We Listened to the Darkness by Sorin Pax 406

206 Lifeless, Still So Pretty 

Madeline: 

I glared at the two and noticed their smirks. 

“So it was you two that night,” I remarked. 

“Yuvonne must have done everything wrong, but I knew it, I continued, 

“I knew you fuckers were behind what happened that night I told them. 

As soon as I hissed at them, I noticed both of them looked uninterested and worn down, as if I were being excessive for pointing out that I had caught them. 

“As for Baxter, no, I do not need to beg before you two,” I snapped, stomping my foot and stepping away toward the road. 

I had to go meet Baxter and also hear about his condition. After everything that had happened, I was not even sure how I would face anyone. 

Even though it was not my fault and it had been proven in court that I might have been a victim of some kind of poison that night, I still knew the truth. They had used Yuvonne’s mistakes to ruin my case. 

Instead of going to the motel first, I had come to the Pack‘ border requesting to get in. They did let me pass, but I noticed they were tense and constantly sharing looks, as if they were reminding each other that next time, they needed to give me a harder time. 

I had to fucking walk on my foot all this time. I did not have money. I did not have a cell phone to contact anyone. They had stripped us of almost everything. I had a few pennies with me, but I planned to save them for later because it seemed like life from here was going to get very tough. 

There was a crowd gathered outside. It was a small one, mostly pack members, but it was noticeable. Some stood near the steps and railings, pretending to be busy with each other the moment they saw me. 

As I moved forward, I noticed heads turning toward me and fingers lifting to point briefly in my direction. Quiet whispers followed. I avoided them and continued into the hospital. 

Maybe they were talking about the recent court hearing. I could not be sure. I was related to their Luna in the sense that we had been in court together today. 

They had definitely heard what happened there. The humiliation of Luna Yuvonne must have been shown on every channel by now. 

The moment I stepped into the hospital, I noticed the change in the air. It smelled clean, almost stinging. Sounds surrounded me. Distant voices, rolling carts, and steady footsteps filled the space. I approached the front desk and rested my hands on the counter. 

“I am here for Baxter,” I told the nurse, keeping my voice barely above a whisper. “He was brought in yesterday.” 

She looked at her screen, then back at me, studying my face before nodding. 

“He is in the intensive care unit,” she replied, standing up. A doctor will speak with you first.” 

I nodded and followed her down a long hallway. The farther we walked, the quieter it became. She stopped near a set of glass doors marked ICU and asked me to wait. 

A few moments later, a doctor approached. He wore his lab coat neatly, his posture professional, a tablet held close to his chest. 

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When he finished, I food a deep breath and slowly released, trying to steady myself 

“Can I see him?” I asked quietly. 

“Yes,” he replied. “He has been moved to 164 room four. Curse will take you in. There will be equipment attached to him, and that is expected” 

Another nurse joined us and guided me through the glee doors. By then, all I could hear was my own heartbeat. I knew seeing him would drain whatever strength 1 had left 

Inside the room, the lights were dimmer. Marines lined the walls, each producing a steady sound. 

I stopped at the entrance when I saw him lying motionless on the bed, surrounded by monitors and tubes. 

A ventilator moved in a slow, controlled rhythm. His skin looked pale, His chest and stomach were fully covered in clean bandages 

I stepped closer and stopped beside the bed, my fingers hovering before resting on the railing I stood there for a moment, watching his chest rise and fall, listening to the chines that were keeping him alive. 

“I miss you,” my lips uttered as I closed my eyes. “I wish you were there today. There was one mystery solved. I was not the one who had spoken badly about you, Baxter, was someone else, someone shape–shifting into me.” 

I finished and opened my eyes, hoping Baxter would be awake so1 could celebrate it with me. 

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