Chapter 2: The Loss that Screams in the Dark
Peregrine was floating now. Her body didn't burn anymore; rather it was like she was lying in bathwater that was far too hot. She was still in so much pain, but it was far away and couldn't reach her. Peregrine's eyes sluggishly opened to take in the scenery around her. She was in the medical tent, but there was machinery there that was unfamiliar. An IV dripped with clear fluid and a machine that monitored her heart bip-bipped with soft rhythm. She turned her head slowly to the side so she could see what more had changed.
Dozing in an oversized chair, Mimi the ringmaster's wife sat by her bedside as if she expected peregrine to wake at any moment. The fuzzy blanket patterned with stars Peregrine had given her was draped haphazardly over Mimi's shoulders. On the table beside Mimi a calendar gave the date of November 14, exactly one week after her accident and four days after her birthday. Flowers, presents and get well soon cards littered the small table nearly pushing the calendar off. Peregrine tried to reach out to one, but her body was not listening and all she managed was a violent twitch. She began to panic and tried to move more of her body with little success.
"Oh! Peregrine, you're awake!" a familiar voice called out to her. The cheerful call calmed Peregrine's panic and she managed to turn her head to see the circus nurse Akari. "Careful dear! You still haven't burned off all the sedative, you shouldn't be moving so soon." Akari smiled down at her with such sugary care Peregrine knew something was wrong. Before she could ask the door of the medical tent flipped open and in walked someone Peregrine did not want to see. "Cousin!" The silver-haired self-proclaimed prince of stars shouted at her.
"Skye." Peregrine slathered the words in malice and spite. Her cousin was tall, model gorgeous, and a pain in her ass. It wasn't that she didn't like her cousin, but he brought in dangerous work. The circus she gave her life to was just a cover for the band of smugglers that she worked with. Skye was the thief that initially swiped the goods. It was their job to make sure they found their way to the hands of the man with the deepest pockets.
"Aw Perry! Is that anyway to treat family my darling angel?" Skye perched himself on the edge of her bed, and to Peregrine's chagrin, beeped her square on the nose. She lurched her hand up to smack that smug grin off his face, he was too quick for her drugged reflexes to peg. So instead she sulked.
"Get out weasel! Haven't you got some skirts to chase?" She snapped at Skye. He didn't seem to mind and responded by swaggering out of the room. Just as he left he grinned wide and winked at her. "Judging by that temper you should make a full recovery."
Akari flinched at this and Peregrine knew the worst was coming. "I'm not going to be okay am I?" She whispered as fear frosted her heart." Akari laid her hand gently on Peregrine's cheek. "No baby. You're not." A wet pain-laced tear rolled down Peregrine's cheek. Panic returned to her in a rush, she started to cry.
"H-How bad?" She choked, willing herself to be strong. "There was a lot of damage to your shoulder and arm. The bone was shattered and we had to take you to surgery to fix what we could. I'm afraid even with physical therapy your arm will only be a third as strong as it was. So…" She hesitated then and peregrine could see the disgust in Akari's face as she continued on. "So… There is not a way for you to perform again in the circus. If… If you cant find another way to be useful you will have to leave. I'm sorry Peregrine!" Akari threw herself around Peregrine and began to sob with her.
Peregrine knew this was how the circus worked. They ran in dangerous territory at times and everyone depended on one another to pull their own weight. If you couldn't run with the pack you were culled. Even though she knew this, Peregrine felt a loss so great she could only stare ahead at the future that was a yawning void ahead of her.
"Don't cry Akari… Everything will be okay." She lied.