N I G H T S C A R S

i

a v a

When I heard Levi Atticus was in the hospital from being struck by lightning, I had the creeping suspicion that it was my fault.

And when I say creeping suspicion, I mean I woke up in the middle of the forest covered in blood with his football jersey in my hand.

Yeah. Being a dragon is just swell.

"I'm sorry, Miss," said the nurse holding a clipboard, not looking the least bit apologetic. She tapped her foot impatiently like she had better places to be, which she probably did. "We can't let in anyone that isn't family."

"I'm a close friend," I lied.

I'd never talked to Levi Atticus in my whole life, but I'd seen him around Evermoor High's halls enough time to know who he was. I wanted to check on him. After all, I was the one who almost killed him.

The nurse huffed. She was only in her earlier thirties but her face was wrinkled with frown lines and disgust toward me. Her brown hair was in a tight tail jutting out the back of her head. She was seemingly trying to scare me, but not successfully. I was taller than her by almost a whole foot.

I wished Elle was here. She would be able to smile and laugh her way into the nurse's heart. She was good at getting people to do whatever she wanted. They naturally loved her.

"Like I said," said the nurse. Her name tag said 'Mandy.' "Unless you're family, I can't let you in."

"What if I said I am family?"

Mandy walked out of the waiting room, rolling her eyes and muttering something about teenagers these days.

I groaned and slumped back into my chair in the hospital's front room. At least I tried.

The nurses of Evermoor Memorial Hospital were rushing around, panicked and hurried. People were calling the front desk every five minutes.

Nothing used to happen in this sleepy town used to happen. Until I happened. Then lots of storms and wounded people. Most injuries weren't me directly-Elle made sure of that-but the wild storms that came with Night were hurting more and more people.

This time I'd hurt Levi directly.

The hospital doors slid open again. A woman speed walked in, distress filling her face. Even though she was around forty, I recognized her appearance. Flawless pale skin, dark glossy hair, straight nose, tall and lean.

I hopped straight out of my chair. She was talking to the front desk. When the conversation ended, I tapped her lightly on the shoulder.

She whirled around quickly enough to startle me.

"Are you Mrs. Atticus?" I asked her, swallowing hard. The look in her dark brown eyes, one of a concerned mother willing to obliterate anything in her way to see her child, was quite terrifying.

Despite her scariness, she looked awful. Her hair was in a tight bun, but falling apart. She looked like she hadn't slept in a long time, with dark circles under her puffy red-rimmed eyes.

I understood why. Levi had been in the hospital for three days now.

"Yes?"

"I'm wondering if you could do me a favor." I regained my composure but still pull on the act of a sad, concerned friend. "My name's Ava. I'm a close friend of Levi's and I'm here to see him, but I'm not allowed in unless I'm family."

Her expression didn't change or give anything away but she spoke soon enough. "Come with me."

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