My Ghost

eighteen

ray's point of view

My eyes fly open and I shoot forward, causing my head to throb. My neck is stiff and sore as I attempt to turn it, and I let out a sigh as I rub my temples with my fingers. I scan the area around me, and I instantly relax when I recognize where I am.

"How are you feeling, Ms. Hady?" I hear Alfred's voice. I turn to my left, wincing at the pain in my neck, and see him approaching, a silver platter in his hands that carries a pitcher of water and a small stack of warm towels.

"Call me Ray," I correct him. He smiles as he approaches, gently setting the carrier down and handing me a hot towel. I carefully press it to my face and feel my muscles relax. What happened? How did I get here?

"Where's Jason?" I ask, the events coming back to me. "Is he okay? He's not dead is he?"

Alfred chuckles, shaking his head. "Master Todd is upstairs, he'll be down as soon as he knows you're awake."

I sigh in relief, Jason was safe. If I had hurt him...

I don't want to think about it.

"What happened?"

"Master Grayson gave you a high voltage electric shock which countered the chip Black Mask had planted in your head. We were able to remove it successfully along with the communications unit that had been placed in your ear," Alfred explains.

"Wait, so it's gone?" I ask, hopeful. My hands scan the back of my head and carefully run over new stitches.

Alfred smiles at me, nodding. "Yes, you're safe now."

My lips curl into a smile and I feel like I can breathe for the first time in a month. Roman was out of my head, he held no more power over me.

"Ray!" I hear Jason's voice. I turn to my right and see him running toward me. Before I can react his arms are around me in a tight hug. I smile into the embrace, wrapping my arms around his torso and resting my head against his shoulder.

"Jason," I mutter, inhaling his familiar scent.

"You're okay," he whispers, hugging me tighter. "You're okay."

I feel a tear roll down my cheek. "Thank you."

"I'll leave you two to speak," Alfred says, and I hear his footsteps as he walks away.

Jason releases me, taking a step back. I take in his appearance, my gaze lingering on his light blue eyes. He's wearing just a pair of grey sweats and a tight black t-shirt, but he looks just as flawless as ever. His hair sticks out at odd angles and there's a small scratch on the side of his face.

"I thought you were dead," he says, his voice cracking. My heart aches for the pain he must've gone through, the pain we've both felt now.

"I'm sorry," I tell him, searching for the right words. "I wish I could've told you somehow. I wish I could've done so much."

"I know, I know it's okay," he reassures me. He presses his hand against my cheek and rubs it with his thumb. I smile and bring my hand up to his, intertwining our fingers.

"I'm sorry," he apologizes. "I shouldn't have said what I did that night. I shouldn't have pushed you away. I was just so... scared and upset and I didn't know who to trust. I always trusted you, I just didn't want to hurt you."

"Jay, I forgave you a long time ago," I reassure him, bringing his hand to my lips and placing a kiss on it. "I understand now better than I could've then."

His lips curl up and he nods slightly, his eyes avoiding mine for a moment before meeting them again. "I love you."

"I love you too."