Emerald (The Protector) - undergoing editing

Chapter 22

Sarah was bored, really bored. It had been four days since she had been shot by the arrow, and Mrs Burgess still wouldn't let her out of bed. That would have been fine if she had a computer to surf the web or at least watch a movie, but no such things existed in this world and she literally had nothing to do except stare at the ceiling, counting the cracks in the plaster to try and take her mind off her predicament. She understood why she had to remain in bed; the poison was still in her system and because they didn't know what it was, she wasn't allowed to move around for fear it might do more damage.

Why me? she thought as a tear escaped, running down the side of her cheek to the pillow below. All she wanted was her parents; she was in desperate need of one of her mum's hugs. The kind that made you feel so safe and loved.

She sighed; she couldn't even wipe her eyes.

Her arm still hurt, but she was used to the pain now and the rest of her body still felt hot and dry. She had drunk a huge amount of water over the last few days; Em was very insistent. She was off practicing her swordplay with Julian, but had promised to come back later with a book from Jason's fathers store; she would read to her after dinner. God, she couldn't even sit up and read a damn book; it was so frustrating.

Everybody had been lovely and Sarah did appreciate all their efforts, but she hated that she was still stuck in bed feeling extremely useless.

She turned her head to look at the door as she heard voices and groaned as she felt a pressing pain in her head and her vision suddenly went blurry. Whatever this poison was, it still hadn't gone and she let forth an expletive.

"Swearing Sarah, that's not like you" Emerald said light heartedly as she came into her room. She stopped smiling though when she noticed the traces of wetness on the other girls cheeks and the pain in her eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry Sar, are you in pain?"

"Just a bit" Sarah whispered.

"I'll get Julia" Emerald went to leave.

"No don't, it's cause I turned my stupid head."

"Oh, you need to be more careful."

"You think?"

Emerald smiled at her sarcastic tone, "I brought a book from Jason's store." She showed her a large volume with the title "Other World's" written in large gold lettering.

"Anything interesting?"

"Well, I haven't had a chance to look through it yet, I thought we could look through it after dinner, that is if you are feeling up to it."

"Sure, not like I can do anything else."

Emerald bit her lip "Martha and Hank are going to join us for dinner tonight; they've been worried about you."

Sarah closed her eyes "Cool, it will be nice to see them."

"Would you like me to leave?"

"No, please don't, it's nice to have company."

"Hopefully you won't be confined to bed too much longer."

"I'm going mad here Em. Do you know there are 52 cracks in the ceiling plaster? Fascinating isn't it?" she said drily.

Emerald laughed and gave the younger girls hand a squeeze "Can I get you anything?"

"No thanks Em, if I drink any more water I will need to, well you know and I'm still not comfortable with the whole bed pan thing."

"No I know, but it's just like hospitals back home."

"Not really. Do you think Julia would let me have a bath, like a proper one?"