Supernatural Secret

CHAPTER 17.2

I could smell the typical hospital smell in every breath that I took. Slowly and steadily, I opened my eyes to see the ceiling of the hospital; it was the usual bright white colour. I blinked a lot to adjust my eyes to the light; it was an involuntary movement since my eyes had been closed for so long. Lying still on the bed, I rolled my eyes around without moving my head.

 I remembered the accident, and Ethan saving me, and the pain I endured. I dared not move my body in fear of facing the pain again. I could feel nothing other than someone holding my hand. Someone was sleeping beside my bed. 

Was it Ethan?

I moved my arm a little and woke up the man who was in deep sleep next to me. The blurry face got up and was shocked to see me. As my vision got clearer, I could see his round face and spectacles, and that he had only a little hair on his head. Dad asked worriedly, "Can you hear me?" I nodded in confirmation. He breathed a sigh of relief, took my hand and touched it to his forehead as if he was praying. A thank you to God, probably.

"Do you recognize me?... Oh, wait... Do you know your name?" His eyes sparkled in curiosity and it was obvious he was worried about me; he looked like he had been here the entire time.

My lips felt really dry so I licked them, and said, "Yes, Dad. I am Annabeth." My voice was hoarse, probably because my throat was dry. I smiled. I could not even feel my wounds anymore, probably because the doctors must have given me a good dose of anaesthesia. 

I could move my hand a little better now. I could feel my left leg wrapped in plaster; if I moved it a little, it did not hurt. But I dared not move it more than that to make it worse. I could see, hear and talk well which means there was not much damage done to my internal organs. I could feel a bandage wrapped around my forehead too. I tried to get up but failed halfway. 

My dad pressed a button near me to move the bed up so that it could support my back, allowing me to sit comfortably.

"Anna, take it slow. You had a big accident, so don't be careless towards your body please," he said. 

He was sitting in front of me on a stool. Dad's back was a little more hunched than normal, so I knew he must have been sitting at the hospital for a long time. His blue light-wash shirt and black pants were creased, and I knew my Dad never leaves the house with creases in his clothes; he probably slept here. 

I felt guilty and nervous. What reason would I give him for this accident? I couldn't tell him that I was going to confess my feelings to a strange guy... who is actually a hunter... and is helping me fight James... who is a werewolf... and wants to make me one as well... because I have some special power in me. Yes, that was too long-winded a story. I don't like lying to him, but it's better than giving him high blood-pressure and causing him to have a heart attack.

 I needed to first know the basics of where I was...

"What is the date and time today?" I asked, looking straight into my dad's eyes - they were filled with joy as he looked at me. He got up from his seat and poured a glass of water while answering my question, "It is two days after your accident and it is 8 o'clock in the morning right now." He then passed me the glass of water to drink.

I drank the whole glass without stopping for a breath. It felt as if I hadn't drunk water in years. I wasn't unconscious for too long, which made me relieved. A smile crept over my face after I saw Dad again. I did not want him to worry about me.

Dad held my hand in his and leaned his chin over them. Tears poured out of his eyes.

"Dad, I am fine. Why are you crying now?" I asked with concern. I did not want to cry in front of him because I knew he would tear up even more, so I held back.