Chapter 162
Chapter 162:
“She drugged her,” Cailin whispered.
“It’s a sedative,” the doctor confirmed. “Dangerous for a child her size. If the dose had been higher—” He didn’t finish. He didn’t have to.
Cailin looked at her sleeping daughter. This wasn’t a game. It wasn’t a rivalry.
It was war.
Night fell, bringing a storm with it. Thunder rumbled outside the hospital windows, rattling the glass.
Elia screamed.
It was a high, piercing sound that shattered the quiet of the room. Cailin, dozing in the chair, was at her side in an instant. “Elia! I’m here! Mommy is here p>
Elia thrashed in the sheets, her eyes wide open but seeing nothing. “Cold! Water! Don’t drop me p>
She struck out blindly. Her small fist connected with Cailin’s cheekbone. Cailin didn’t flinch. She caught Elia’s wrists gently and pulled her into a hug, absorbing every blow. “Shh, shh. You’re safe. No water. Just warm blankets p>
W𝘩а𝘁 𝘦𝘷е𝗿𝘆𝘰𝗇𝘦 𝗂𝘴 r𝖾𝖺𝗱𝗶𝘯𝘨 oո ѕ.𝘤𝗈m
“The Bad Lady!” Elia shrieked. “She has a knife p>
Aron and Davy jolted awake on the pull-out couch. Without a word, they climbed into the hospital bed and sandwiched Elia between them — a human shield. Davy took her hand. Aron draped his arm over her legs.
“We’ve got you, Elia,” Aron whispered. “We have lasers. Invisible ones p>
Elia’s thrashing slowed. She blinked, saw her brothers, and began to sob — deep, wrenching heaves.
“She cut my hair,” Elia whispered, her small hand flying to the side of her head. “She held the knife to my face and… snip p>
Cailin looked. She brushed the hair back carefully. There, near the ear, a jagged chunk was missing — hacked off. Cailin covered her mouth, stifling a cry, and wept in silence, tears tracking slowly down her face.
Down the hall, at the nurse’s station, Hilliard stepped out of the elevator. He carried a bouquet of white lilies. He wanted to apologize. He needed to see if they were all right.
He walked toward the room. Then he heard the scream.
“Don’t let him in! Don’t let the Bad Man in p>
Elia’s voice carried into the corridor. Hilliard froze, one foot suspended above the floor tile.
A nurse stepped in front of him, arms crossed. “Mr. Holloway, you are upsetting the patient p>
“I am her father,” Hilliard said. His voice broke on the last word.
“She is terrified of men right now,” the nurse said firmly. “Especially you. Please leave p>
Hilliard stared at the closed door. From behind it, he could hear Cailin singing — soft and trembling, the Moon Song. He looked down at the flowers in his hand.
Useless.
He walked to the trash can and dropped the bouquet inside. Then he leaned against the wall outside the room and slowly slid down until he was sitting on the floor. He listened to the singing. He listened to his daughter being comforted — protected from a world he had failed to keep safe.
Inside the room, Cailin looked at her three children. A flash of lightning illuminated their faces.