Chapter 18: Blond on the Inside

Jack slammed his axe into the stump again. He was trying to cut off a good sized chunk of wood. His plan was to make a mask to hide his face. That way nobody would recognize who he was. With another swing, Jack hacked off a good sized piece. That was what he was wanting. It was too dangerous this time to just run in and do whatever. Tonight's scare was going to take a bit more planning than past ones. They may have gotten off easy last night, but tonight 'Zack' would strike again. He'd make sure the fear of his presence would be newly imprinted upon their minds...

Popuri entered into the hospital. She wanted to say hello to Carter and try to get him to wake up. She just couldn't understand why Carter kept sleeping like this. She wanted him to wake up. She looked over at Mary and Cliff. Mary sat their with her hands placed over her heart. Popuri smiled smugly as she sat down next to Mary. She knew what was going on, "You loved him didn't you?"

Mary gasped and coughed. Popuri had shocked her again. She really should not sit with her back to the door as jumpy as she was, "No, no, no! Not at all. I mean no! Of course I don't love him. Whatever gave you that idea." She could feel her cheeks getting hot.

"I see the way you are blushing. You do love Carter, don't you? Don't worry, Rick told me he's just really sleepy. He'll wake up in no time flat! My big brother is never wrong."

Mary felt a pang in her heart, and not just from Carter. Everything was messed up. Just a few days from now she had been going to marry Grey, and now, she was falling in love with the man she had turned down. What was going on with her?

Elli walked in with a fresh hot water bottle. She looked over at Cliff and sighed, "I wish Cliff would move. He won't even leave after we close." Elli lifted Carter's head and replaced the old hot water bottle with a new one. "He sits their all day long staring at Carter. He hasn't even eaten. If he doesn't do something soon, we are going to have another person hospitalized." She sat down with the rest of the girls, "I need to lighten up. So enough about my problems, tell me what's happening with you two!"

Mary started, "Well I ––"

Popuri quickly interrupted her, "I know how to get Cliff to move. Watch me!" She walked around the bed to where Cliff was sitting. She leaned in close to him, took a deep breath, and shouted as loud as she could, "Hey! Stop daydreaming!" Cliff sort of rolled out of his chair and fell to the ground. Elli leapt up to see if he was alright, but Cliff just slowly stood back up and resumed his place on his stool without saying a word.

Popuri frowned. She was so certain that would have worked.

Elli sat back down, "I really am worried about him. Nice try though Popuri."

"Want me to try with Carter?"

Mary and Elli looked at each other and said it at the same time, "No!"

"It was just a question, there was no need to yell at me over it!"

Elli needed to get rid of Popuri before she hurt the patient. "Hey, did you hear? Kai is back in town."

"Kai!" Popuri clapped and jumped up and down much to Elli's distress.

"Yes Popuri! Now go find him!" Elli watched as Popuri rushed out the door. She let out a sigh of relief. "Now I'm sorry Mary, but I have to get back to work. Sorry I didn't get to talk to you more." She stood up again and walked away.