Locks and Keys

Chapter 18

We had been waiting for hours before a nurse came into the waiting room and told us that Brook was recovering and would be allowed two visitors at a time. By this time, Brook's parents had already arrived and question us all on what happened and caused Mary to break down in tears once she had heard the whole story. She and her husband were the first to go visit Brook, obviously and they were gone for half an hour before they let Amanda and I go in. Danny and Lock trailed behind us and sat down in some chairs that were positioned outside the room, so they could both hear what we were talking about.

When I walked into the hospital room, I saw Brook with the blankets pulled up to her chest and a tube stuck up her nose. The room was filled with the steady beating of her heart rate and her heavy breaths.

"Brook! I'm so glad you're alive!" I practically screamed as I ran over to hug her. Amanda did the same, and we made a Brook sandwich, by hugging her on wither side.

"You didn't think I would kick it would you?" Brook accused with amusement in her voice.

"Dammit, Brook this isn't funny!" Amanda scolded, hitting her on the arm.

"Hey! You're harming someone who's been hospitalized!" Brook protested, still grinning.

"I must ask, Brook, who did this to you?" I asked her nervously.

"I honestly have no idea. There I was minding my own business, doing a pee, when I heard someone walk into the bathroom. I came out when I finished and before I could go anywhere, someone hit me around the head and I blacked out. That's all I remember." Brook answered, dejectedly.

"It's okay, it's not your fault the Creeper came after you! We had no control over that." I reassured her. Amanda tugged on my arm and looked at the door. On the other side of the threshold was Danny with tears in his eyes.

"I think we should leave you two for a moment." Amanda said, pulling me out of the room and pushing Danny in.

"Hey, Boston." He mumbled as we walked towards Brook.

"Oh, Ducky, now isn't time for your emotions." Brook teased, just as we closed the door. Amanda and I went over to Lock and sat down beside him.

"How's she doing?" Lock inquired.

"Same old Brook, not letting it get to her." Amanda replied with a sigh. I leant my head on my brother's shoulder and began weeping again.

"This is my fault." I admitted to them.

"No, Key, it's just like you said to Brook, we had no control over this, it couldn't have been predicted." Amanda argued and Lock nodded in agreement.

"But if I had just told someone, she wouldn't be here right now."

"You can't dwell on the 'what ifs', Key, we need to move forward and learn for our mistakes." Lock told me, as he put an arm around my shoulder. My twin was too good to be true. I sniffled and wiped my face; rubbing away any make up smudges and stray tears that were still there. Tomorrow this would end. No more texts, no more hiding and running. I was going to face this head-on.

*****

We left the hospital around at around six and Brook's parents went back into her room to look after her. I'm not sure what happened between her and Danny, but it must have been good, because when we went back in, they were holding hands and smiling at one another, all doe-eyed and in love. Just thinking about it made me laugh.

When we had got home, Mum had fluttered all over us, asking if we were okay, what had happened and if we were hungry. I had admitted to her about the texts I had been receiving and she had scolded me for not telling her sooner, but apart from that, , did our work, watched a little TV and went to bed.