Breaking Free

Chapter 24

The hospitals familiarity makes me uncomfortable- last time I was here, I was the one who was injured. My instincts tell me to turn and run- that this is a trap or an awful dream, and the boogeyman (in this case, Clint Harris) is going to come out and get me any moment.

But I move swiftly forward, towards the Emergency Room. Carter stays close to my side, mostly for moral support, though also in case I stumble and fall.

The moment I swing open the doors to the waiting room, I notice the scene around me. Joy, Jake, Andrea, and Ethan are here, along with Sky's parents and her older brother, Carlos. Let's just say, every eye in this room is moist with tears.

Except mine- I don't cry, not anymore. After all the things I've been through, I've learned to tough it it as best as I can.

I soon realize that friends and family aren't the only ones in this room- surprise, surprise, there are police here. Chief Peters himself is speaking with Sky's father.

"Does this have anything to do with that escaped killer- uh, Clint something?" he asks, his voice that of a broken man. I can't imagine what it's like, as a parent, to have your child in a state like this.

"It's possible, but we think it's unrelated," Peters states, though I have a feeling that is a blatant lie.

I go to sit across from Joy and Jake, who both have solemn looks on their faces.

"What happened," I stammer, still unsure of the details.

"Sky was walking her dog, Koko, and someone came up behind her and started to attack her. He broke her arm, her clavicle, busted a rib, and gave her a black eye," Jake tells me, his eyes grey and void of the usual life they have.

"Who would do something like that?" Joy whispers hoarsely, before burying her face on her hands.

A doctor comes in, and starts to speak with the police. They talk in hushed voices, before the police nods at him.

"Sky has woken up," the doctor states. "She wants to speak with Taylor before anyone else comes in."

"No! We are her parents, we have a right to see her," Sky's mother objects.

"At this point, ma'am,, your daughter is 18 years old and therefore, she can choose who to see. And who she wants to see right now is Taylor."

Confusion floods the room, even penetrating my thoughts. Why does she want to see me? We aren't even that close.

Chief Peters leaves the room as I do, escorting me to Sky.

"What's really going on?" I ask.

"It was Clint Harris- no doubt about it. And he didn't want her dead. His intention was never to kill her, it was to scare you."

"Well, it worked," I sigh.

We approach the door to her room, but Chief doesn't open the door right away.

"She looks pretty bad- prepare yourself," he sympathetically instructs.

When I'm ready, I nod at him so he opens the door.

No matter of preparation could prepare me for the sight of what is in this room.

Sky's crumpled body lays in the hospital bed. Her skin has black bruises brushed over it. Her eyes are swollen shut, and her lips have open cuts. Her arm is in a cast, and her expression is pained.

"Sky," I quietly whisper, trying to let her current condition register in my mind. Her eyes crack open, and she tried to turn her head to look at me, though she winces in pain.

"Taylor."

Her voice barely even qualifies as a voice, for it sounds like more of a whisper in the wind.

"How are you doing?"

I walk to her bedside, and seat myself in the chair that sits by it.

"I'd be lying if I said I felt amazing. But that's not why I called you in here."

"Why did you call me in here," I question lightly.

"You're in danger. The man who attacked me- he said he knows you. He said- he said to tell you that next time, he'll kill. He said next time, it won't be me- it will be him. Who Taylor?"

"Carter," I murmur.

"Who's doing this," she asks, her eyes brimming with tears.

"I don't know," I lie.

"Tell me the truth Taylor. I know you know more than you let on. You know who attacked me, and you know why they want you. Tell me or I swear to god-"

"Clint Harris," I choke out, my voice cracking. I didn't mean to tell her, it just slipped out.

"The serial killer- why does he want you?"

And before I know what I'm doing, or register the stupidity and consequences of my actions, I tell her everything.

A/N

I don't like this chapter but I hope you do. I pinky promise it will get interesting soon. Just wait a few more chapters and then there will be crazy dramatic drama! thanks for being amazing my lovelies.