Colorless

Chapter 14

I wake up to a faint beeping. I open my eyes slightly but they sting. I have to lift my hand to shield myself from the bright lights but then there is a pinch on my hand. I take a look and I have an IV inserted.

"Ms. Carver?" I look quickly to the source of the voice but it's still too bright.

"Who are you? Where am I?" I say with a hoarse voice.

"Ms. Carver you are at St. Peter's Hospital emergency room. You came in with a head injury." Then everything flashes through my mind. Elijah is covered in blood. The fight. Demos tossing me off him. The box of Twinkies and the bag of chips. My stomach growls.

"That's just so typical of you," I hear from the side of my bed.

  "Elijah?" I turn my head and there he is smiling. "Hungry?" I smile and he rolls his eyes.  

 "Miss, I'm sorry but I need to speak to you," then the nurse glances at Elijah then back at me, "alone." I look at Elijah and he stands to his feet with his hands up.

"No problem. I'll be back with some food." I nod and Elijah exits the room swiftly. The nurse takes this moment to sit at the foot of my bed. I lift myself up and look at her.

"So?" I say with a weak smile.

"Your injuries," she said scratching at the back of her head, "I don't want to jump to conclusions."

"What are you talking about?"

"The injuries you sustained are commonly the results of domestic abuse." I look at her for a second, then just laugh.

"Abuse? You think," but I can't stop laughing. "You think Elijah... you think," but even through my laughter the nurse keeps her composure. I quiet myself and re-adjust my blanket out of awkwardness.

"Domestic abuse is no laughing matter, and we could get you some help if you-"

"I'm so sorry, but you are way off. Elijah would never," then I took a breath. "Elijah protects me."

"So he is not the one abusing you? Who is it? You can trust me." The nurse says reaching for my hand but I pull back.

"Listen to me, no one is abusing me. I slipped. I'm super clumsy." The nurse obviously doesn't believe me but she stands up. She leaves the room and Eligh comes back, and to my dismay, without food.

"We need to go. Now." He grabs a bag and throws my clothes at me. "Change."

"What's the hurry?" He stops packing up and looks dead at me.

"Why didn't you tell me your mom called the cops?"

"Oh, that," I say humiliated. This guy is basically a warrior and my mom has put me on the FBI's most-wanted list for being gone a week or two.

"Yeah, that." He continues packing up. "You know, bringing you here just complicates things. What if one of them recognizes you or your name? We need to go." He stares at me but I still don't move. "Now Tyler."

"I'm wearing a hospital gown, Elijah," I say looking down at myself.

"Oh, sorry." He turns his back to me and I get out of bed to change. My head still hurts, but I try to ignore it. I pull my pants on and put on my bra, but when I go to put on my shirt a pain shoots up my shoulder to the back of my head.

"Ouch, shit," I say as I drop my arms.

"Tyler?" 

"I'm fine, just in a little bit of pain." I try again, but it hurts too much.

"Let me help," Elijah says quickly.

"Ugh, no. No way." I try again, going for a faster rip off the band-aid approach but a searing pain shoots through my body and I swear it feels like death.

"Tyler we really need to go. I can help, no big deal." I look at the door and I can hear a group of nurses gathering and talking. My nerves build up.

"Close your eyes."

"Are you serious?" He says while laughing.

"Close. Your. Eyes." He turns around slowly, and walks towards me, eyes closed. "Here, help me pull this part over my head." I hand the shirt and slowly he pulls it over my head. I can then push my arms through the holes and I smile. He is face to face to me, eyes still closed and I can't help but make a face at him. I cross my eyes and stick my tongue out. I even try flipping him off.

"Done?" He asks as he takes a step back.

"Ugh yeah. All done," I say awkwardly. He opens his eyes and smiles.

"Okay good, let's go." He walks out of the room and I follow him. He is turning corners, dodging nurses and doctors easily. We almost make it to an exit, but a nurse spots me.

"Wait! You're that missing girl!" Instantly Elijah grabs my wrist and we start running. I can't help but laugh. I mean, we are running from a nurse in the hospital I came to because some guy busted my head open after he was almost finished killing Elijah. Elijah turns back to me with a smile on his face. Also, I'm in massive amounts of pain and he is just jerking me around.

"Come on," he says laughing as we turn a corner. We make it to a garage and Elijah starts looking around. "What car do you feel like riding in?"

"Oh, my pick?" Elijah bows and I laugh.

"Your wish is my command, my lady." We start walking through the line of cars and this mid-sized silver one catches my eye.

"This one!" I say with a smile.

"Really Tyler?"

"You said my choice!" He bows once again.

"Then get ready for your wish to come true." He walks over to the door and uses a stick of some sort he picked up from the hospital to unlock the door through the glass. He starts pulling out wires and I swear it feels like I'm right in the middle of some action movie. After a while the car starts up and he smiles at me. "Hop in." I get into the passenger seat and buckle up but I get a pain in my head. Elijah pulls a little bottle out of the bag. "Pain pills."

"Thanks." He pulls out fast and a doctor is running towards us. "You think this is his car?" I say smiling.

"I hope not, you'd think they'd have enough money to buy something fancier." I laugh and Elijah steps on the gas.

"Aw man, I never-" but at that moment Elijah passes me the box of Twinkies and the chips. "Elijah," I say in awe.

"I know, you love me." Then once again we are on the road. Just a couple of more hours and we will be in New Orleans. But what did Demos mean by taking me to Petro? Do they already have him? That can't be possible, can it?