Chapter 9
Darkness...and then suddenly, not. Pierces of bright light stung Sky's eyes as she blinked. It took a moment for her to come
to. Everything was fuzzy and she found it hard to focus on any object. With her awakening came the realization of the pain
she had momentarily left behind when she lost consciousness. Her neck felt tender and swollen. Her fingers were wrapped in
gauze. As she tried to sit-up a nausea consumed her and she slumped back down into the sea of white cotton sheets. Hospital,
that's where she was, but how she got there...she had no clue. She hadn't walked, everything was blank after the attack.
As she searched for answers, Sky noticed a familiar presence.
Logan smiled softly. He was relieved to see Sky alive, however the yellow and purple bruises that stretched across her neck
made him shudder. He was so angry..how could he have let her go without calling a cab. He rolled his chair over to her
bedside. "Hey," he whispered. Sky swallowed, it was apparent her mouth was dry.
"Hey," her voice was raspy and weak...it mirrored how she truly felt.
"Everything's alright. They stabilized you hours ago, we were just waiting for you to come around."
"We?" Sky asked.
Logan raised his eyebrow. "Me and Max." Sky nodded, a look of apprehension appeared in her face as she scanned the room again,
wondering if she had missed Max. "She's getting some coffee."
Indeed Max was getting some coffee..in fact she was currently having a private little war with the stubborn machine that
refused to relinquish one drop of caffeine-infused liquid. Currently the machine was winning. The orderlies looked down the
direction of the lounge at the sound of several thuds...but they thought nothing of it as a pretty young woman strode out the
door..a satisfied smug on her face, and two Styrofoam cups in hand. It was truly amazing the things that could give you a
rush Max thought as she headed towards room 102.
She entered the room cautiously, but then she was just a cautious kind of girl, that was the price of being Manticore material.
She scrutinized the scene. Sky had gotten beaten badly, she really didn't look like the girl she had argued with the night
before. She was beaten down, the fire in her extinguished...she looked weak...except for her eyes, a passion still managed to
flare in them. As she handed one of the coffees to Logan she noticed Sky's expression drop.
"Logan!" her voice was firm.
"No Sky, you need protection...they almost killed you." She looked down, frustration in her eyes.
"It was a fluke,just someone tryin to make some money...I don't need.."
Logan sighed. "Sky I'm not backing down on this...Nathaniel would..."
"Can you go one conversation without bringing him into it?" Logan tilted his head to the side and that could mean only one
thing his word was official. Sky glared at him. She was not just going to give up her life over this. People depended on her.
She sighed and then glanced over at Max sipping her coffee. It sent a fire throughout her, she disliked her more than ever.
Logan's voice cut through her thoughts. "Get some rest. We're moving your stuff over to my place first thing...then I'll see
what I can do about setting someone up on you." At that he looked oddly at Max, and wheeled himself out before Sky could
protest any more.
Max followed him and when they were several rooms down he turned. "Max, would you mind staying here tonight...just to keep
an eye out. There are a couple things I have to check into." Max shrugged. Inwardly she felt liked she owed him. Logan
smiled. "thanks." She watched him leave and quietly headed back to Sky's room. Tension began to swirl around in her
stomach. It was going to be a long night.
Darkness...and then suddenly, not. Pierces of bright light stung Sky's eyes as she blinked. It took a moment for her to come
to. Everything was fuzzy and she found it hard to focus on any object. With her awakening came the realization of the pain
she had momentarily left behind when she lost consciousness. Her neck felt tender and swollen. Her fingers were wrapped in
gauze. As she tried to sit-up a nausea consumed her and she slumped back down into the sea of white cotton sheets. Hospital,
that's where she was, but how she got there...she had no clue. She hadn't walked, everything was blank after the attack.
As she searched for answers, Sky noticed a familiar presence.
Logan smiled softly. He was relieved to see Sky alive, however the yellow and purple bruises that stretched across her neck
made him shudder. He was so angry..how could he have let her go without calling a cab. He rolled his chair over to her
bedside. "Hey," he whispered. Sky swallowed, it was apparent her mouth was dry.
"Hey," her voice was raspy and weak...it mirrored how she truly felt.
"Everything's alright. They stabilized you hours ago, we were just waiting for you to come around."
"We?" Sky asked.
Logan raised his eyebrow. "Me and Max." Sky nodded, a look of apprehension appeared in her face as she scanned the room again,
wondering if she had missed Max. "She's getting some coffee."
Indeed Max was getting some coffee..in fact she was currently having a private little war with the stubborn machine that
refused to relinquish one drop of caffeine-infused liquid. Currently the machine was winning. The orderlies looked down the
direction of the lounge at the sound of several thuds...but they thought nothing of it as a pretty young woman strode out the
door..a satisfied smug on her face, and two Styrofoam cups in hand. It was truly amazing the things that could give you a
rush Max thought as she headed towards room 102.
She entered the room cautiously, but then she was just a cautious kind of girl, that was the price of being Manticore material.
She scrutinized the scene. Sky had gotten beaten badly, she really didn't look like the girl she had argued with the night
before. She was beaten down, the fire in her extinguished...she looked weak...except for her eyes, a passion still managed to
flare in them. As she handed one of the coffees to Logan she noticed Sky's expression drop.
"Logan!" her voice was firm.
"No Sky, you need protection...they almost killed you." She looked down, frustration in her eyes.
"It was a fluke,just someone tryin to make some money...I don't need.."
Logan sighed. "Sky I'm not backing down on this...Nathaniel would..."
"Can you go one conversation without bringing him into it?" Logan tilted his head to the side and that could mean only one
thing his word was official. Sky glared at him. She was not just going to give up her life over this. People depended on her.
She sighed and then glanced over at Max sipping her coffee. It sent a fire throughout her, she disliked her more than ever.
Logan's voice cut through her thoughts. "Get some rest. We're moving your stuff over to my place first thing...then I'll see
what I can do about setting someone up on you." At that he looked oddly at Max, and wheeled himself out before Sky could
protest any more.
Max followed him and when they were several rooms down he turned. "Max, would you mind staying here tonight...just to keep
an eye out. There are a couple things I have to check into." Max shrugged. Inwardly she felt liked she owed him. Logan
smiled. "thanks." She watched him leave and quietly headed back to Sky's room. Tension began to swirl around in her
stomach. It was going to be a long night.
