The Boot - Next Steps (Book 2)

Chapter Thirteen

A/N: Just a heads up, since I took like a month off from writing this, I may not remember everything so there may be a few points where something is a little different but I'll try to minimize it as best as I can

LUCY'S POV

Tim left. Everyone else, too, as they had to take care of the case. Angela took Mia to the station where they'd keep an eye on her while Emiliana and I figure something out.

"Where am I going to live now?" Emiliana asks as she gets ice for my hand which I'm almost positive is broken.

"I don't know," I admit, wincing as I put the ice on my hand.

"I've really tried to turn over a new leaf, give Mia the best life possible."

"I know you have, and I'm so proud of you for it. It certainly took courage."

She opens her mouth to speak when my phone rings. I give her an apologetic look. "It's okay. Go ahead."

I answer the phone and bring it to my ear. "Hello?"

"Is this Lucy Chen?"

"Yes, this is she,"

"This is Nancy, from the hospital," she says, and my blood runs cold. The hospital? "We need you to come quickly. It's Annabeth."

"Sh!t, okay, I'm on my way. Is Tim already headed there?"

"We tried to call him, but it went straight to voicemail."

"Okay, I'll be there as soon as I can," I hang up the phone, trying to keep my anger from bubbling over. "What the f*ck is wrong with him?"

"I don't know. He just left you when he saw that you put yourself in danger. Some may call it chivalrous, but if you ask me, it was somewhat of an assh0le move."

"No, I completely agree. Especially since I'm such a hormonal mess right now, it made me feel abandoned."

"I'm sure he didn't mean it that way,"

"Maybe not, but I don't know why the hell he's acting this way."

"We'll figure this out later, but right now we need to get to the hospital,"

"But how? I don't have a car with me right now,"

"I do, I'll give you a ride. You helped me, it's my turn to help you."

"Thank you so much,"

"Don't mention it,"

We hurry to the car and book it to the hospital, making it there in record time. Neither one of us speaks until we reach the elevator.

"How's your hand?"

"If I'm being honest, I'm starting to lose feeling in my hand,"

"What? Let me see,"

"Huh?"

"I picked up on a few things in prison, it's best not to ask any questions. Let me see your hand,"

I reveal my hand just as the elevator stops and the lights go dark. The doors don't open. Emiliana reaches for her phone and activates the flashlight. It doesn't take a medical expert to tell that this is bad. My fingers are completely purple. She touches it gently, then looks at me. I shake my head. "I don't feel anything,"

"Not even if I do this?" she wiggles my finger, and again I shake my head. "Well, sh!t."

"You're telling me."

"This looks like necrosis," she feels for my pulse and frowns. "I honestly don't think that your hand is salvageable at this point. You'll likely have no choice but to amputate. If you don't, the tissue death will just get worse and spread further. To areas where it's much more dangerous."