Kira lifts her flag into the air, and a whistle blows from the referee. Claire yells, “Stop!” at Mina, and she releases Kira’s neck.
“Appears like this cat fight is over,” Carmen announces over the screen. Tia can’t help feel a small triumph as Kira surrenders. For the first time, Tia can grasp the concept of why this is entertainment. Maybe if all the fights were this funny. Her eyes become heavy, as the medicine kicks in. Smiling, she falls into a deep slumber.
The woman, from her previous dreams, stands in front of Tia, holding a wooden box. They are in a heavily wooded area, at midnight. Without a word, she opens it, releasing an owl. Tia follows the owl, for what seems like an eternity. It lands on a shoulder, a shoulder that belongs to Osborn.
She tries to ask her father why he is there. Her father remains silent. Tia attempts to gain Osborn’s attention, but he just stares blank into the darkness. She turns to look out in that same direction and sees a man walking slowly towards them. Tia turns back to her father and the owl screeches in her face, before flying away. She peers back towards the other man. It is Javan Leporem, dressed in an all white suit, with a black tie. He snaps a finger, and before Tia’s eyes, her father turns into dust.
Tia wakes in a cold sweat. She is still in the hospital bed next to Quade. She turns to him and he is sitting up, enjoying a bowl of ice cream. His eye and chin are completely healed. The only mark left from the fight, is his arm in the sling. Tia lifts herself up, the pain removed from her body. Quade’s eyes wander over, after hearing her stir.
“Look who’s up!” Quade beams at Tia, his grin wider than usual, especially, considering everything he endured this morning.
“What time is it?” she probes, still groggy.
“It’s eight o’clock.” He takes another spoonful of ice cream and puts it in his mouth, making noises of satisfaction, and licking the entire spoon. Tia wonders what kind of medicine they gave him.
“Wow, I’ve been asleep that long?” she asks, rubbing her eyes.
“Yep. I just woke a little bit ago, myself. You should ask them for something to eat. The nurses will get you anything you like,” Quade offers, grin still intact.
“That’s okay.” Tia sits up more, attempting to wake herself fully. She is afraid to try anything, with the way Quade is acting.
“I saw you won your fight,” Quade mentions, scraping his bowl.
“How? You were out cold when I arrived.”
“They have been replaying them all day, in case anyone missed them. They also replayed the ceremony from last night. Your barfing didn’t look as bad as you thought. Most commentators have been sympathetic about it. They say it humanizes you. Which is funny, cause you are half human.” He laughs at his own words, as though it is the funniest thing he heard all day. Tia’s concern for Quade rises.
“Oh, boy,” she moans. “Who won in your fight?”
“Neither of us, actually. We were the only ones to make the twenty minute mark.” Quade smiles again, with chocolate ice cream around the corners of his mouth.
“That’s great!” Tia replies, trying not to laugh at him.
“Yeah, Dan is actually a pretty cool guy. Once we are feeling better later, we plan on getting some beers to celebrate. Wanna join?” Quade offers, almost too excitedly.
“No thanks,” Tia starts, “I had enough alcohol last night. But you guys have fun.” For the first time, in a long time, she feels peaceful about Quade. He appears content. It is comforting to Tia to know that someone she cares for is truly happy, even if it appears to be drug induced.
Tia’s eyes peek around the room. She spots Delilah, laying on one of the beds. Her IV is hooked up and she seems to be slightly better than she was earlier. Tia notices her stir, so she knows Delilah must be awake. Tia glances up at her IV, then down at the floor, to make certain the pole is mobile. Tia crawls out of her bed,
“Appears like this cat fight is over,” Carmen announces over the screen. Tia can’t help feel a small triumph as Kira surrenders. For the first time, Tia can grasp the concept of why this is entertainment. Maybe if all the fights were this funny. Her eyes become heavy, as the medicine kicks in. Smiling, she falls into a deep slumber.
The woman, from her previous dreams, stands in front of Tia, holding a wooden box. They are in a heavily wooded area, at midnight. Without a word, she opens it, releasing an owl. Tia follows the owl, for what seems like an eternity. It lands on a shoulder, a shoulder that belongs to Osborn.
She tries to ask her father why he is there. Her father remains silent. Tia attempts to gain Osborn’s attention, but he just stares blank into the darkness. She turns to look out in that same direction and sees a man walking slowly towards them. Tia turns back to her father and the owl screeches in her face, before flying away. She peers back towards the other man. It is Javan Leporem, dressed in an all white suit, with a black tie. He snaps a finger, and before Tia’s eyes, her father turns into dust.
Tia wakes in a cold sweat. She is still in the hospital bed next to Quade. She turns to him and he is sitting up, enjoying a bowl of ice cream. His eye and chin are completely healed. The only mark left from the fight, is his arm in the sling. Tia lifts herself up, the pain removed from her body. Quade’s eyes wander over, after hearing her stir.
“Look who’s up!” Quade beams at Tia, his grin wider than usual, especially, considering everything he endured this morning.
“What time is it?” she probes, still groggy.
“It’s eight o’clock.” He takes another spoonful of ice cream and puts it in his mouth, making noises of satisfaction, and licking the entire spoon. Tia wonders what kind of medicine they gave him.
“Wow, I’ve been asleep that long?” she asks, rubbing her eyes.
“Yep. I just woke a little bit ago, myself. You should ask them for something to eat. The nurses will get you anything you like,” Quade offers, grin still intact.
“That’s okay.” Tia sits up more, attempting to wake herself fully. She is afraid to try anything, with the way Quade is acting.
“I saw you won your fight,” Quade mentions, scraping his bowl.
“How? You were out cold when I arrived.”
“They have been replaying them all day, in case anyone missed them. They also replayed the ceremony from last night. Your barfing didn’t look as bad as you thought. Most commentators have been sympathetic about it. They say it humanizes you. Which is funny, cause you are half human.” He laughs at his own words, as though it is the funniest thing he heard all day. Tia’s concern for Quade rises.
“Oh, boy,” she moans. “Who won in your fight?”
“Neither of us, actually. We were the only ones to make the twenty minute mark.” Quade smiles again, with chocolate ice cream around the corners of his mouth.
“That’s great!” Tia replies, trying not to laugh at him.
“Yeah, Dan is actually a pretty cool guy. Once we are feeling better later, we plan on getting some beers to celebrate. Wanna join?” Quade offers, almost too excitedly.
“No thanks,” Tia starts, “I had enough alcohol last night. But you guys have fun.” For the first time, in a long time, she feels peaceful about Quade. He appears content. It is comforting to Tia to know that someone she cares for is truly happy, even if it appears to be drug induced.
Tia’s eyes peek around the room. She spots Delilah, laying on one of the beds. Her IV is hooked up and she seems to be slightly better than she was earlier. Tia notices her stir, so she knows Delilah must be awake. Tia glances up at her IV, then down at the floor, to make certain the pole is mobile. Tia crawls out of her bed,
Similar Books
