Beech - Legend of the Dryads, Book 2

Chapter 6

It had been a surprisingly easy task to sneak into Todd's room the second time. The receptionists at the desk had been chattering avidly between themselves, so hadn't noticed Jayne when she crept through the foyer to get to the far stairs. What was more, she had yet to come across the huge, body-building doctor who had chucked them out last time. Still, she held her breath, darting away from the gazes of the other nurses.

Jayne stood with her back against the closed door, regarding Todd's unconscious form. She felt guilty for leaving her mother at home in the feeble state she was in, but at least Sue had insisted that she was okay to look after her for a but until Jayne returned.

What the ghost girl (or Beech, as Jayne had been advised to call her) had suggested had got Jayne thinking. Could she really wake Todd up from whatever influence he was under? A part of her didn't want to believe it; didn't want to think about what that would mean if it really was true. Todd was...something. She couldn't quite figure out what, but the whole fact that he had been in alliance with her father last year, being his personal messenger throughout the fight with the Dryads, meant that he knew something. Jayne had a million questions, and she didn't even know what a lot of them were yet – would Todd be able to give her the answers she sought?

Jayne gasped when a strong hand grabbed the top of her arm and yanked her backwards. She collided into  another body behind her, and a second firm hand clamped around her mouth. She writhed. Her squeal was absorbed by the palm of her captor.

"Shhhhh!" urged a voice into her ear. "Do you want them to come in here and find us? Again?"

The angry hands let her go, and Jayne turned to see Tara's all too familiar what-the-hell-do-you-think-you're-doing expression.

"What were you thinking, standing in front of the door's window?" she whispered angrily, "it's as if you want to get caught!

"What are you doing here?" Jayne rebuked, stepping away from her crazy best friend and righting herself. Tara widened her eyes and exaggerated placing a finger against her lips, warning Jayne to quieten her words.

"Funny," she whispered in return, her voice dipped in sarcasm. "I was about to ask you exactly the same question. You must be psychic." She shoved her hands onto her hips and regarded Jayne was a look of accusation. "What happened to having to stay with your mother all day?"

"What happened to being at school?" Jayne retorted.

Tara peeled her hands from her hips and instead crossed them in front of her chest, her new stance still reeking of the same level of defiance. "You mean face grumpy old Mr Stewell on my own? No thank you! You left me, remember?"

It was then that they both noticed the rise in volume their voices had made. The girls held their breath and listened tentatively for any approaching footsteps.

Nothing.

Jayne's eyes again found Todd, who was breathing rhythmically. Anyone would have thought that he was simply in a deep sleep. Jayne looked carefully for any sign that he might be under some kind of magic spell, but he looked completely normal. Well, for someone who was in a coma, that is.