Cinder: A Close To Normal Life

Chapter 17

Kai's POV

The next morning I woke up and decided to visit dad at the hospital right away. The plague was progressing quickly and he could be dead by today. I want to see him at least one more time. Stepping out of the door, I didn't even notice a small package until I almost stepped on it. It was a little box with a big flamboyant purple bow on top. Curious, I slowly unraveled the bow and cautiously looked inside. There was a small vial inside, but the thing that caught my eye was the note that said: an offer you can't refuse. I carefully lifted up the vial, not breathing in case it was what I thought it was. My eyes widened when I saw the confirmation label on the back: antidote.

I clenched the vial in my fist and sprinted to the hospital.

...

"I'm sorry but he just passed a few minutes before you arrived, we were just about to call you," the nurse said as I stared at the lifeless body of my father.

My whole body shook. I was just a few minutes too late. I pressed a hand up to the separation glass and shut my eyes tight, then opened them quickly hoping I would see a different reality - but of course nothing changed. A footage of my favorite memories with dad played in the back of my mind and I stood there for what felt like hours, but was probably just a few minutes. After taking a deep breath and brushing away the tears that I hardly even noticed, I stepped out into the hallway looking to get some fresh air. But I stopped in my tracks when I heard a familiar voice.

"-hope you realize how insane that sounds? I'm sorry but there's really no way-"

"Cinder?" I asked while turning the corner and finding her talking to a doctor, "what are you doing here?"

She jumped in surprise, "Kai? I- uh- wait what are you doing here?"

I looked at my shoes. "Well, my dad... he's... yeah..." I said awkwardly. Maybe I wasn't as eloquent as I thought.

"Oh stars, Kai, I'm so sorry," Cinder's voice sounded tired but still full of concern.

"It's fine," I said looking back up wanting to change the subject and also curious, "but what are you doing here?"

"Um... I, uh... well-"

The doctor she was talking to earlier jumped in, "Cinder's sister contracted the plague and she was just asking me if there was anything she could do. Unfortunately I have other patients I need to attend to, but Cinder please stay put for a while longer and I'll contact you with any updates."

"Oh yeah, um thanks Dr. Erland," Cinder replied as he walked away.

"Wait Peony has the plague?" I turned to Cinder concerned. I had just seen her the other day and she looked so healthy then.

"Yeah it happened pretty suddenly, we're not quite sure where exactly she got it from... but it might have been from the shop." She avoided my eye contact.

Cinder always seemed pretty tough to me, but I knew she must be hurting. "I'm so sorry," and without hesitation, I took out the vial that I'd been clenching and shoved it into her hand. "Get this to Peony, I think it could save her." I quickly scribbled my phone number onto a piece of paper and handed it to Cinder too. "Let me know if it works."

Then before she could ask me any questions, I ran off.

Cinder's POV

The vial that Kai gave to me felt warm in my hand, like he had been gripping it for a while. I had so many questions, but instead of running after him I sped towards Peony's room. I opened the door to the room and looked around wildly for a doctor or nurse, but instead I found Adri and Pearl.

"Wuh-What are you doing back here!" Adri shrieked, "I thought I finally got rid of you for good."

I swallowed back my frustration, "I have something that could help Peony, I- I'm not positive it's going to work though." I held up the antidote.

Adri narrowed her eyes at me, "You think I would trust you with anything? I bet it would just make her die faster."

"You know the doctor says she's going to die within the hour?" Pearl said to me, choking back a sob.

It was like a sledgehammer hit me in the lungs, "An- an hour? How is that possible? The first signs of the plague only showed a day ago!"

"Don't pretend like you didn't do this to her!" Adri screamed. "And get that thing and yourself out of here!" She swatted the vial from my hand and it took all of my ability to catch it before it crashed to the ground.

I knew there was some truth in Adri's words. I wasn't completely sure what exactly was going on, but I did know that a macaron contaminated with the plague - most likely sent from Luna - was put in my shop and meant for me. Peony had just gotten caught in the crossfires. "But-"

"NO. I won't allow it. Leave before I call security. And don't even think about going back home! I don't want to see your face again."

My frustration was boiling over. I have a chance of saving Peony. I mentally ran through all the possibilities - maybe I could force a doctor to inject the cure even without Adri's approval? But that wouldn't happen because of legal reasons. I could try to run into the room and inject it myself? But security would definitely get to me first. I hated not being able to do anything.

"What are you waiting for?" Adri yelled at me again, "GET OUT!" She and Pearl pushed me out into the hallway and slammed the door shut.

I wanted to scream. I felt frustrated, heartbroken, and helpless all at the same time. But I knew I couldn't waste the possible antidote. I took a deep breath and walked down the hallway, going up to the first doctor I saw. "Give this to one of your patients, convince their guardian to use it no matter what - it could save their life."

The doctor gave me a weird look, "Where did you get this from? And who-?"

"Where is unimportant. Just use it - they're going to die anyways right?" Then I took a pen from her pocket and scribbled my name and phone number on her clipboard. "Please let me know if it works." And then I ran off, copying Kai without even realizing it.

...

In the afternoon, I found myself at Cress's house curled up on her couch. After leaving the hospital, I made a quick trip home to pick up some of my stuff before going to Cress's place, which was closer than Scarlet's. After explaining everything - Peony, possibly being lunar, Kai giving me an antidote - Cress made me take a nap while she went to the shop to help me pick up some of my things. We also called Scarlet and quickly filled her in. She said that she'd be right over. Stars, I love my friends.

I had tried to sleep, but I found myself constantly drifting in and out of consciousness. I couldn't stop thinking about Peony, Luna, and Kai. Before I could slip into sleep again, my phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hi, my name is Doctor Reyes. You gave me a vial to use on a patient today."

I sat up straight, becoming completely alert, "Yes, how did it go?"

"Well my patient's circumstances were a bit different because he didn't have an emergency contact and when he was first admitted to the hospital he agreed to try anything to save him. All I had to do was confirm with my supervisor, Sybil Mira, to proceed. After getting the green light, I injected the antidote - and it worked."

I gasped. "It worked? The plague- the plague just left their system?"

"Yes, the cure attacked the plague until all of it was gone. After a couple hours the patient was completely fine and seemed to have immunity. We were going to keep him for longer to run additional tests but..."

"But?"

"But he seemed to have run off."

I was stunned. "You mean he just left the hospital? Where could he have-"

Suddenly the front door opened and Cress walked in. Her face was beet red for some reason. "Uh Cinder, someone wants to see you."

From behind her emerged a guy with light brown hair, bright blue eyes, and a square jaw. He smiled at me. "Hi, thank you for saving my life today. My name is Captain Carswell Thorne."