Waking

Opening her eyes felt like the most impossible task. They were so heavy, but there was a urgency she had forgotten. Cara must open them and figure it out.

The place she was in was wrong. Too bright, and inside. Why was it wrong? What happened?

She struggled to recall where she was a minute ago.

Lucy was there.

“Cara, Cara, take it easy,” she whispered standing up from where she’d been seated.

“…ahh…,” was all Cara could get out, her throat hurt.

Cole. She had been looking for Cole, because Champion was under order to capture him dead or alive. When she’d found him, Champ had him already under gunpoint. She’d run to push Cole away and then…

She hadn’t been fast enough. Champion’s shot had hit her instead. Stupid… why would she think she could run faster than a bullet. Dumb. Did it even protect Cole? Did the bullet go through and hit him anyway?

She swallowed painfully, and tried again.

“Luce, what happened?”

Lucy opened her mouth to reply, as Champion walked around a curtain looking stricken… and angry.

“What the hell, Cara?! What were you doing there?” He leaned into the words, spoken hushed at her.

“Champion, don’t,” Cara replied. She didn’t have space to sort him out right now. Foolish brother, always doing what he was told.

“What did you do with Cole?”

“He escaped,” he said looking at the wall behind her. Lying. Champ was lying. Why? Had he killed him anyway? Then why claim escape? For her benefit?

She started to challenge him but became very dizzy. And then she saw the other military uniform behind Champion.

“Mom,” she got out.

Lucy glanced at Cara, startled. Cara owed her an explanation for sure on this one.

“I’d be careful with that term here,” hissed the uniformed surgeon, quietly.

Sure, just the standard disappointment, as usual.

“Ok,” she responded. “Who am I?”

“Major Bannor brought you in after finding you, an injured civilian, on the dangerous road. Presumably, you were shot as a casualty of a roadside heist,” said the surgeon, still quietly but more formal.

So, they’d admitted her as a Jane Doe. Instead of as a contester who was shot down by a soldier carrying out an order. Not a casualty of Champion but under an assumption that a contester had shot her.

Of course, Dr. Patience Bannor couldn’t have a daughter who is a known contester. Why would Champion even bring me here?

“Major, thank you for checking in. We can handle it from here,” said Dr. Bannor. Major Champion Bannor stared at Cara for another moment, then walked away, pulling the curtain restlessly behind him. Dr. Bannor pulled the curtain the rest of the way closed, hiding the three of them from view. She continued in a more hushed tone.

“When you regain consciousness, we’ll need to find out who you are. Nurse Gilbert will need to get more information when you become alert,” the doctor nodded toward Lucy.

Louder, “This patient seems to be more stable. Lucy, you should have time for rounds before we see her regain consciousness.” Then she turned on her heel and walked away.

Wait… when I am alert?

Lucy sprang up and started immediately giving rapid directions.

“You went right into a surgery last night when the Major brought you in. He demanded Dr. Bannor’s support under duress and even threatened to pull rank. Dr. Bannor was furious but she performed the bullet removal and gave me the signal to make sure your paperwork doesn’t get completed.”

The plan dawned on her slowly. She wasn’t going to be on record here. They meant for her to slip out before the hospital knew who she was. And because she was on file as a Jane Doe civilian – not a contester – she wasn’t restrained.

“The signal…” Cara questioned blurry. But she kept her voice low matching Lucy’s level.

“Cara, we can get into it later but you need to get out, now! The shot hit your shoulder blade which is cracked, but it stopped the bullet. The impact bruised two ribs and your lung and you lost a lot of blood before the bullet removal. You need to keep your shoulder and arm immobile to let it heal.”

Lucy was firmly pulling Cara out of the hospital bed now and started to help her get dressed in street clothes. When her arm moved, the pain in her shoulder and chest seared through her as white, nauseating pain. Lucy guided her gently back to lean against the bed edge while she grappled with getting clothes onto Cara’s body.

Once she’d gotten her dressed well enough, she picked up Cara’s arm gently and put her in a sling before throwing a large overcoat over her. Cara felt like she might throw up.

“Take these,” Lucy demanded as she handed her three pills. “The blue is pain, the yellow is antibiotic, and the white is an alertness promotor to keep you on your feet. Go to the place and someone will be waiting to get you out.”

She put three bottles in the pocket of the coat on Cara’s non-injured side.

“Take the stairs down the hall to the bottom. Take the first left then the second left and the exit will open out into the field behind the hospital. You know where you are from there, get to the place and someone will meet you.”

Cara looked at Lucy, dazed.

“Cara, tell me how to get out of the building.”

She blinked, and then shook her head and pulled herself into attention. “Stairs all the way down, first left, second left, exit door. Get to the place, blue is pain, yellow is antibiotic, white is alertness. Damaged shoulder blade, internal bruising but shouldn’t bleed out.”

Lucy breathed a sigh that showed her relief. Cara often felt that she didn’t know who could deserve such a friend like Lucy. Lucy was the best person she’d ever met, thoughtful, caring, compassionate and generous in her actions and thoughts.

“I love you, Cara. I’ll see you soon,” she said. The two women embraced briefly before Lucy went out to do her rounds, peeling the curtain to closed completely.

Now Cara just had to get out.

—

Next -->