Tangled

Unshift 287

Unshift 287

287 Ava: Seeing Lucas Again

"Ava?"

İ

Lisa shakes me awake, but it takes a few blinks for my eyes to adjust to reality.

"What is it?" My throat is croaky, and I clear it with a few dry coughs.

*Kellan brought dinner. You've been sitting like that for a few hours. I wasn't sure if I should bother you or not.

My muscles protest as I push myself to my feet, my entire body stiff after hours of stillness. Every joint in my body seems to creak and pop, like I'm twenty years older than I am. Or maybe It's just the weight of everything bearing down on me. "Thanks." I mumble as Lisa hands me a plate with a simple turkey sandwich. The sight of food makes my stomach growl, and I realize I'm ravenous.

I take a bite, savoring the simple flavors. It's nothing fancy, but right now it tastes like the best thing I've ever eaten. Lisa watches me, concern etched on her face.

"Did you make any progress?" she asks hesitantly, after depositing the wardstone between us for security. It's only a ten-foot radius; better to keep it close.

I grimace, swallowing hard. "I'm not sure if what I did was considered

Lisa's eyebrows furrow. "What do you mean?"

progress.

I take another bite, chewing slowly as I try to gather my thoughts. How do I even explain what happened? The eerie forest, the mysterious pond, the spirit... it all seems so surreal now that I'm back in the real world.

There's a place I go sometimes. It's like some sort of magical realm, but it feels kind of like a dream. This time, there was a dead forest and a dark pond. And a spirit."

Lisa tilts her head. "A spirit? Like a ghost, or...?"

I shake my head. "No, not like that. More like... a guardian, I guess? Of the magic in that place. But I still don't know where that place was, or why I was there."

Resting her chin in her hand, she watches me eat. "Well, where were you trying to go?"

"To the book. Well, I wasn't trying to go anywhere, but I wanted to connect with the book."

"So doesn't it stand to reason that it has something to do with the book? That place, and the spirit?

The spirit never gave me their name, but gave up Grimoire's

Could it be...?

I mutter, scowling at the sandwich in my hands. I want

Soon

:: Ash

answers, but my stomach

just have to

"What is it?"

mouthful of food, I hold up a hand, chewing furiously as I think. If the spirit is Grimoire, then that place is-what? I don't know. Either Grimoire's place in that magical realm, or maybe the bond between us? There are too many

lands. They called it a hellhole. Said

Curious. Very curious.

tell Lisa, "I think the spirit is the book. I just missed it while I was

veins. I'm sure she's right-it would be better to try after a good night

doesn't help the feeling of urgency, like I'm lagging behind as things

onward.

a

But first, Lucas.

if he'll be happy to see me. Or

mediocre breakfast of boiled eggs and toast, and a quick shower later, I'm back at the hospital,

running-but Marcus is, and his presence behind me makes it a little easier to meet the disdain in

"Oh. You again.

cheer into my

my audacity in her head.

to snap. 117-hou

a spring ready turning, I raise my hand slightly, a silent signal for him to stand down. This isn't his battle

you do this for every patient under your

Seeing

can almost see the gears turning in her head as she tries to formulate a response that won't get

her tone clipped. "We

my hands on the counter. "And does this protocol extend

me. "All visitors," she insists, but I can hear the lie in

that several other visitors walked right in without being questioned. In fact, I don't

a mix of anger and embarrassment coloring her cheeks. "I-I don't have

voice low and steady. "But you do have to do your job fairly and without discrimination. Unless, of course, there's a

on my own. I'm tired of this.

want is to see