Little Red

Chapter 24

Beep. 

Beep. 

Beep.

I groan at the annoying sound.

Opening my eyes, I'm greeted by the familiar tiles of the hospital ceiling. 

How many times have I been here already?

Far more than I'd like, that's for sure. 

"You're up."  A deep voice says.

I sit up quickly to see someone I never thought I would see again.  At least, not holding a candlelight vigil at my bedside, if the dark rings under his eyes and stiff posture are to be believed.

"Demitri?"  I ask in complete confusion.  

He's sitting close to my bed, electric blue eyes staring at me with...is that joy in his eyes?

I must be seeing things.

My eyes snap down to the bed, where his hand is holding my own.  

What happened?

"There was...a situation."  He seems to trail off, but those blue eyes hold my gaze.  "You're in the pack hospital, but you're recovering. 

I try to recall the last thing I remember, but all I can grasp through the fragments of memory is a strange dream...

"It's about time."  A new voice muses.

I tear my eyes away from the perplexing sight to see another familiar face, wearing an uncharacteristic smile.

Samuel enters carrying a tray and shuts the door behind him with his foot.  He walks over and places it on the table attached to the bed, sliding it in front of me.  Once that's set up to his liking, he sits in the chair at the end of my bed, all while wearing that strange smile.

My eyes flicker warily between Demitri and Samuel's tired yet smiling faces.  It's unnerving.

"What's going on?" I ask hesitantly, pulling my hand from Demitri's to rest it in my lap with my left hand.  I don't miss the way his smile drops at my actions before quickly pulling back up again.  I also try to ignore the emptiness in my chest at the loss of contact.  "You're both acting off, somehow."

"Well, what's the last thing you remember?"  Demitri asks, looking hesitant all of a sudden.

I look at the corner of the room as I think.  I have a feeling it has something to do with my weird dream.

It takes awhile, but I finally recall what happened.  

The clearing.

The wolf.

The fight.

Then, darkness.

"I remember a fight."  I say questioningly, sounding unsure even to myself.

In my peripheral, I see Demitri's smile falter but Samuel nods somewhat encouragingly.

"Yes, that's right."  He confirms, his dark eyes sincere.  "It was brave."

"How are you feeling?"  Demitri quickly asks, causing me to look at him.  He sounds.....worried.  I push down the tangle of emotions ripping through me at his presence.

"Okay I guess."  I say, unsure.  I look away from him, instead focusing on the thin woven blanket covering me.  "How long have I been out?"  I ask after a moment, directing the question to Samuel with a glance.

"5 days." Samuel deadpans.

I balk at his words, looking up at him in shock.

"5 days?"  I breathe.  "5 days..."