Pulse (On Hold)

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

I make an effort to attend to Renee as soon as I manage to snap out of the hysteria. Trust me, I really don't like blood. I lie her down in my bed, change her into a pair of warm, comfy pyjamas, put fluffy socks on her feet, comb through her tangled hair, drape a cold flannel over her sweaty forehead and clean the deep wound on her neck.

It makes me wonder why nobody came to her aid sooner. Obviously she had been walking barefooted for a while judging by her black, dirty feet. If she had come from her house, surely one of her neighbours would have offered her help? I mean she was practically bleeding to death.

 Who did this to her?... And why did they use her to give a message to Logan? I know Renee. Off the netball court she wouldn't hurt a fly. She's the most kind and gentle person I've ever met. It pains me to know that she just keeps getting abused over and over again. First her father, then the incident and now this!

Why must terrible things happen to good people? The world just doesn't make much sense anymore. I just don't understand why Renee was brought into all this!

What has she ever done to deserve being treated so poorly? She's not a pawn in Logan's games. So why did this woman hurt her? It's not like Logan would really care if anything happened to Renee. Maybe it was just to intimidate him? You know, make him fear that she'll maim someone else if he doesn't produce what she desires?

Now I'm wondering what Logan stole from her. It has to be valuable, other wise she wouldn't have done what she did. Maybe he took her money, jewellery, car or something? But who in their right mind would hurt an innocent girl to get what they want? Especially when she doesn't have anything to do Logan what so ever?

A piercing scream fills my ears and I almost fall off the bed in shock. Renee quickly shots up out of bed, her body rigid as her wide eyes look around the room desperately. She looks like she doesn't know where she is.

"Renee," I speak softly, standing in front of her to slowly caress the cheek that isn't bruised. "It's okay, you're safe now." Renee's eyes fills with unshed tears again. It's breaking my heart to see her so frightened and broken. "Please go back to bed. You need to rest." Renee's hazel orbs flicker onto mine for only a fleeting second before she shoves me out of her way.

"He's coming," is the only explanation she gives me, before she begins to creep on her tiptoes around my room. What the hell? "He's coming. He's coming. He's coming." She just keeps saying the same thing over and over again.

"What are you talking about?" I demand, as I watch her through narrowed eyes as she opens drawers and searches through nothing in particular. "Renee?" I call out to her, but she doesn't seem to hear me at all. She just keeps rummaging through my tidy belongings.

"Where's your vervain?" Renee screeches, her voice thick with distress. She's throwing my things out of her way now, determined to find what I presume is vervain. "God, Emerald! Why'd you hide the vervain from me?"

I freeze in my tracks. Renee has never yelled at me before. Not once. So why is she all of a sudden yelling at me and accusing me of something I didn't do?

"He said you'd have some... That Logan would never leave you unprotected, Emerald." The way she says me name makes me recoil away from her. She's never sounded so hateful before. Not towards me at least. "Give it to me." I give her a confused look. What is she talking about? "Damn it Emerald. Give it to me!" The sheer crazy look in her eyes tells me there's something really wrong with her.

"Who's he, Renee? I thought it was a woman who hurt you," I'm starting to get really frustrated by this situation. I have so many questions that I need answers to. But Renee is in no state to answer my questions.