This chapter is dedicated to Nausicaa of the Spirits for the idea that inspired Bella's dream. Thanx!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Keep said dream in mind, it may pop up later...*wink, wink*
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Chapter Twelve: To The Hospital
Connie was, of course, experiencing two thousand different emotions at once.
"I honestly don't know what I'm going to do with you, Isabella," she kept repeating. Each time hurt more than the last, and Bella now felt her chest start to throb.
The party, of course, had to be cut short. Connie let Claire's friends use their phone to call their parents, and after phoned the hospital to let them know they were coming in.
Claire didn't utter a word the whole time. Bella guessed that her older sister was angry with her for being the indirect cause of her short birthday party. But Claire continued to sit in the living room, looking at the floor as if something interesting was written across the hard wood.
Max stayed by her side. He kept trying to explain to Connie that it was his fault Bella had broken her leg, and each time Bella refuted it, saying that she could have refused to do what Max had said. Connie seemed to side with Bella, and kept reassuring Max that he was not to blame for "any of this mess".
After all of Claire's friends had left, Bella was carried out to their car and laid across the backseat. Max climbed into the very back, careful not to bump her leg. The drive there, although fast, was uncomfortably quiet, everyone following Claire's lead in being silent.
...
The hospital wasn't at all busy, but they waited for at least an hour. Connie grumbled about the staff being slow at the worst of times, and then went through all of the parenting magazines that were laid out on the table. Claire was, again, interested in the floor, and Bella could see her blue eyes overflowing with anxiety.
Finally, a nurse came to get them. Connie was the only one allowed past the doors with Bella, although Max refused to leave his sister's side. It took a lot of convincing to make him stay put.
As Bella was being put into a rickety wheelchair, Claire spoke for the first time since they'd gotten back from the park.
"Make sure you didn't break that leg too bad, now, okay?" she mumbled, almost incoherently. Bella nodded, trying to give her sister some form of comfort.
"As soon as they're done, I'm coming in there," Max insisted. "You come get me when you're done fixing Bella, okay, Mom?"
"Don't worry, Max," Connie said. "You can come see her when they're finished. I promise."
Bella was suddenly being wheeled toward the swinging ER doors. She looked back and gave her siblings a sad smile.
Claire looked up and nodded once before looking back down. Max followed them to the doors and then watched as they disappeared down the hall. The doors slowly swung shut, leaving him outside like a lost puppy.
...
Bella didn't even try to keep up with what was happening. Her leg felt like it was on fire, and the sooner the doctors fixed it, the better.
She learned that an orthopedic had been called to do the surgery, which was why the wait had taken so long. The nurses and doctors kept testing her leg, which did nothing to help ease the pain. They also kept asking Connie how, exactly, she'd broken her leg; Bella thought it was ridiculous that her mother repeat the story over and over again.
"It's so they know I didn't abuse you, dear," Connie explained. Bella thought this reason was even more ridiculous than the actual asking.
After a whirlwind of doctors, nurses, and X-rays, Bella was finally given some medicine to inhale. She slowly felt her eyelids start to droop, and didn't try to fight the sleep she knew was coming on. It would do her good to escape from all the craziness that she now called her life.
...
My Weird, Crazy Dream – Part I
As told in 1st Person by Bella Carson
I'm in a boat, sailing on the sea. Nothing surrounds me except water. I would have been scared, but since it's a dream, I don't really feel scared. Instead, I feel bored, because there's nothing to do.
After sailing for a long time (but in my dream it felt like only four seconds), I see something in the distance. It looks like an island. So I magically steer my boat over there, and after somehow surviving this wickedly harsh storm and keeping the boat and myself from sinking, I dock on the island – but it takes me, like, FOREVER to tie a knot, since I can't do that to save my life.
So I eventually give up tying the stupid thing (but the boat stayed there, anyway – hey, it's a dream!). I turn around, and I'm not sure where I'm supposed to go. And it's nighttime, too, so I'm pretty much freaking out. Then I see a fire coming from somewhere inland, and I follow where it leads.
What I find is truly amazing. There are seven beasts standing in a clearing, destroying what look like upright bird nests. They all look fearful, yet cuddly at the same time. I find myself feeling the urge to help them in their merriment.
I suddenly leap forward, and there I am, standing among them. They stop what they're doing and come forward. They search me over with their eyes and sniff me with their noses. Finally, one speaks.
"She smells like human," it says.
"She looks like the King," another puts in.
"King?" I ask. "What King?"
The circle parts, and in steps a little boy in a dirty wolf suit with a golden crown sitting on his head.
Max.
"Oh, good, you're here," he says, but he sounds drunk (like everyone does when you're dreaming). "They were gonna eat me, but now they can eat you instead."
"What?" I stand there as the biggest one picks me up with its claws. I squeeze my eyes shut. I feel myself slide down its throat. I'm surprisingly not afraid.
Suddenly, I feel as if I'm underwater. It sounds like I am, at least. I hear bubbles, and I feel like I'm floating. Slowly, I open my eyes.
Yes, I'm underwater now. The water is a brilliant blue. I want to stay here, even though I know I will drown if I don't surface soon.
I hear a faint voice calling to me. "Bella, wake up," it says.
"How?" I want to ask. I'm already awake, aren't I?
"Bella, wake up."
Something touches my arm. I jerk awake.
...
Bella blinked. Her vision was blurry, but she couldn't move her arms. After a few dozen blinks, everything came into focus.
She was in a hospital room, with her leg propped up and in a plaster covering. Her arms were hooked up to IVs, which explained why she couldn't move them. She still felt sleepy; part of her wanted to go back to sleep, and the other part wanted to stay awake, scared to start dreaming again.
"Bella?"
She turned her head slowly to her left. Sitting in a chair was Max. She felt relief wash over her as she realized that he wasn't in a wolf suit or wearing a crown.
"Hey, Max," she said. Her voice sounded miles away.
"Are you feeling better?"
She tried to nod. "Yeah…"
Max smiled. "That's good. I thought they'd never get done."
"How…how long did it take?"
Max shrugged. "I don't know," he admitted. "But it took a long time. Mommy made me and Claire go to Daddy's because she wanted us to go to sleep."
"So…what time is it?" Bella asked.
"It's morning," Max offered. "You've been sleeping for a really long time."
"Oh."
Connie came into view. "Hi, sweetie." She kissed Bella on the forehead. "You just wake up?"
"Mmm-hmm."
"Well, try to get some rest. We'll leave you alone."
Max looked up at Connie. "Do I have to?"
"She needs to sleep, honey. It's been a long night."
Max looked at the ground, and then at Bella. "Okay. Bye, Bella. I can come in as soon as you're done sleeping, right?"
Bella nodded. "Of course."
This seemed to make him happier, and she saw his smile returning as they left the room.
And although she willed herself to keep awake, Bella found herself slipping back to sleep.