The Risen | ✅

Chapter Ten

My sense of hearing returned first, which I realized based on the high pitched ringing that I heard. Though it was slightly, muddled, vision came next. I opened my eyes way too fast, which I instantly ended up regretting because of the sharp pain that rocked my cranium.

I groaned and placed a numb hand on my head in a stupid attempt to try and dull the pain.

"Ah, you're awake, good."

I opened my eyes again, slower this time, to see Carol standing over me, her head tilted slightly as she observed me intently.

"What...What happened to me?" I asked warily. Then, like a sudden tsunami, all my memories came flooding back and I sat up violently, ignoring the pain that occurred because of it. "Where are Alex, Evie, and Victor? Are they okay? How long was I out?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow your roll there, this isn't twenty-one questions." Carol said, scrunching up her face slightly. "You're friends are fine, no one was severely hurt, though Ms. Moore did receive a nasty cut to the leg. Nothing the Healing Pods couldn't fix, though. As for the time you've been unconscious, they dragged you in here a few hours ago. You were so cold you felt dead. Not to mention your nose was bleeding so much it looked like your brain had exploded. So we stuck you in a healing pod and hoped for the best. Once you recovered enough, we brought you to the infirmary to recuperate. My guess is you're going to be here for a few days, so get comfy."

I did overexert myself a little out there. I felt...guilty...My friend's should've been out there in the first place, but all because of my stupid impulsive decisions, I could have gotten us all killed.

I sighed. "Where are my friends, though?" I asked again, realizing that that question hadn't been answered.

"Getting chided by Mrs. Florence, no doubt. That stunt you four pulled cost us a lot. She'll be coming to speak with you next, I presume."

A knock on the door had us turning our heads towards the open doorway to see Mrs. Florence herself glaring daggers at me.

Oh God, here we go!

Carol mouthed a quick 'good luck' to me before she quickly exited the room. After she left, Mrs. Florence closed the door, her eyes seeming even icier than usual. "Ms. Lewis. Glad to see you back with us." She said smoothly.

'Not good to be back', I thought. Though I simply nodded on the outside.

"Care to tell me where you adventured off too?" She asked, tucking a strand of loose hair back into her neat bun. Everything about Mrs. Florence was neat. Neat and calculated. Her hair, her smoothed out professional outfits, her calm and collected attitude, even her...questionable parenting skills.

"I'd rather not." I said simply.

She looked at me and I swear I could see her nostrils flare a bit. "Ms. Lewis," She practically seethed, "Ever since you and your band of little...merry-men arrived at Euros, you've done nothing but disrespect me, my rules, our peaceful foundations, and my hospitality. I will no longer stand for it! So listen up, and listen good!" She leaned down so that her steely blue eyes were staring directly into my grey ones. "Either you tell me what went down a few hours ago, or you'll see just how good those healing pods are at their job.

I glared at her. Was she threatening me? Was she THREATENING ME? I heard the Mrs. Florence ran this place with an iron fist and, to be honest, I still didn't know her powers. So she just might not be bluffing. With a deep breath, I opened my mouth to respond.

"You were visiting your family, weren't you?"

I blinked at her bluntness. "Y-yes...How did you-"