Take A Chance

Chapter 12

"Go away Erik!" I shouted loud enough hoping someone would hear me. "Sshh!" He said approaching me with a cane. "No stop!" I said as he started hitting me with the cane. All of a sudden Lettie came bursting through the door. She threw Erik back against the wall and ran over to me. "Are you okay?"she asked looking at me anxiously. There was blood coming out of my head. "Yes I am fine" I say flying out the door scared. Lettie grabbed Erik and threw him down the stairs. "Hey What's going on?!" Asked Phillip shocked at seeing a random person fall down the stairs. "Nothing!" I say quickly trying not worry him. But I think it is a bit too late for that. "Who is this?!" He asks getting frustrated that no one will  tell him what is going on. "This man was beating Ember with a cane!" Lettie exclaims. "What?Is this true?!" Asks Phillip in disbelief. "Phillip, this is Erik Green." I say simply.

"Is he your brother?!" Lettie asks confused."Yes he is an alcoholic." Suddenly a wave of sympathy for my brother washes over me. I know he just hit me with his cane but he is my brother. "Get out." Says Phillip simply not wanting to cause trouble. "No." Erik says a smirk on his face. "Erik please just leave. " I said trying to be nice. "Go, leave!" Said Phillip getting more agitated. "No." Erik said. This man is a handful. Then Phillip dragged him over to the front door and threw him outside. "Don't you dare come back!"he shouted. I honestly felt bad for Erik but I didn't dare go back for him. "A bit harsh,no?" I ask Phillip frustrated. He doesn't own me. "I was just keeping us all safe." "And now you think my family are dangerous!Just go away!" I hated myself right now but I got a lot of my chest. I declared that I wasn't performing tonight. I didn't care if Anne and W.D had to change their act. I didn't care if Lettie had reposition the dancers. And I didn't care if Phillip had to sort and rearrange all of the acts. I just wanted to be alone.

So I went to my safe place. The tree where Phillip and I were messing around. I was packing some food and my favourite book. Under the Hawthorn Tree. It was about a small country called Ireland and how their potatoes had caught a disease and were rotting in the ground. I wish we could have gone over there when we were in England. I guess not. As I read I had gotten a sudden urge to eat food so I took out my bread and butter sandwich. I ate like I had never eaten before. I was starving.

I read more of my book before snow started falling. It was beautiful but I was starting to freeze a bit so I pulled my blanket over myself to try and make myself a bit cosier but it didn't work. My feet had gone numb and I could feel my legs slowly going numb as well. But I was determined to stay by myself. My legs had fully gone numb now and my fingers felt like they were going to fall off. Soon enough I was getting to cold. I started shaking profusely. "Ember what are you doing out here in the cold?!" I heard Mr Barnum's voice shout. "Get an ambulance!" he shouts to Phillip who is behind him. Phillip runs off to call an ambulance as I break down. I can't take it. It is too cold. I can't breathe. My throat is blocked. I can't feel my body. I am shaking to much. Mr Barnum picks me up and I collapse limply in his arms. "Shhh" he said trying to calm me down. Soon a carriage pulls up ready to take me to the hospital.

Phillip takes me out of Mr Barnum's arms and brings me into the carriage. I am shaking so much it is like I am vibrating. The medical doctor,who is in the carriage, says that i have pneumonia and I will find it hard to breathe. As I am drifting off I can hear Phillip and the doctor telling me to stay with them. Phillip talks to me for a bit. I need to get to the hospital fast. But the carriage is stuck in the snow. "No I can't stay awake much longer" I try to tell him but he says I need to stay awake no matter what.

Once I get to the hospital doctors put medication in me and needles in me. The whole time Phillip is squeezing my hand. "She will be alright but we will need you to stay with her just in case." The doctor says. "That is fine." Phillip says smiling at the doctor as he leaves. This feels really awkward but to be honest I can't really feel anything. I am still shaking, making the bed rattle with me. "Hey ssh" he is trying to calm me down. I break into sobs with the pain and how nice he is being to me. I have shut him out for days but he is still being nice. I don't know how he does it really.

As I drift off to sleep I feel a kiss being planted on my forehead. This makes me smile and feel warm. Then I realized I have feelings for Phillip.