imagine was his attempt at breathing. Raspy, hitched, it didn’t sound life sustaining at all.
Liberty’s fears were confirmed when she entered the room. If she’d imagined Mitch couldn’t get any thinner, paler, more drawn, she’d have been wrong. He looked like a skeleton wrapped tight in flesh-colored cellophane, blue veins snaking under opaque skin. His aura had dimmed considerably and now was a dark and muddy gray, like a blown bulb.
The scent in the room was a mixture of fresh vomit and disinfectant. How was this man still alive?
She and Becky exchanged glances, then Liberty forced a smile and pushed herself to his bedside. He opened his eyes before she said a word.
“Liberty.” He patted the mattress with his bony hand. “Sit, please. I need to say something.”
She couldn’t bring herself to sit so close. She was afraid to hurt him, so she knelt down next to the bed, at eye level, and took his hand. It felt like she held a small bundle of icicles. “I’m here.”
Becky spoke up, “Would you like me to leave?”
Mitch shook his head. “No, you can stay…hear this, too.”
Becky looked at Liberty as if to ask if she minded, and Liberty smiled, it was fine by her. No secrets between friends.
Mitch stared into Liberty’s eyes for several moments, and when she opened her mouth to speak, to say anything to break the painful silence, he said, “I’m sorry I hurt you.”
“Shh.” She placed her other hand on top of his and stroked it, tried to warm him up. “You’ve no reason to be sorry—“
He interrupted, “Please don’t.”
She nodded, encouraged him to go on.
“You remember when Sage went missing? The day after my Ellie died?”
How could she ever forget? “Yes.”
“I didn’t help you look for her—“
“It’s okay, Mitch, really. We understood. You were mourning.”
He shook his head in agitation and started a coughing fit. Becky picked up a glass of water, tried to give him some, but he waved her away. After a moment, he composed himself.
“Let me talk,” he whispered.
Liberty nodded and took his hand again. “Go ahead.”
“You never knew it, but I was there.”
“I’m sorry?”
“In the woods.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was on my way to the cavern to talk to you.” His eyes became watery. “And even through the thunderclaps I could hear Adrian’s cries. Though, at the time I didn’t know it was him.”
Not sure she fully comprehended, she leaned in a little closer.
“And when I followed the sounds, I finally realized they came from him. He’d been standing at the top of the embankment, looking down.”
Liberty heard Becky take in a sharp breath, and Liberty turned to look at her. What was he trying to say? Liberty narrowed her eyes at Becky, was she hearing this, too?
Liberty turned back to Mitch and said, “I don’t think I get what you’re saying.”
“Adrian never heard me, I think he was too upset. He ran along the ridge down over the hill, until he was out of sight. I crept to the lip, and took a look over.”
Her eyes were as wide as a barn owl’s, but she didn’t dare utter a word.
“It was your girl lying at the bottom. She looked busted up, and I knew it was bad because her form.” He held up a shaky hand. “Flickered, wavered.”
Liberty’s hands flew to her mouth and tears spilled down over her fingers. Oh please don’t say it. Liberty shook her head back and forth, thought the worst. Felt like she’d been punched in the gut. No, no. He’d taken her and buried her and left her aching and hoping all this time.
“How could you not tell me this before?” she managed as she got up from the floor.
Becky was behind her then, hands on her shoulders.
Liberty shrugged her off, no desire to be touched, turned on Becky. “Did you know this, too?”
“Of course not,” Becky said, and the surprise in her eyes was either a perfect performance or genuine. Liberty wasn’t sold either way.
“Lib, please,” Mitch begged but she was so confused the only sound she heard clearly was the blood as it pounded in her ears.
“Where is she?” She’d hurt him if he didn’t tell her. She believed she could.
“I’m not finished, sit.” His voice was raspy, but unmistakably firm.
She shook her head, no way would she sit back down. Liberty took a step backward toward the door, Becky close at the hip.
“Damn it.” He started to cough again. “Sage is alive.”
She and Becky gasped in unison.
Becky said, in a voice too