HERO

CHAPTER SEVEN: The Warning...

        I wake up the next morning feeling drowsier than ever. I force myself to sit up in my uncomfortable bed, and look around.

        I'm all alone? Where is everyone?

        This is the first time I've been totally alone over the past couple of days. It's nice, I guess. It gives me time to think.

        I reach for my phone to check it like a normal phone addicted teen. One single message pops up onto the screen. The message is from a blocked number.

        "This isn't over..." It reads. I feel sick to my stomach and I begin to get a lump in my throat. I throw my phone down at my legs and it lands softly in the pile of sheets and blankets. It sinks deep into the pile until it's no longer visible. I pull the covers over my head tight, almost suffocating myself. Slowly shutting my eyes, I think of my future, and what it might bring me.

        "Kenzie, hey Kenzie. Wake up." A soft voice coos in my ear. I reluctantly roll over and meet the face that saved my life. A small smile forms on my lips.

        "What time is it?" I force out.

        "Time for you to go home." He peals the blankets off of me and helps me up. "Your clothes are right there on the table and your mom has already signed you out. I'll wait in the hall," he says over his shoulder, as he leaves the room.

        I shimmy out of my blood stained attire and slip on a neon pink sports bra. I pick up a red college sweat shirt, probably Austin's, and pull it over my head. Just as I shove the other leg through my black leggings, Austin walks in.

        "Ready?" he asks in a chipper voice.

        "Hell yeah," I groan. I stick my phone into the waist band of my leggings and slip on my black vans. "I'm so ready to leave this stuffy place." I slowly lower myself down into the cold padded wheel chair. As I throw my hair up into a messy bun, I'm whisked away down the hall. This is the first time I've seen the hallways on this side of the hospital. It's weird...the walls are a faded shade of tan, and medical equipment lines the sides. It smells of hand sanitizer and B.O. I pull the sweatshirt I'm wearing over my nose to mask the smell. I quickly take it away after realizing I smell worse than the hospital.

        We hit the sensor that opens the automatic doors and fresh air floods my nose. Even though it smells like gasoline and fast food, it's still fifty times better than the retched smell I endured for four days.

        "I think I could get used to this," I say, stretching my hand behind my head.

        "Yeah, whatever. Don't get to comfy." He flicks the back of my head, but only softly.

        "Take me home Mr. Mahone. I'm feeling a bit woozy," I sigh, turning my face and covering it with my hand.

        "Right away madam!" he replies in his sad attempt at a British accent.

        "Stick to American..." I snicker.

        We arrive at a jeep that I faintly remember from days ago. I push myself up, only to be swept off my feet.

        "Doc said no moving around a lot," Austin says, sliding me into black leather seat.

        "I think I can walk Austin. I think he meant no serious activity," I snap back playfully, crossing my arms over my chest.

        "Walking is pretty stressful...at least for me it is..." he mumbles. I let out a small giggle and cover my mouth with my hand to muffle it.