BitterBlue - Book two of the Bitter novels -

1. Knowing

 I think he's knows it's pointless. Even as he carries my limp Shell in his arms. I know that deep down Clay's given up. There's a numbness of feelings yet to come echoing in his green eyes. It's how I looked when mum died, it's how I would look if I was alive because back in that warehouse my dad's body lays on the cold hard pavement but he's gone and I hope he's with mum. I hope he's where I'm suppose to be because I don't think I meant to be stuck trailing after Clay and Flynn. We're at the hospital now. The doctors knew it as soon as they saw the Shell of me. They blink at the blood that covers Clay and within a second they snap to life. It seems part of a show to me...as if they're acting on behalf of the dead eyes that watch them,

"What's her name?" A doctor asks as he slips my Shell down on a wheel bed,

"Scarlett" Flynn whispers because his brother doesn't answer. Clay's just blinking into space, a dead look falling over his eyes,

"How did it happen?" He's staring at the blood that covers my shirt,

"My dad...shot her" He whispers. I'll give the Doctor some credit because he just nods,

"We'll take her from here" He says and pushes my Shell through an open door. I don't follow them. I wait next to Flynn and Clay. I pretend they can see me. I reach out a trembling hand and stretch it to Flynn but where his coat should touch my fingers I feel nothing,

"They won't feel you" A voice says softly. I frown and turn. There's a boy leaning against the cold hard hospital wall. He's staring at his feet, his face covered in a sheet of blond hair,

"Can you hear me?" I ask softly because who else could he have been speaking too?

"Yup..." He mutters still staring at floor, "They won't see you either, get use to it" I blink and turn my gaze back to Flynn. A red stain is seeping through his shirt and I remember that Flynn was shot trying to protect me but his face shows know pain. They were my old body guards. They protected me when my rich dad was kidnapped,

"I think she'll be ok" Flynn says softly, his own green eyes are darker than Clay's and filled with a hope that's lost on his brother. Clay knows,

"You don't have to stick around and watch this" The boy says softly,

"I can't leave them" I mumble and turn my back on him. I don't want to understand who he is, how he can see me. I have to stay with Clay. A doctor walks into the hospital corridor...her face is plain. Ginger hair leaks down around her freckled cheeks,

"I'm Doctor Leah" She says softly and stands in front of them, "We done everything we could....I am so sorry" I blink and watch her hands grasp Clay's, "Do you want to see her?"

"No" He whispers and stands up slowly. He's a stone of cold emotion...calm and steady. Flynn is not made of the same ice. Flynn is frowning,

"But you must have something to help her...what about Internal I.V's? Have you tried them?" He asks standing up,

"I can assure you Sir we used every piece of equipment we had...Internal I.V's are only available to the special services...." Doctor Leah is saying but Flynn's already got his mobile out,

"I'll ring someone. They can be here in an hour..."

"It's too late..." She says again but he doesn't answer he's already arguing down the phone. The Doctor bites her lip and turns to Clay, "I know it's none of my business....but the gun shot....how did it happen?" To my surprise he turns and answers,

"My dad shot her....that's all that matters"

"Your dad?" Leah says in shock but Clay's already turning away from her,

"See to my brother...he's hurt" He mutters walking through the doors. I hurry after him but the doors close in my face,

"You can go through them" The boy is behind me, watching me,

"Go away" I snap and wait for a doctor to open them. I dart through the gap and run to the lift that Clay's just entered. It's just me and him inside. I stare at Clay...at his blank dull eyes, "I'm here" I whisper but he doesn't hear me. I'm so close to him but yet so far away.

****

It's as Clay's entering the car I feel it. A wave of dizziness. The world around me turns and I can hardly place one foot in front of the other. I can see Clay closing the car door,

"No wait!" I shout but the door is slammed shut. I groan loudly and fall down to my knees. My stomach is paining so bad I can hardly breath. The air has gone ice cold and suddenly blackness erupts around me...

And I am lost...

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