Wicked Princess - Ashley Jade Page 0,4
like a desert, I utter, “Can I have some water?”
“Sure thing.” She takes out a thermometer. “I just need to take your temperature first, all right?”
I’m not really in a position to refuse.
After she takes my temperature along with a few other vitals and checks my IV, she hands me a small cup of water.
It feels like heaven…until I hear people arguing right outside my door.
“Is everything okay? Am I in trouble?”
The nurse gives me a reassuring smile. “Of course not, sweetie.”
I take another small sip of water. “Why does it hurt to move?”
A crease forms between her brows. “You have a fractured pelvis.”
Yikes. “Oh.”
She adjusts the pillow beneath me. “The good news is that you’re recovering beautifully and as long as that continues, you should be able to start physical therapy in a couple of weeks.”
That’s great and all, but I have much more pressing issues to worry about.
Clearing my throat, I ask the question no one seems to be answering. “Do you know where my mom and brother are? They were in the car with me when my m—” My mouth clamps shut before I finish that sentence. “Are they okay?”
She pats my hand. “I’m gonna go out there and talk to the doctor. Are you in any pain right now? Is there anything I can get you? Juice? Maybe some soup?”
I shake my head.
The only thing I want is for her to answer my question, but she ambles out of the room.
A few moments later, the doctor, my father, and the two guys I don’t know walk back inside, only there’s a new face this time.
A skinny girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.
She’s holding the scary guy’s hand and rubbing his back…consoling him.
Why?
I look at my father. “What’s going on?”
He starts to speak, but Dr. Jones cuts him off.
“Before we get into that, I need to ask you a few questions, okay?”
Again, it’s not like I’m in any position to decline.
“Ball, tree, and bird,” Dr. Jones states as he looks at his watch. “I want you to remember these words.”
Weird. “Okay.”
He types something into his tablet. “Bianca, can you tell me where you are?”
I look around. “The hospital…I think.”
“Very good.” He points to my dad. “And who is this man beside me?”
That’s an easy one. “My dad.”
He continues typing things on his tablet. “What about the two other gentlemen in the room?”
“I have no idea.” I eye them warily. “Should I?”
The scary guy winces and the girl with the blue-streaked hair kisses his shoulder.
A pang of guilt hits me. They all look so upset.
“I—I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Dr. Jones assures me.
Dad’s eyes lock with mine. “You didn’t do anything wrong, sweetheart.”
I didn’t but…
Panic rises up my throat.
Mom didn’t do anything wrong, either. She wasn’t acting like herself.
She loves us. She would never hurt us on purpose.
Another horrifying thought hits me.
Did they take her away? Put her someplace where I’ll never be able to see her again?
“I…um.”
The room begins to sway, and the cup of water slips out of my hand.
“Where’s my mom?”
I need to see her, so I know she’s all right.
The scary guy steps forward, only he doesn’t look so scary right now.
He looks every bit as terrified as I feel despite the next words out of his mouth.
“Everything will be okay.”
The other guy with the piercing green eyes walks over to the other side of my bed. “We got you.”
I don’t understand any of this. “Who are you?”
The mean one starts to speak again, but Dr. Jones holds up a hand.
“Bianca, can you tell me how old you are?”
“Eight—” I start to answer until I look down again. I certainly don’t have the body of an eight-year-old. I don’t really feel like one either…whatever that means. “I think? I’m not so sure anymore.”
Dr. Jones looks up from his tablet. “Can you recall the words I asked you to remember before?”
I scan my brain. “Ball, tree, and bird.”
He smiles. “Very good.” He looks at my father. “I want to run a few more tests, but it seems her short-term memory is still intact.”
“Short term memory?” I repeat, not understanding.
“That’s good, right?” scary guy asks.
The doctor nods before he turns his attention back to me. “Can you recall anything about the accident?”
Shaking my head, I clamp my mouth shut.
I don’t want Mom to get in trouble.
It wasn’t her fault.
Dad frowns. “Nothing at all?”
“Why won’t anyone tell me where my mom is?” I look between the two guys standing on opposite sides of