brain.
âThe things youâve been forced to see. The things youâve been through. I canât imagine. But, baby, itâs over now. No one will ever hurt you again. That woman is dead. The trailer is destroyed. You are here with me. Safe.â
âHow did I get here? I donât remember.â
âYou were barely alive when a deputy sheriff found us and drove us to the hospital. Youâve been here for four days.â
âNo, I mean how did I get here from the park?â
âHuh?â The word popped out, making him sound like an imbecile.
âJust now. How did I get here from the park?â
He searched her eyes, expecting to see a crazy gaze aimed back at him, but her aquamarine depths were clear and lucid. âYouâve been here in the hospital for the past four days. Iâve been with you the whole time.â
âNo. I was just at Prospectus Prairie Park.â
He spared a glance at Kent. The guyâs eyes narrowed on Isleen; then he yanked his buzzing phone off his belt and read a message on the screen. Really? She wakes up for the first time, and this is Kentâs reaction?
âBaby, youâve been here with me. Youâve been sleeping a lot over the past days, pretty out of it. Then ten minutes ago, you got out of bed and walked down the hallway to this waiting room. I followed you. Put this blanket over you.â He tugged the ends tighter across her front. âYou were⦠You were all lights-are-on-but-no-one-is-home. And then you just snapped out of it.â
Isleen had started shaking her head halfway through his speech. âJust now, I was at Prospectus Prairie Park. A woman was jogging, and a man crawled out of a culvert and stabbed her over and over. He wouldnât stop. I couldnât move. I tried.â Her chin trembled, and her face scrunched into a grimace. âMy headâ¦â She grabbed her forehead with both of her hands. Her face went from hale and hearty to gray. âI donât feeâ¦â Her eyes rolled back, her legs folded, and she collapsed. Xander caught her before she met the floor and swung her way-too-bony body up into his arms.
Kent was beyond useless. He stared at his phone as if the next winning Powerball numbers were being revealed to him.
âNurse! I need a nurse!â Xander yelled as he jogged back down the hallway to Isleenâs room.
âWhat happened?â The nurse assigned to Isleen rushed after him, huffing and wheezing as if she were running a marathon.
âShe was up, walking around. Talking. Said her head hurt and then passed out.â Xander settled Isleen into her bed.
Youâre so sweet, the way you havenât left her all this time. Wish my Kelly could find someone as devoted. I bet sheâd even be able to overlook your face if you treated her half as good as youâre treating this girl.
Xander held his breath while the nurse took Isleenâs blood pressure, listened to her pulse, and checked her pupils. âEverything seems normal. If she doesnât wake up in a few minutes, let me know and Iâll call the doctor.â
As if waiting for the cue, Isleenâs eyes fluttered open and locked on Xander again.
âBaby, you okay?â he asked.
âIâm so cold andâ¦â Her teeth chattered and a rash of goose bumps sprang out across her flesh, reaching up her neck and around the edges of her face. Damn. He didnât know goose bumps could do that. âAnd tired. Iâm so tired.â
âHere. Youâll warm up in a moment.â The nurse placed another blanket over Isleen. âYou need to take things a little slower. Now, if you need anything else, you let me know. Itâs nice seeing you talking.â The nurse rubbed Isleenâs leg and then left the room, brushing by Kent, who was leaning against the doorjamb.
âDude. We need to talk. Now.â Kentâs tone grabbed Xanderâs attention. The guy
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