“Thanks,” I said as she placed the clothes in my hands.
“There’s a bathroom just across the hall. You might want to wash up a little before you change.” She looked me up and down, as if evaluating me. “Just leave your clothes in the bathroom and we’ll take care of them. I’ll wait here if you need anything else.”
“Okay, thanks.”
I just wanted out of her presence. I needed a moment to breathe, to take everything in without watchful eyes. Goosebumps appeared on my skin as I thought of the knife plunging repeatedly inside me. The physical damage may have disappeared but it would be a long time before I ever forgot the feel of cold steel penetrating my flesh.
I walked across the hall and locked the door behind me. I felt like I was going out of my mind and looked like it too. I stared at my reflection, taking in everything that had just happened. My attacker knew my name and thought I should have some sort of power. Oh and of course, I was supposedly going to wake The Lady, whoever that was. Then Brett scolded Robert for using his powers on me. What was he? How did he have powers? I had so many questions racing through my mind and couldn’t comprehend how any of this was possible. Robert had also called me The Waker. What on earth was a Waker?
I needed answers, but had a feeling that wasn’t going to be easy. Brett seemed to be running the show in there and she didn’t want me to know anything without finding out more about me first.
I turned the faucet on and threw some water on my face. The warm water felt good on my cold, clammy skin. I quickly took my clothes off and threw them in the sink. My skin was stained red from blood, as was my necklace. I grabbed the wash cloth on the counter and wet it under the faucet with warm water. I wiped the dried blood off my face and body and threw the towel in the sink with my clothes. Carefully, I slipped my necklace off over my head and turned the hot water nozzle on. I held my necklace under the steady stream of water and watched as the blood dripped off of the delicate links that held my grandmothers pendant. Patting the silver chain dry I replaced the necklace around my neck.
With most of the blood gone, I could see the gash on the side of my head, just above my temple. It didn’t look too bad considering all the blood caked in my hair, but I guess head wounds did bleed more than other injuries. There was already a little bruising around the cut and the whole side of my head had swollen. I knew I was in for one serious headache tomorrow when the shock wore off. I checked out the rest of my face: a little swollen but otherwise intact. Next, I held up my wrists, turning them over so I could see the damage the rope had inflicted. They were incredibly sore, the flesh rubbed raw from my frivolous attempt to escape. I ran my hands under cool water to try and soothe the burning pain. My shoulders relaxed the tiniest bit as the pain in my wrists subsided. Last, I traced the tiny scars across my stomach and chest. It was hard to believe they’d been gaping wounds less than an hour ago. How did Robert save me? That question repeated itself over and over in my head: how did he save me?
With my assessment done I slipped into the jeans Brett had generously loaned me and instantly felt a little more like myself. I threw on the t-shirt and turned to look at myself in the mirror. Robert was right, Brett and I were about the same size. I fixed my hair as best I could, pulling it back into a loose ponytail, careful not to touch the cut on my head, and rushed back across the hall. I needed to talk to Robert; I needed to make sense of everything that had happened tonight.
“You look better. How’re you feeling?” Brett asked as I reentered the room.
“I’m okay, I think. A little confused,” I replied.
“Here you go.” Brett handed me a glass of water and two pills. “Aspirin. I thought you might be feeling a few of your injuries by now.”
“Thank you.” I tossed the pills into my mouth and took a sip of water. With a gulping sigh, I sat down on the edge of the bed to wait for Robert to come back.
“You must have been pretty bad off if some of your injuries are still showing. Normally, Robert can make it look as if nothing ever happened.”
I nodded my head and touched my stomach.
A few minutes passed without either one of us talking and I could feel the anxiety building inside me. “Err… Brett?” I asked.
“Yeah?”
“Do you know where Robert is?”
“He’s making sure you stay safe. I’ll see you out to your car when you’re ready,” she said coolly. “You’ve got a pretty serious gash on the side of your head there.” I blinked with confusion at the sudden change in the subject as she walked over to the dresser.
“What do you mean see me out? He promised he would talk to me once I got changed,” I said.
“I know he did, but he’s making sure you stay safe. I’m sorry but you’re just going to have to talk to him some other time.” She spoke quickly but she sounded genuinely apologetic as she walked back toward me with a box in her hands.
“But…” I started to contest but she cut me off.
“Listen, Violet, I know this can’t be easy for you but you just have to trust that we’re trying to do the right thing and keep us all as safe as possible.”
“I don’t even know what that means.” I shook my head and took another sip of water.
“I know you don’t. You just have to trust us,” she said, touching my arm. “Do you mind?” She raised a bottle of disinfectant.
“No go ahead, thank you,” I said.
She cleaned the wound on the side of my head and placed a bandage over the cut. I waited until she finished before continuing our conversation.
“How am I supposed to trust the both of you when I don’t even know what’s going on?”
“That’s why it’s called trust.” Brett smiled.
“But he promised me. I thought he’d… I just want to know what was going on,” I sighed. I was so frustrated and tired. I just wanted someone to explain what was happening.
“I’m sure this is all very confusing. I do understand how hard it must be for you, but you have to understand that this is much more complicated than you could imagine.”
“How could you possibly understand how I’m feeling?”
“Violet.” Brett’s eyes tightened at the corners as she said my name. “Please don’t make this any more difficult than it already is.”
Neither of us said anything for a few minutes. So much had happened this evening and I was trying to take it all in. Almost dying, Robert saving my life, sneaking through secret corridors into the house and overhearing that I’m The Waker.
I found my thoughts wandering back to the searing heat in Robert’s eyes when he saved me. As he stared down at me I could feel him in my heart and soul. It was as if he had access to the deepest, darkest parts of me. That warmth not only saved my life, it spread through me like the sun on a warm day every time his skin came in contact with mine. I couldn’t help but wonder if he felt the same thing, if there was some sort of connection between us. Maybe everyone he saved felt the same thing I did; maybe the connection wasn’t personal at all. How many others had he saved?
“Can I ask you something?” I asked, staring at my glass of water.
“What is it?” she replied, raising an eyebrow as if she were preparing to scold me again.
“Has this ever… I mean has Robert ever…” I didn’t know how to finish the sentence. I couldn’t bring myself to say the words out loud.
“No, he hasn’t,” she answered, understanding my question.
“Oh.” I took a large gulp of water.
“Do you remember what happened before Robert was with you?”
I thought I remembered everything crystal clear but when I tried to think back on the evening it was all a little fuzzy.