Finding Obsidian

49 - The End Of The Tunnel

Light.

That's all there was. Not the harsh, flickery orange of flame, or the pale, chilly glow of fluorescence. Just light—warm and bright and carefree.

Light was a new feeling, one I hadn't felt before—or, at least, hadn't felt in a very long time. I carried it with me everywhere. I saw it in the dark corners of the hospital; I saw it glinting off wire-framed glasses; I saw it reflected in warm, raven-black eyes. 

It was easy to spot the light once you knew where to look. And, for once in my life, I didn't have to search alone.

♛

It took an astoundingly short amount of time for Rokim and Lisa to come barrelling into my hospital room, phones at the ready. At my urging, Rian had gone home to shower and change, while Prof and Adrian had gone to see about my discharge. 

As usual, I was subject to hugs and concern and very, very loud reprimands. Apparently, it wasn't just Rian who believed that getting kidnapped was entirely my fault.

"I'm not even surprised at this point. Of course you'd get kidnapped, like something out of fucking Taken," Rokim grumbled, after having chewed me out for a solid five minutes. "You're always doing dumb shit."

"I am not—"

"Yes you are," Lisa chimed in, settling down onto the hospital bed beside me. "Seriously. I'm not sure how you haven't been arrested yet."

I fell silent, opting to simply roll my eyes. The mention of arrest brought my mind to Vanessa, and I suspected the others were thinking of her, too. 

I leaned my head against the backboard pensively. Now that the rage and terror had faded, I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to her to make her so . . . resentful. Even though I was the one she'd taken her anger out on, I got the distinct sense that something else was fueling it. She'd mentioned her father, her sisters. Being doomed to live as a puppet. 

Was that enough to drive someone crazy?

"Try not to think about it."

My gaze shot up from where it had settled on the pristine white of my bedsheets. Rokim was studying me carefully, a regretful twist to his lips. 

I shook my head, forcing a smile. "I can't really think about much else," I told him truthfully.

He glanced away, frowning miserably. There was a heavy moment of silence before he broke it, his fingers twisted with anxiety.

"I'm so sorry, Han," he blurted, his words coming out in a rush of breath. "I should have been there. No, I should have told you about her earlier, how she's always hated you. We finally did at the mall, and I thought it would be enough. I was stupid, Han. God, I should have known she would do something, but I didn't think that she'd . . . that she'd try to . . . fuck. Fuck."

My face softened. I reached over and grasped his shoulders, nudging until he turned to look me in the eyes. I frowned at the regret I saw in his. 

"Come on, Kimmy. It wasn't your fault. You can't possibly hold yourself responsible for something that was completely out of your control."

He stared at me for a long, quiet moment. Then a wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "That's ironic, considering you do it so well."

I blinked, releasing him and sitting back. Lisa whistled lowly. "He's got a point, Han."

I thought of the past few weeks. Living at Rian's house. Reading Apartment 212. Getting a dog. Kissing Rian for the first time. Watching him make me breakfast. Watching him pack a bag. Watching him leave.