So, here's the next Chapter! :D Oh, and I feel the need to tell you that yesterday was my fifteenth birthday and my awesome presents got me over writer's block. I got an Ipod, laptop, and a Siberian Husky that I get to pick up on Thursday! So, yeah, enough about the things you don't care about.
Also, thanks to my reviewers! :) I'm considering doing different points of view on the glass house residents to show their reactions on Claire's departure. So, tell me if you vote yay or nay. P.S I just found out 'Deathbed' is one word. That made me a bit disappointed, considering that my story title is messed up . Oh well, on with the story.
Claire was at Morganville's border now, but Cara's father hadn't arrived, yet. Maybe because sunrise was about an hour away and Claire had been sure to tell Cara's dad to meet her at dawn. Claire sighed and realized she would just have to wait. She had gotten all this way without a vampire trying to eat her, and maybe an hour would be pushing her luck, but it was the only thing she could do.
Claire found herself thinking that maybe if she crossed the border it would make her a little less in danger, so she took a few steps forward. The farther she was away from Morganville, the safer she would be. After twenty baby steps, Claire had passed the 'Welcome to Morganville' sign. Claire felt like grabbing a can of spray paint and adding 'Home of the Blood Sucking Vampires', but she resisted the urge. Amelie would probably have her arrested for vandalism, and after she paid her jail sentence, Amelie would kill Claire before she even got a breath of fresh air.
Claire was now about ten feet away from the border and with each step, she felt more and more safe. Well, at least until Claire felt a tightening around her wrist. At first she thought it was just her nerves, but then she felt sharpening pain. When Claire glanced down at her wrist she realized her founder's bracelet was cutting off her circulation. Claire screamed and started pulling violently at the chain.
It was no use; the chain wasn't breaking, and it grew tighter with each tug. This was like quicksand vampire style. Claire knew she was going to die, and when a trickle of blood seeped down her wrist that was proof. Claire thought about the Saw horror movies she watched with Shane and thought that maybe she could cut off her own arm, but Claire quickly decided against it for many reasons. She didn't have the guts to cut her own hand, she would probably bleed to death before getting any help, and having excess blood flow near a vampire town wasn't the wisest thing to do.
Claire shut her eyes and let the salt water tears fall down her cheeks. Claire realized she wouldn't be in this situation if she wasn't so smart. If Claire wasn't intelligent, she would have never met Amelie, she wouldn't have received the bracelet currently draining the life out of her, and she wouldn't even be in Morganville. But Claire was glad she found Morganville, because she had had met people who changed her life. Morganville contained three people that she loved dearly, and even if Morganville was the cause of her death, she didn't regret a thing.
When Claire thought she couldn't stand the pain anymore, she heard something hit the pavement. Claire almost thought it was her hand, but she could tell it was still intact, since she felt a slight stinging sensation. Claire opened her eyes and when she glanced at the ground, the bracelet was there. Except, it wasn't bright silver anymore, it was turning pitch black. After a few more moments, it started crumbling into pieces, and then turned to ash like a vampire in the sun.
Claire didn't understand, but she wouldn't question it. She had long ago learned her lesson about questioning things in Morganville. Still Claire wondered what was the point of all the pain? Why cause her to bleed? That thought made Claire glance down at her wrist and she saw an imprint where the bracelet had dug into her skin. Claire was cut, pretty bad, and she knew she needed stitches. She almost considered going back into Morganville for help, but with a gash like that and no protection bracelet, she knew she'd be some vampire's meal.
For once, something seemed to be on her side, and a car was pulling up. When a tall, slender, and black haired man stepped out, she knew help was on the way. It was Cara's father. When Claire caught a glance at his face, she could see exhaustion and worry in his eyes, and Claire knew he saw the cut in her wrist. He rushed over towards Claire and put his arm around her waist for support, like he expected her to collapse at any moment. "What happened?"
Claire thought for a few moments, which was quite hard to do considering her nausea, and she didn't really know what to say. Cara's father would think she was crazy if she said 'oh, nothing, it's just that a bracelet my vampire owner gave me tried to amputate my wrist.' So, Claire shrugged and decided to tell him a story later. Right now, she just needed medical attention.
Cara's father unbuttoned his shirt and wrapped it around her wrist. Claire felt bad, because it was a silk shirt, and she knew it had to be expensive. But, she pushed her guilt aside and climbed into the passenger seat. When Cara's father climbed into the seat, he started the engine, and looked over at her. "Where's the nearest hospital?"
Claire knew the nearest hospital was in Morganville, but she wasn't going to risk going back into town, so she lied. "It's up ahead. Just keep driving." Cara's father wearily glanced down at Claire's wrist, and Claire knew that he was wondering how bad the cut was, so she felt the need to reassure him. "I'm fine. It's just a superficial cut."
Claire could see that Cara's father knew she was lying, but he didn't question her anymore. He just drove away, probably about 20 miles over the speed limit, and headed to find help. Honestly, Claire didn't really know where another hospital was, but she was sure that if they drove long enough they'd find one.
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"Alright, Ms. Danvers, you're all stitched up and ready to go, but we need you to sign some discharge papers first. The nurse will be in shortly with those and she'll take out your IV." The doctor gave Claire a warm smile and then left the room. Claire noticed the staff at this hospital was much nicer than Morganville's and she was glad to know she'd be leaving soon. Claire had been in the hospital since six in the morning and she was betting it was almost near noon by now.
"So, how are you feeling?" Claire looked over at Cara's dad and remembered he'd been sitting with her in the room the whole time. She had almost forgotten that since he'd been so quiet. Claire hadn't heard a word out of them since they drove off in search of a hospital, which had taken them about an hour to find. That gave Claire enough time to think of a decent story about how she cut her wrist.
"I'm feeling fine, just a little out of it, but you can blame the pain killers for that." Claire didn't like pain medicine. It made her feel like she was only partially in her body; the rest of her was somewhere else. Claire was glad she had come up with her story before the medicine, because otherwise she would have been screwed. She came up with the decent lie that she wasn't watching what she was doing and snagged it on something she couldn't see in the darkness. The doctor's obviously didn't believe her, since they questioned her about suicide, abusive boyfriends, and if she was taking any drugs. Claire denied it all.
The nurse was in the room now with a band-aid, prescriptions, and discharge papers. Claire took notice to the nurse's extreme paleness and thinness. She looked so fragile, but she was still friendly. "Mr. Howard, may I ask you to step out of the room while she dresses and gets ready?" Cara's father nodded and left. The nurse then took out Claire's IV and reviewed the discharge papers and prescriptions. "Take the medication eight hours part and only when you really need them. Be sure to keep your bandage clean and wrap it in plastic when you decided to take a shower. If you see any signs of redness, swelling, or infection, then go see a doctor as soon as possible. Otherwise, you should be fine within a couple of weeks."
Claire nodded at the appropriate moments and then signed the papers when asked. After the nurse left, she took off the revealing robe, and put on her blood soaked jeans and t-shirt. Well there goes another pair of my good jeans, Claire thought. Claire walked towards the curtain and pulled it back, walking out into the hallway. Cara's father looked at Claire's ruined outfit and frowned. "When we get home, we'll have to buy you something to replace that."
Claire shook her head. "No, that's okay. After all, I ruined your good shirt." Claire looked at Mr. Howard who was only wearing a gray tank. Claire really didn't know where his silk shirt had gone, probably in the trash somewhere. She was sure it couldn't be salvaged since it was drenched in blood.
"No, I insist. And you only did me a favor. I never really liked that shirt; I just wore it because Mrs. Howard bought it for me. Purple isn't my color." Mr. Howard smiled and Claire returned it. That was the first time she'd seen him smile all day. It was fake, nonetheless, but he was trying. Claire guessed it wasn't easy trying to pretend everything was fine when you had a daughter at home who was dying.
"Well, I guess we should get going if we want to make it back before dinner." Mr. Howard nodded and they headed for the exit. The drive was about nine hours away and Claire knew that as every hour passed, her uneasiness would grow. Claire knew that by now Eve and Michael knew she had left. Shane would probably be waking up soon and find out also. Claire also didn't really know what to expect with Cara. Would she arrive to find Cara lying on a bed, near death? Would Cara even remember Claire? Claire just didn't know, but what Claire did know was that she had a long ride ahead of her.