Be Careful Who You Trust Chapter 10.1

Chapter 10

I heard a car pull up and I ran frantically outside. James and Mrs. Borden got out of the car, both looking worried.

“Please, I need to see Mom!” I exclaimed, barely able to breath.

James took my arm and led me to the backseat while Mrs. Borden shot questions at me, “Did the hospital call? How is she? Katie, honey, please talk to me.”

“Yes, they called,” I lied, “I don’t know how she is, they wouldn’t say.”

James slid in beside me and I did my best to stop fidgeting. My knee was a steady bounce and I felt like an escaped convict, just waiting for the police to find me. Was it bad that I would actually prefer that to reality? At least, that way Mom wouldn’t be hospitalized with some “mythical” creature going after her.

The car ride was silent. Too silent. I wanted to blurt out the recent events to Mrs. Borden but with James there, I couldn’t. I didn’t need to ruin his life with the scary reality. I didn’t want to. Once you know something like this, it couldn’t be unknown.

Mrs. Borden slowed to a stop at the General Hospital’s front doors and said, “Go. I’ll be there in just a minute.”

I nodded my head once, not trusting my voice and took off running before James even got out of the car. Somehow, with every leaping step I took, I knew I was too late and Mom was gone.

I didn’t stop to wait for James as I burst through the hospital doors. The faster I ran down the white hallways, the more I came to the realization that I was too late. I knew in my heart that she was gone. I knew that Zander had taken her life to prove his point.

But what was his point?

“Katie, wait!” James howled.

I ignored him as I finally made it to the elevators. I pushed the button to go up repeatedly and watched the number on top to see where it was. By the time it had stopped for the fourth time, I looked at the door beside the elevator and took the stairs. I ran as fast as I could, taking them by two. My blood rang in in my ears and I felt the sweat make my clothes stick to my body.

“Katie!” James called after me as I flew up the steps, exasperation evident in his voice, “Take a second and wait for the damn elevator!”

I ignored him and kept my pace. Too much was at stake to dawdle. I couldn’t for the life of me let Zander hurt Mom.

I watched the doors, waiting for the eighth floor to come.

My speed faltered at the sixth floor but when I thought about the images of my Mom, lying in her bed with no life, I found some energy to push on. I couldn’t let him get to her. I just couldn’t!

What’s the rush, love?

“You sick bastard, leave her alone!” I yelled, the staircase making it echo loudly.

He didn’t answer, making me nervous. I burst through the door to the eighth floor just as the elevator dinged.

James rushed out and grabbed my arm, swinging me around to face him as he tried to reason with me, “Katie, enough! Stop running around like a chicken with her head cut off and breathe! It’s not like your Mom wouldn’t have been here long enough for you to take the elevator. You’re freaking me out!”

I ripped my arm away from him and turned away, my blood starting to boil. I walked quickly towards Mom’s room and ignored the scoff I heard from him behind me. If he wanted to act like nothing was wrong then fine. I would deal with it by myself.

I slowed my mad-woman pace when I came up to room fifty-two, where my Mom was. My breath came in ragged gasps as I peeked my head round the corner into her room, expecting the worst. I exhaled, relieved to see her sleeping peacefully. I crept closer and was even more relieved to see her chest rise and fall steadily. Her brown hair falling messily around her shoulders, much like my own. Her fair skin was pale from the loss of blood.

Mom looked exactly like she did in the images but she was alive. She was alive!

I was wrong. She was fine. Zander didn't do anything to hurt her. But if he didn't, what was that seizure attack all about?

I'm glad you think so highly of me.

You’re a blood sucking monster. Excuse me for doubting your level of honorability. Especially after threating to kill Nathan. I scoffed, not getting how he expected me to put my trust in him.

For one, I didn’t say I’d kill him. I said he’d regret kissing you. Zander paused and I sensed his wheels turning. But now that you point it out, that boy deserves to die. You're mine and always will be.

Over my dead body! I snapped.

His amusement coursed through me.

Considering you have to die before becoming a vampire, I find that comforting.

I didn't answer him, my anger allowing me to hate him more. I wish he could just leave me alone. I didn't care if Nathan had to kill him to make him disappear. Actually, I would rather it because then he couldn't take any other innocent girls and manipulate them into loving him.

"Katie! Seriously, you need to calm down before you get us thrown out of the hospital!" James said, his voice pitching higher as he spoke.

I looked down at my feet shamefully and apologized, "Sorry. I don't know what's going on with me. I just had to see her, like, if I didn't then something would happen to her," I sat on the edge of Mom's bed and sighed, "Maybe I'm in shock or something."

James sighed and sat down beside me saying, "That would explain it. Katie, I've never seen you act like that before. You kind of freaked me out." He took my chin in his hand and looked into my eyes with his compelling blue ones and said, “It will all be fine, okay? I’m here and I won’t let anything hurt you. Or your mom.”

I smiled and cast my eyes down, breaking his gaze. “Thank you, James, I appreciate it.” I said.

A young nurse walked in and James put his hand back down to his lap and away from my face. His touch still lingered on my skin and I did my best to focus on the nurse; with her radiant step that made her blonde hair bounce around her shoulders. She smiled sweetly, the freckles on her nose giving her a very friendly appearance.

"Hello. I'm just here to give her the meds she needs for pain. I'll be out of your way as soon as I'm done. "

I returned her smile but didn't reply. I seriously didn't trust myself not to cry if I tried to talk. Already I was having a hard time keeping the tears at bay. My hands trembled slightly and I put them on my lap, trying to hide the fact. I kept my head down, hoping that my hair hid my face enough to keep her from seeing what kind of state I was in. I didn't need to be thrown in the hospital myself.

Once the nurse finished giving Mom a needle, she walked over and put her hand on my shoulder.

"Everything is going to be fine now. She's getting all the attention she deserves." She said smiling again.

I looked up and smiled at her as she walked out of the room, her blonde hair bouncing happily.

Suddenly, I felt it. A feeling of a content washed over me. A feeling of completion. Why would she be feeling that?

I pushed it away and looked down at Mom. I smiled as I looked at her. Her pale face, peaceful and without pain. I took her hand in mine and pressed it against my lips. I sniffled and smiled. My smile faded as I noticed the steady rise of her chest stop. I looked at James in a desperate plea, pointing it out to him with trembling hands. He came over, watching Mom's chest intently.

He inhaled sharply and ran towards the door saying, "I'll get the doctor!"

I didn't say anything as I took Mom's hand again, watching her, knowing it would be my last time feeling her skin against my own. Tears sprung to my eyes and I cried into her limp arm, begging her silently not to leave me.

I looked up to her face and gasped. Her face had changed to an ugly deformity. Her skin had wrinkled drastically and became paler than it already was. Her eyes were sunk deep within her head, like dark pits ready to steal my soul. I dropped her hand in shock and it landed heavily against the bed. I looked down and saw that it had turned a dark, blueish purple with sharp white nails on the six fingers that it possessed.

I stood up, not knowing anymore if I was dreaming or hallucinating. I felt numb as I heard bodies rushing in the door, none of them seeming to notice what Mom had turned into. I didn't pay attention to who it was but I let them move me out of the room. James was waiting for me, his eyes holding no joy. Only pain filled them.

He held out his arms and I dashed into them, letting him hold me tightly. No matter what the doctors did, I knew that my Mom was gone. She'd left me, just like my Dad.

Realization hit me, I was alone.

I held James tightly, sobbing into her shoulder as I listened to the doctors rustling in the room and the beeping of the machines.

"Clear!" I heard one man yell as the machine powered up. Its hum wasn't comforting when a sharp blast when off as they used it on her lifeless body.

"Clear!" They yelled again.

With each blast I squeezed James tighter as if doing so would make everything go away. Unfortunately, I knew it wouldn't work as the doctors piled out of the room, all of them avoiding eye contact with me. That could only mean one thing.

She was gone.

I'm sorry for your loss, love.

I was too overwhelmed to take him. I knew he wasn't saying anything harmful but I couldn't bring myself to talk to him. The very thought of him made me sick.

Please leave me alone. I begged him. I was relieved when his presence leave my mind at my request.

A hand placed itself on my shoulder and I looked up with teary eyes into the green eyes of Dr. Adams. His smile was sad and he shook his head slowly, telling me everything I needed to know.

I already knew exactly what he was saying but he spoke, just to clarify, "I'm sorry, Katie. We did everything we could."

I turned my face into James’ shoulder to hide my tears but I figured that the choking sob gave me away. Not that I really cared. My life had collapsed in such a short amount of time and I had no idea what was going to happen next. With my luck, the world was going to end.

His hand withdrew its touch from my shoulder but a little piece of me wanted him to stay with me. He was oddly comforting. I'm sure it was just because of the state I was in because I hardly knew him. I wasn't one to be comforted by just anyone. Much less by a stranger.

Katie, the blonde. Where did she go?

I don't know and honestly, I don't care. I snapped back at him. Mom just died and he expected me to care about his fantasies about some blonde chick? Hell no.

Don't be a fool, Katie. She was with your Mom and then she suddenly disappears just as your Mom starts going all haywire? Get over your hate for me and put the pieces toge-

I imagined a mental wall to keep him out and it worked! His presence on the other side trying to push his way in but he couldn't. At least not yet. I would have to talk to Nathan when all this was over. If it ever had an end.

"I'm sorry Katie. I'm sorry." James whispered in my ear as he squeezed me tighter. I sobbed silently but stopped suddenly as something dawned on me.

I pulled away from him and he watched me, worry evident on his face. I faced Mom's room and made my way to her side. Her odd hand lay limp by her side and I chanced a peek at her face. It was still appallingly deformed but I leaned down and kissed her forehead. Seeing her in such a state chilled me to the bone.

I took her hand in mine and although she hadn't been gone for long, there was an eerie chill to her skin. One that would only grow deeper and colder.

I sniffled and brought her hand to my mouth, tears falling onto her skin as I whispered, "I'll find her, Mom. She'll regret this."

"Who are you talking about?" James asked.

"The blonde," I whispered to myself, "it was the blonde!"

"What?" James asked, completely confused.

I placed her hand back on the sheet and trailed my hand along the sagging edge of her jaw. I planted another kiss on her forehead before making my way out of the room, James trailing behind me. I could feel his worry increase with every determined step I took.

I made my way to the receptionist and asked, "There was a nurse, she had wavy blonde hair and blue eyes and some freckles on her nose. Couldn't have been much older than me. Do you know where she went?"

The receptionist looked at me strangely and replied, "I'm sorry miss, but we don't have anyone that young who works here. I don't recognize your description of her either. Give me a moment and I'll check the database."

I waited patiently as she clacked away on her computer, trying not to think about Mom.

"Katie, what are you doing?" James asked firmly, pulling me away from the desk. Apparently, he'd had enough of my silence. He wouldn't like it but he wasn't going to stop me from finding that blonde headed bitch and making her regret even looking at my Mom. That fake facade of trying to comfort me? That was just cruel.

"I just want to find that blonde nurse." I said simply, trying to hide my true feelings about her.

"Yeah right. I know that look of yours and it tells me you're up to no good. The truth, now!" He demanded.

"Miss," the receptionist called, "I looked through the nurse staff and I didn't find anyone that matches the description you gave me. Sorry."

I smiled at her and gave my thanks before walking away, James trailing behind once again. As soon as I was out of sight, I took off at a dead run for the elevators. This time, I figured I could afford the time it would take to use them. I was too out of shape to take the stairs again.

I jumped into the elevator which, thankfully, only had one other person in it. As soon as I got in, I lunged around and pressed the 'close door' button repeatedly. James was only going to slow me down and that blonde already had a massive head start.

Wait...she was probably long gone by now. If it was her, she wouldn't stick around to get caught. Would she?

No! I thought to myself, I have to try! It was her!

I promised Mom I would make her regret it and I wasn't about to break that promise.