Waiting for Amber Skyy

Chapter 42

I woke up the next morning sore and groaning. The fresh bandages I put on last night folded in the most uncomfortable of places. Rolling onto my side I pulled at them in hopes of evening them properly. But it was no use. I rolled over and pushed myself up to a sitting position and started unraveling them. The stain was pinker than yesterday, but I definitely was still bleeding. I heard a soft groan next to me and the sheets curled up around the pillows.

"Morning sleepyhead," I rubbed Speck's back as she held the sheets over her. She moved from me, and I reached to nudge her but she flinched away. I sighed and stood up, holding the used bandages and heading to the bathroom. "We have until noon," I breathed, closing the door behind me.

I came out with fresh bandages, not too thick as I wasn't bleeding too much, and semi-controlled hair. I grabbed a brush to take this time in order to at least somewhat tame it. I was struggling to put it all up in a ponytail when I heard the TV blare on. I jumped and looked towards the newscaster speaking to us, then looked over to see Speck sitting up with the remote in hand. She didn't look at me as I sat down next to her. Her eyes were glued to it but I could tell her focus wasn't entirely on politics. As much as I wanted to embrace her and tell her everything will be okay, I knew it wouldn't do much. I leaned back on my arms and stretched my wings, watching intently with her.

Minutes passed, then half an hour passed, and my stomach was rumbling louder after every story. I gazed over at Speck who was still watching the screen. I sighed. She didn't look my way. I let out a deep sigh and still nothing. I pinched the bridge of my nose, "I'm going to get some breakfast. It's free, if you want any."

I waited for a response, but still, nothing. I grabbed my shoes and slipped on my dark windbreaker, grabbed a key, and got up to leave. I paused at the door in hopes she'll tell me she wants all the pancakes they have. She didn't look at me. My heart sank as I closed the door.

𓆩 ────── 𓆪

With four bags filled with food stuff and two large orange juices in hand, I scrambled with the door key. I had to kick the door to keep it open and nearly dropped a juice. Catching it at the last second, I narrowed my eyes at Speck still glued to the TV. She laid on her belly and her head rested on her arms. I saw her nose twitch at the smell of food and I huffed.

"Here," I dropped one bag next to her and put two of them on the desk. I took one and sat down next to her, where she tore into the bag feverishly. Oh sure, now you're hungry. She took a bite of the eggs and kept her eyes on the screen. I rolled my eyes and opened my bag, the smell of bacon drifting up and sending chills through me. I bit into the warm, buttery toast and opened my second box of bacon and sausage when a scream caught me off guard. My toast bounced off my knee and onto the floor as my ears focused on where it came from. My eyes turned towards the TV.

It was a video of the accident.

A shop's camera pointed at the street, capturing the backup of cars. It was in monochrome and not in the best quality, but I could see the frustrated drivers' faces. Then the screen rattled, pixelating at the edges until it came to a stop. People stepped out of their vehicles, their attention in front of them, black smoke now crawling towards the area. Then a person turned tail and ran, a few of their mouths widening in shouts of terror, scrambling for their belongings and other passengers and tearing away just as a large furred creature leaps into frame, freezing. I swallowed.

"A horrid monster was reported on scene and is assumed to be the cause of this horrible crash," a female newscaster spoke as the camera honed in on the pixelated Eraser. "Storefront cameras caught the creature in action, lunging after bystanders as they attempted to flee."