Finding Hope

Chapter Seven

Winter Louss

I wake up in a white room with grey walls. I roll onto my side. There's a silver metal table, and my wrist is uncomfortable. I look at it. An IV drips a clear liquid into my arm.

My eyes widen and I look around the room. I hear talking on the outside of the open door. I stay silent.

"He's okay, lucky he didn't sustain any further injuries."

"So we can go home?" Cassidy's voice drifts into my ears.

The same woman speaks again. "If Mr. Tuskar decides not to press charges, yes. But that might take a while to decide."

Another unfamiliar voice speaks, older than Cassidy, but young, still, and belonging to a man. "Ms.," he starts. "I just drove over 130 miles here, and I really need to take Cassidy home to her mother and father. I don't know a lot about this boy, we could just call his-"

"No!" Cassidy says. "We still need to find his truck!" I see her hand wrap around the frame if my door.

"I don't know, I doubt you will. Its a big city," the doctor -or nurse- is right. That makes me want to cry again. "Which makes me more curious about the situation. Seeing the truck was gone made him have the atrack?" She asks.

"Well yes," the man says.

"Erik, you weren't even there. Shut. Up." Cassidy says. I'm guessing he's been here a while. "I think so. It might have been Mr. Tuskar. Or jumping 80 stories. It could have been anything, really." Cassidy explains.

"Jumping 80 stories?" The man, Eric, asks.

"That's what I said," Cassidy retorts, annoyed.

"Well," the woman clicks her tongue. "Why don't you check on him and go on home. I'll send him back if anything."

"But Ms.-" Cassidy starts.

"Cassidy," the man scolds Cassidy.

"Shut up, Eric." Cassidy growls. He does.

She turns into the doorway and makes eye contact with me. "Winter," she says. "You're awake."

"Thanks, Captain." I smile at her. "Way to be obvious."

I've earned a smile.

*

"Mr. Tuskar would like to see you, Winter." Eric says. Cassidy went to find my truck.

"Mr. Tuskar can kiss my ass," I say, pulling the IV from my wrist.

"The doctor wanted I do that," Eric stares at my wrist, his eyes lingering on the other needle marks.

I lift my wrist closer to his face. "Take a picture, it'll last longer," I snap.

I roll my eyes and stand up. "Get out," I say, and so he does.

I dress myself and walk out, searching the hall for my doctor.

I make a left after passing two corridors and literally bump into Mr. Tuskar.

"Mr. Louss." He says, eyeing me.

I look at him, "Minsuer Tuskar,"

He eyes me once more, his large cheeks puffed. "French? You don't seem like the kind," he smiles, despite what I had done. "How are you doing, son?" He sits in one of the two chairs pressed against the wall.

"Uh," I stutter. "You aren't mad?"

*

"Oh my god! Winter! Were were you?" Cassidy hits my arm.

"Ow," I say, playfully glaring at her. "I've been here," I gesture to Mr. Tuskar, who is sitting beside me.

She looks at us, confused. "Oh. We uh, we found your truck. We can go home, now." She nods, gesturing me to follow her.

I nod to Mr. Tuskar, then follow Cassidy out if the building.

*

I drive the way home alone. Eric insisted he drive Cass, seeing as I was just in the hospital, so I follow close behind them.

When he stops in from of Cass' house, she doesn't get out of the car.

I can see Eric yelling, and her yelling right back. Her fist slams against the dashboard if his Honda Civic and he grabs he by the neck, pulling her close to his face.

He's an inch away from her, and I get out if the car. Her hands go to her throat, trying to ory his off as I run to the truck.

He pulls her lips on to his and she thrashes in his grasp.

I attempt to pull the door if the car open, but its locked. I bang on the window, my fist threatening the structure of the glass. "Eric! Cassidy! Let her go!" I yell, but GE won't remove his mouth from hers.

I bang on the window even harder, and a crack emerges on it.

His eyes widen and he pulls her away.

Her face is red, along with her eyes. He was cutting off her circulation.

Eric still doesn't open the door.

"I'll bust this window!" I yell, banging my fist on it again.

He just watches me, running his hand uo Cassidy's leg.

I hit the window again, the glass shaddering. That's when I hear Cassidy's choked sobs.

He's holding a knife.