Breaking Free

Chapter 41

A/N

Hey you guys. I just wanted to say thanks for being amazing you guys made me feel so much better. In fact, I woke up this morning feeling way better than yesterday. I think I was just having a really bad day yesterday and all my stress caught up to me and I had a little breakdown but I feel like a bajillion times better and a lot of that is due to you guys.

The rest of it is due to watching 'Tangled' and my dad buying me soy coffee creamer which I've been out of for a week so I could have coffee.

Thanks Dad.

Anyways, on with the chapter
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I start to sprint towards his room, when the nurse grasps my wrist and spins me around.

"You have to understand his heart is fairly unstable. Seeing you could make him go into cardiac arrest," she warns. "It's best you wait a while till he's strong enough to see you."

"But-" I whimper, before she cuts me off.

"Although it's in his best interest to a wait, it's entirely up to his parents. You have to attain their permission," she says regretfully. "They are in his room. You'll have to wait for them to come out."

I groan in frustration, and fight the urge to slap her. She didn't do anything wrong, of course, but I can't help it. I feel so frustrated I could scream.

I stomp to the waiting room, and cross my arms over my chest before slouching down into a chair.

I should be happy, right? He's awake. He's awake. I shouldn't feel like I'm dying inside right now.

I let my mind wander, trying to tear my thoughts away from Carter and the fact that he is sitting conscious in a room just down the hall thinking that I'm dead.

Ezhno. I fix my mind on Ezhno. Where is he now? Last I saw him, the police were loading him into a trailer and promising me to drop him off at the farm. Apparently a family friend is maintaing the Stone's barn until they get back. It's clear why they wouldn't want to leave the hospital with Carter like this.

Carter.

Well, apparently thinking of Ezhno didn't help me to push him from my mind.

I start to think of someone else. Ariel.

I hope she found her way back up here okay. I left her very abruptly in that café. That wasn't very responsible of me now was it? I guess I'm not the best sister ever. In my defense, I'm not really used to the idea of having a sister yet.

I'm not really used to the idea of having parents yet.

I'm actually a little surprised I having been on Operah yet. I have the perfect sob story to tell.

God, this has been a crazy 24 hours now that I think about if. I let my mind replay the events that went down after I called Chief Peter's from that supermarket.

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Flashback

I hear the sounds of sirens in the distance.

"Are those for us?" Ariel asks gingerly. We haven't said a word to each other since I told her Carter was shot.

Oh god. Carter. He could die. He could actually die. I can't live without him. I can't breath just thinking about it.

"Yes," I quietly reply. "I think they are."

My arms loosen their grip on Ezhno's head and stand to my feet, suddenly remembering that Ariel is sitting on his back.

"You need help down?" I question, offering a hand.

"Yeah- thanks," she replies.

The sirens become louder, as I start to see the red and blue lights flashing in the nearby distance, drawing closer every second.

I help Ariel to the ground, making sure she lands steady on her feet.

"Are my- our parents okay," she asks, her eyes holding a hint of sadness.

"Yeah," I reply, squeezing her shoulder for comfort. "Chief Peter's didn't say anything about them being hurt. They're probably just a little shaken up."

She nods, before turning her head towards the oncoming police cars which are pulling into the driveway. The first person who climbs out of the car is Chief Peter's.

I walk toward him quickly, before my legs gain a mind of their own and I'm sprinting full speed towards him.

He pulls me into a hug, a grim look on his face.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you Taylor," he quietly states.

"Me too."

Someone clips a lead onto Ezhno and loads him into a trailer.

"Where are they taking him?" I ask, worry dripping from my voice.

"Home. He'll be okay, don't worry," he answers.

I glance around and look for my parents but they aren't there.

"You won't see them for a while. They have to go down to the station and be questioned. There are going to be a lot of reporters Taylor. Your parents came 'back from the dead.' So did you. It's not going to be easy. No matter what happens, these next few months are going to be rough. Your going to basically become famous."

Oh Joy.

Flashback Over
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Carter's POV

"Mom? Dad?" I croak, seeing them sitting by my bed.

"Carter?" my mom sighs, a flood of relief spreading over her features. She looks like she's been evading sleep for days, as does my dad. Mom looks like she's been crying.

A pang of guilt flashes through me when it hits me that I did that to her.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, before moving into the more obvious question I've been wondering about since I've become even vaguely conscious. "What happened?"

"You were shot," my dad answers.

"I know that much," I snap, trying to sit up but cringing at the sudden movement. Holy crap that hurts. "Why?"

They exchange a knowing glance, but stay silent. It's like they know something I don't- which obviously they do, because they know what happened to me and I have no flipping clue.

"Mom? Dad? What the hell happened to me?" I press, feeling a little guilty for using such a harsh tone, but feeling an intense need to know.

"We can't hide it forever," Mom whispers as if I can't hear her.

"You heard what the doctor said- it could kill him- literally," Dad argues. "Do you want that."

"Hello- I'm sitting right.. here," I state, annoyed.

The door bursts open, but I don't look right away, thinking it's just doctor.

"I know that this is illegal but to hell with the law I can't stand this waiting anymore it's killing me," an angelic voice rambles. I don't have to look to see who it is. My mind must be playing tricks on me. This is impossible. She's dead.

I turn my head slowly, and let my eyes take in the shock of seeing her. her eyes meet mine, softening.

"Hey," she whispers.

"Taylor?"

A/N

Tried to make it a long one, hope you guys liked it! Love you guys. Stay beautiful!