Breaking Gates

Chapter 5

By the time she woke up, Ally felt like she had been hit by a truck. Her neck and back were stiff, her wrist ached and her eyes felt like they were full of sand. Pritch and Harper watched your quietly, assessing if she was up for conversation. They were quick to their feet when she moved to get out of bed and groaned. Her head was killing her.

"Easy there." Harper soothed, moving to help support her.

"I'll go and start on some food, I'm sure your hungry." Pritch offered, rushing down stairs. It was nearly midnight, and most of the men were sleeping though out the house.

"You, ok?" Harper asked, feeling her tense at his question.

"Not really. I feel like my head if full of cotton, and I'm so tired and angry. I have always wanted a family, and maybe I can still have that, but in the same breath, what if I can't?" Her voice was soft as she spoke.

"I don't know if I could in good conscious let my child go through what I am right now. I feel like I am losing my mind half the time. Plus, what if it is worse for them? I just don't know what to feel right now." Ally confessed, eye the soldier.

"I think, you would make an amazing mother. From the way Asher talks about you, even if your child inherits this new cell, you would be there to help them through it. Plus, if we kill the one responsible, then maybe your kid wouldn't be affected." Harper offered.

Ally took his words to heart. If killing that monster could save her children from ever experiencing the upside down, she would go there herself and light the fucker up. Feeling slightly better, they made their way down stairs and sat at the table. Pritch had made some soup, in hopes it would sooth her and help her get some more sleep. He didn't want her sleep routine to be too badly interrupted.

The night passed slowly, with her fading in and out of consciousness. By the time the sun came up she was ready to get back to her regular routine. She still looked a little rough, her eyes still hurt and the aspirin she had taken for her wrist had worn off, but she was up and moving, and that had to count for something. With only one more day before her first Hellfire meeting, she was more than determined to look like she had at least somewhat healed.

"I look miserable." She groaned, looking at her reflection. The bruise was still prominent, the stiches Dr. Owens put in making her look a little less undead, and her wrist brace made dressing and undressing a little uncomfortable.

"You look fine. You're just picking at yourself because you're stressed, and worried about what Eddie thinks." Pritch hushed, moving to look through her closet to find her the perfect outfit.

"So, is this Eddie guy someone I should be keeping an eye on?" Harper asked, entering the room with a tray of breakfast goodies.

"No! You are not to scare him off!" Ally ordered, her face with embarrassment just thinking about it.

"Eddie, is the boy she likes." Pritch confirmed, watching as Harper smiled and nodded in understanding.

"Ah, he wouldn't happen to be the reason you decided to come out of the shadows for your final year, would he?" The Irish man asked, a teasing grin on his face.

"He isn't the only reason." She mumbled, ears burning.

"He is just the main reason." Pritch chimed, dodging a pillow gracefully.

"I also wanted to be there for my boys, I graduate this year, but they are just starting out. I want to make sure they have a good first year, since I won't be there to protect them after next summer. I also figured, what the hell, I might as well be myself, since no one really knows who I am anyway." Ally confessed. Though considering how her first week of school had gone, she didn't doubt the school would be whispering about her now.