd gut him and let his innards fall to the floor. Or I could bleed him out slowly. He would deserve that, but I didn't want the chance of him being saved by the ignorant people of this town.

Thinking of Josh and Lacy still stung. I really hoped they hadn't drank my blood. Or if they did, there wouldn't be any negative side effects. It was wishful thinking. Josh must have followed me that day. I didn't blame him for his anger. He had basically witnessed a biter turn back into something that resembled a human. There was always the possibility of truth in what Josh had said.

If I had shared my blood with the brute, then maybe he could have recovered his mind if not his body. I would never know now. Wasn't sure if I wanted that knowledge. If there was a chance my blood helped the biters regain their minds... then I had killed a lot of innocent people.

"Don't think about it, Hart." I gave myself a pep talk in the pitch black room. "The vaccine not only took their minds, it also mutated their body. If I had truly become a biter and lost my mind, I don't think I would want to come back knowing how many people I had killed or eaten."

"Shit!"

I jerked at the voice. "Who's there?" I willed myself to remain calm and steady.

Silence. A long moment passed. Was I hearing voices now? That would go perfectly well with my hallucinations. Add to the crazy. That sounded fantastic.