Fate can be Fatal

Part 41: Recovery

A drowsy Toni awakes from her heavy sleep in her hospital bed. She momentarily panics and sits up in pain, breathing heavily whilst her kidnapping makes her head spin violently. Her mind cuts to Cheryl's face, streaming with tears. Realising the events were being remembered not relived, her heart rate slows back to normal pace after a few drawn out moments. Her ribs aching continuously, she lays back down. The healing cuts and bruises cast her mind back to the horrid event. Penelope's raven-like eyes makes her breathing uneasy once again. Every punch received from Claudius still crawls all over her body. 

Receiving a soft knock on the door of her private room, she replies "Come in?" with a slight cautiousness in the tone. The warming smile of her grandfather makes her cheeks widen with overwhelming delight. "Toni my dear" he says, his voice cracking at the sight of his beaten granddaughter. Walking over to her bed and placing his hand on top of hers. They share a heartfelt moment, "How are you feeling?" Mr. Topaz continues, keeping steady eye contact with Toni. Nodding she begins to speak, despite her split lip, "Better, just... in pain". 

They continue their conversation about her grandfathers travel until he slips into conversation, "Y'know, my dear, you have some fans outside" making Toni confused. "Cheryl and... Sweet Pea? They're on the bench, I presume they stayed there all night" making Toni's face transition from confusion to comfort. Her face brightens at the sound of some of her favourite people caring that much about her. Her grandfather stands up, placing a loving smile on her forehead and heading to the door, "I'll send them in" he proposes, to the reply of Toni's smile. "Also, she's a keeper Toni" he finishes with, closing the door. 

Leaving the room, Mr Topaz nudges Sweet Pea's arm, suddenly waking both himself and Cheryl. "Morning sleepy-heads, she's awake if you want to head in" and Pea rushes into the room, whilst Cheryl waits behind. "Morning Mr Topaz" she says, "Cheryl, my other dear" and chuckles, "She's waiting for you..." he tells her, placing his hand on her shoulder. She smiles, full of gratitude, and heads into the room to witness Toni and Pea laughing together. 

Pulling up a chair on the other side of Toni's bed, she listens to their jokey conversation. Soon after, they hush up, allowing Cheryl to talk, "beautiful as always might I add" she chuckles, "Ew, I'm out, catch ya later weirdos" Pea jokes, leaving them to chat in private once again. Closing the door, they girls begin to chat. 

"You're cringe-worthy, you know that right" Toni says playfully, "and proud of it" she returns. They banter for a while until conversation turns serious. "Babe, when I get out of here, this hospital, the serpents will get you justice" Toni explains carefully but is swiftly interrupted, "Justice for me? Tons- look at you. It's going to be justice for you okay" before kissing Toni's cheek. "For you.."

A day later, Toni is released, despite her injuries being prominent. Cheryl helps her home, in the car and they make it back to Thistlehouse. Cheryl helps Toni carefully back into the house and onto the sofa. Fangs and Pea, with full knowledge that the girls strongly fear for their lives, patrol the house, both interior and exterior with some other serpents, all night until the sun rises sharply the next morning. 

Awaking in a completely different environment, Cheryl's bed; Toni breaths a sign of relief and prays for a smooth recovery so she and the serpents can hunt down Mrs Penelope Blossom and give her exactly what she deserves.