H Is For Human (Garlic Is For Vampires, Book 3)

Chapter 14: Broken

I saw my body twitch on the ground. People were surrounding me, some desperately calling for 911. I saw the blood coming from my head. The bruises were forming on my body, and my skin seemed to split open along my arms and the back of my neck where I made impact with the concrete ground. I was on my side, and I didn't look like I was in pain. I didn't look like I was breathing, either.

So was I dead if I was hovering over my own body? This couldn't have been Astro-projection. I wasn't asleep-I was dead. I just fell from the roof of a-I looked up at the top of the building-20 foot story building. I looked around, but I didn't see anyone I knew.

"Bree!" Matt screamed from within the crowd. He came through and I reached out to him, but I stopped. I was just a spirit; I wasn't even sure if I was a spirit. I dropped my hand and watched as he crouched down beside my body. He brushed my hair aside and noticed the drying blood. He touched the bite mark. And he knew.

Mason dropped down beside Matt with a look of anguish on his face. He placed his hand on my head gingerly and closer his eyes. Then he touched my cheek and leaned down, as if he was kissing my cheek. But I noticed him expose a fang and nick my skin. He leaned back, and blood blossomed. Just a drop. But it was what he needed to see, because he sighed in relief.

"She's alive," he said loudly. To the crowd, to Matt. Was he checking if I had turned into a vampire? He carefully scooped up my body, and then I blacked out.

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I became aware that I was awake, but I couldn't open my eyelids. They seemed extremely heavy, and I had no desire at the moment to lift weights. So I remained still and instead used my hearing to become aware of my surroundings. I heard a beeping, a monitor. A rush of commotion outside. Quiet breathing. The sound of curtains rustling back and forth.

I felt something close to me and I willed my eyes to open. It took some time, but I saw the blurry figure sitting beside me. I blinked, and Matt came to perfect view. He was looking at my face and I stared back at him. I couldn't open my mouth, but I didn't need to ask if I was in a hospital bed. I just knew. And I began to remember Dylan throwing me over the roof. My heart monitor began to make noise.

Matt stood up to lean over me. "Hey, it's okay. Bree, relax. He's not here. It's me. I won't let him hurt you again." He gently smoothed the hair along the side of my face and sat on the bed, carefully. Like he was afraid I was going to break. I tried looking down at my body, but I couldn't. Something prevented me.

"You have a neck brace on," he said. "The fall hurt your head. Your spine is fragile right now. They had to put stitches because you had an open skull. But your body is healing fast. Really, really fast. Mason thinks it's because of your blood. I think so, too. The right side of your body took the most of the impact. Fractured shoulder. Broken ribs. Dislocated hip. It's a lot, Bree." He smiled faintly but then his eyes swelled with tears. I scrunched my eyebrows up in question.

"Sorry," he said. "But I got really scared. When I saw you lying on the ground I was terrified. I thought you died. Then Mason checked, and you weren't a vampire. You were just really, really hurt. It's been two weeks, and the doctors are astound that you survived. That you're healing so quickly. They estimate another week and you'll be able to go home."

What about Brendon?

"Brendon is alive, thanks to you. He was weak for a while, but he's recovered. Work has been a hassle for him, actually. More crime. He's been visiting. Mason and Skylark are trying to get in touch with those werewolves." Panic set in. I hoped Mason wouldn't do anything rash.

"I made him swear to me that he wouldn't make another deal," Matt reassured me. He wiped the tears away. "I wouldn't let him do anything to you. He promised. You won't be given away anytime soon."