An Inch Of Infinity (Short Version)

CHAPTER 56- Surprise

 BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. A rhythmic beeping sound woke me up. A nurse was sitting next to me reading a book. I looked around. Where am I? I think. Then I remember everything. I try to sit up. If I'm in a hospital, then the Keeper knows I'm here. He will come after me, I've got to get out of here. When I sit up, the monitor beeps loud and fast. Pain shoots through my leg like lightning, clustering around my knee, and it keeps adding. I hissed in pain, as the nurse forced me to lay down. She isn't much older than me and looks nervous that I'm awake.

"Akari, do you remember what happened?" she asks me. She looks really nervous.

"If anyone asks, I have a horrible concussion and don't remember anything since new years." I say. She looks even more nervous.

"I can't tell you because then you would be suspicious of everyone, but I caught someone doing bad stuff, and he chased me down a vent. I got stuck at a dead end and they pushed me out. When It's safe to tell, I'll tell everyone." I say with dire seriousness. She seems to understand and wrapps my head with lots of bandages before letting in visitors. Emma comes in first. Before she even can speak Coral races through the door and slams it shut, locking it then walking to my bedside.

"Faith wasn't doing voodoo, she was making charms." Coral says triumphantly. Emma elbows her. "Oh! Um, how are you Kari? Are you OK?" she asks. I smile. Just seeing them makes me want to stand up and sing, and actually forget this whole thing.

"I'm fine." I laugh. Emma steps forward. She gives me a box. It is black, and I'm scared of it at first, thinking of the Keeper, but I know it's safe and I open it. Inside is a charm bracelet with a little wooden charm that looks like me, a medal charm of a lion that means courage, a third of a heart with puzzle piece edges representing friendship with the owners of the other two thirds, and an agate bead.

"I love it! Thank you!" I say. Emma and Coral each hold up their wrists. They each have charm bracelets with a matching heart piece. We put them together. The nurse says the doctor has to see me now.

" Make sure to send Faith in!" I call after them.
Next comes the doctor. His face is mostly covered by a procedure mask and a head mirror, but I can see his eyes. He examined me closely, and asks questions, but I say I don't remember. He keeps eyeing me. I don't know where I know him from, but I have a bad feeling. He finally stops and steps back. I feel like I can finally breathe, even though I was breathing before.

"You've punctured your popliteal artery, behind your knee. You might not be able to walk for a few days, even with the treatment. It will take at least a week to completely heal, so don't run, jump, kick, or exert your leg in any way. Luckily, we have the latest in medical technology with us, so it will be able to stand on for short periods by tomorrow."I nodded, and he continued" You couldn't have gotten that just from hitting the water. Something must have happened. It would have been a nasty fall, and even if you hit the ocean floor, that couldn't happen. Are you sure you don't remember?" he asks, his hand resting on some sharp looking surgical tools.

I shake my head, and stare at the tools. His eyes sparkle. There is something about his voice, I just can't remember who he is. I take a chance, and ask the big question.

"Do I know you? You seem familiar." I say. He lets out a laugh. It sends chills down my spine.

"You might, I did find the survivors," he says. I nod my head, but I know he is lying. Who ever he is, he will not say the truth, and I'm not exactly in a trusting mood. Something is just not right here.

"These are for you concussion. This is a somewhat mild one, but it shouldn't make you forget, at least not everything. Are you sure that you can't remember anything?" he asks again. I take a deep breath. Here goes nothing.

"I remember a room, and a bed, I was under the bed, and I fell, someone, or something chased me and I left a blood trail. Then I was in the ocean and,a, a mermaid saved me?" I say, like I didn't believe myself even. He relaxed and nodded.

"It wasn't a mermaid, it was one of the survivors, started with an 'M', what was it?" he seemed stumped.

" Maiki!" I say. He nods vigorously. He unwrapped my knee, and put ointment and fresh bandages on it. It looks super gross. He keeps eyeing me, and I'm starting to get nervous.

"If you will excuse me, I have to go. I will be back later, I'll send in your visitors." he says. He leaves and I relax. He scares me, and something in the back of my mind is bothering me about him. Faith runs in. She starts talking a mile a minute. I put up my hand and she stops.

"Faith, I have to tell you something." I whisper. She leans in to hear me eagerly. I didn't tell anyone, but I know I can trust faith to take care of this.

"Remember when you said that you would destroy whoever plays all these pranks?" I ask. Her eyes go wide.

"DID THE PRANKSTER DO THIS TO YOU?" she exclaims. I hushed her. Now if the 'prankster' hears this, he might get away.

"Shush! Yes, but he is more than some teen playing pranks." I say, drawing her closer. Her ear is touching my lips, but I still cover the space between us with my hand and whisper as quietly as I can.

"Faith, he is a Keeper." I whisper. She gasps and jumps back. Not caring anymore, I just say the rest out loud.

"On our boat, there is a secret ladder next to the captain's cabin. He is up there. He has a chest containing codes and secrets and poison, complete with a uniform, Faith. A Keepers uniform! Under the bed is a trap door leading to the vents he chased me down. You would be able to move like a cat through those, but don't get lost. Find him, catch him, stop him. I think he is planning to kill us all soon, very soon. Take people with you!" I say slowly so she can hear and remember everything. Then the doctor bursts through the door, but now he has no surgical mask, and I can see him clearly. I gasp, the medical tools, the voice, all of it makes since.

"IT'S YOU!" I scream.