For those who are not familiar with Faeries, I ask you to bear with me until about Chapter 7/8 where there will be an explanation as to what they are and their powers...scouts honor :D 

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There was no one there when I woke up. The beeping remained, unfortunately, but Mr. Stokaya did not. Nestling back further into the pillow, relief was also absent. Where had he gone....but most importantly, was he coming back? The slight disappointment perplexed me though I knew I had no right to be upset at his absence. The last words out of my mouth had been a blind accusation of murder against him so his not being there should have come as no surprise. But still, he wasn't there and I was alone. Didn't he want to know where those words had come from and why I said them?

Why had I said it?

Thinking back, it felt like the only thing to say. The right thing to say. It didn't come from a distinct memory but the feelings were so real there was no doubt in my mind. He killed me. Yet I sat there...alive and well. Physically well at least, mentally...not so sure.  

From what I could last remember, Mr. Stokaya and Elena spoke of magic and spells and....faeries. They said I was a faerie...The only thing that came to mind when thinking of faeries was Tinkerbell but I doubt that was what they meant...I don't think Tinkerbell ever tried to kill anyone...  

And what about Mr. Stokaya and Elena? He told Elena he bound me with all sorts of spells.....so they Faeries too?? And they were on the run from 'them'....but who was 'then'? There were too many questions for my barely functioning mind... 

Something tickled my ear. Swatting it, it ended up being my own hair... Running my hands through my hair, I gently tugged at the nape. It had grown...a lot. I must've been asleep for some time.... 

Staring at the grayness that surrounded me, I sighed. Hospitals were so depressing. Gray walls, gray monitors, gray curtains. The only thing breaking the gray mood was the green line forming continuous peeks on the monitor beside me....but even that came with a depressing sound.  

I needed to get up.  

My muscles ached but it was more of an under stimulated fatigue that made me nauseous. Using the bed rails for support, I pulled myself forward but ended up falling sideways back onto the mattress. Ugh. I hated feeling that way. The last time my body failed me so miserably had been when I contracted the flu, and even then I was able to stand. Anchoring my elbow on the mattress and once again relying on the bed rail for support, I pushed up and pulled up to sitting position...bad idea. 

The room spun violently and black spots invaded my eyes, flashing in every direction.  

"Whoa, whoa!" a voice said, putting supporting arms at my back. They ushered me back down onto the pillow but the room still swirled while my eyes refused to focus. The person wasn't helping since they moved back and fourth, checking monitors and stats. They pressed a few buttons and then adjusted my blanket as the spinning began to slow. "Well, you've finally decided to wake up!" she spoke softly and finally able to slightly focus my eyes, I met a familiar face. Nurse Tina Ross. Guess she listened to Ivan that night.  

Swallowing deeply to suppress dry heaves, I opened my mouth, "How...how long have I...have I--" Talking required more strength than I was prepared for. 

"Shhh, it's not important right now. What's important is that you're awake. There are a lot of people that'll be glad to hear that" she smiled down at me "Let me get Dr. Romo so he can--" she trailed off ready to walk away. 

"Wait..." I managed to say "who will be happy?"  

Insanely enough, that was the only thing I wanted to know. I didn't care about what happened, or if I would be okay. I wanted...I needed to know if Ivan was who she meant...and if he was he nearby. 

"Everyone who sent you these" she beamed, walking to the table at my feet. Had it not been for my earlier dizziness I would have actually seen the flowers and balloons that surrounded me. There were roses to lilies to flowers I didn't even know, with balloons ranging from happy faces to big hearts...Casey would be responsible for those. 

"Your friend Casey visits about everyday and her mom comes often to sit with you" she said, straightening out one of the vases, "That nice boy Jaime has come plenty of times as well, handsome boy he is" she winked and then quieted. That was it? Well, Jaime came, which was pretty surprising. My father hadn't come...which wasn't surprising. but the But like tunnel vision, there was one deafening thought as the disappointment set in again. I was usually good at hiding my feelings. It got easier after a lifetime of constant disappointments but this one echoed differently. 

Having sensed my disillusionment, Nurse Ross smoothed my hair down, "I'm sorry..." she apologized knowingly while moving stray hairs from my forehead "I haven't seen him since the day you were brought in..." 

I shook my head slowly, not wanting to send the room into a frenzy again. 

"Let me get Dr. Romo, and try not to worry...I'm sure he'll come see you soon when he hears you're awake" she smiled encouragingly. Not a second later, she reappeared with a tall, older gentleman who seemed to be boredom personified.

Dr. Romo was as pleasant as a text book. He asked me a million questions and re-asked them a billion times more, throw in a robotic nasal voice and I was about ready to rip out my hair. Turns out I had what they described as a "mental and emotional breakdown" which led me to injure myself...yet no word about broken bones. I guess Mr. Stokaya was pretty good at his spells. Dr. Romo thought it best for me to have a psychiatric evaluation as soon as possible. I, of course, refused. The last thing I needed was someone feeding words into my mouth and doubts into my head. I had enough of my own to deal with. 

"It has to happen Ms. O'Dean and the sooner, the better"  

"Well I'm only 18 so technically I'm not a minor anymore..." 

"But you are not in the right capacity to make such important decisions" he rebutted routinely.  

"Then my father has to consent...Has he come?" I asked, sounding almost hopeful. Unable to retract the optimism, I braced for the answer I knew was coming.  

"Well....we've spoken on the phone. He calls everyday to see how you're doing..." 

There it was. Good to know I knew my father so well... 

"I'm sure..." I muttered, pulling the sheets to my chin.  

"But you won't be alone. Nurse Ross is calling your aunt to let her know you're awake. You're father has consented to her making decisions on his behalf so I'm sure she'll be happy to see you up...and consent to the psychiatric evaluation" he triumphantly exhaled, "You take it easy and relax--" 

My eyes unwittingly narrowed, "My aunt?"  

My father was an only child...as my mother had also been. Did he mean Casey's mom?  

"Yes" he answered, lowering his glasses back over his eyes while gazing down at my chart "a Ms. Elena Russon... Is there a problem?" 

My heart stopped. 

"N-n-no, no. No. No. I want nothing to do with her--and I don't need any psychiatric evaluation. Just call my father again and tell him I'm mature enough to make my own decisions!" 

"Charlotte" he attempted to sound concern but seemed as bored as a feather "you had very serious self-inflicted injuries that left you down for some time...." 

"How long?" 

"Going on two months this Wednesday..." 

Two months.... 

I'd been down for two months and the only thing that bothered me was that Mr. Stokaya hadn't come to see me... in two months... 

Rolling back the tears, I hugged my knees to my chest. All the blood plummeted from my head and I couldn't keep from trembling. I needed release but this body, my own body that seemed like it hung heavy on me, couldn't handle it. Needing to release the excess energy, I began rocking back and fourth quickly, faster and faster by the minute. 

"...but with some help I'm sure you can learn to cope with what pushed you to breaking in the first place. We just need to minimize the stress and perhaps in some time you can maybe go home..." he recited.  

Perhaps? In some time? 'Maybe'go home? 

"...We don't need to discuss this now. I'll have Nurse Ross come in and give you something to help calm you down" 

"I don't need to calm down!" I growled. Decisions were being made from me and being taken from me and I didn't even know who me was. My chest tightened and the walls felt like they were slowly closing in on me. When did everything get so ugly and unreal? My father didn't even bother coming! And Stokaya, that bastard! He knew what I was but still left me to rot! He was the one who could explain things to me, but he didn't left and hadn't come back... 

"Ms. O'Dean, you need to relax--"  

I couldn't breathe. My heartbeats tripled, beating so loudly that I cringed with each beat. Something warm oozed from my ear and swiping it away, my palms were stained with blood.  

"Nurse Ross!" Dr. Romo yelled but she didn't respond. Dr. Romo jogged from the room, leaning out from the door calling for help but I rocked faster, doubling in time. Back and fourth. Back and fourth. 

He called for help once more but no one came. Then he opened his mouth to call again....and it remained open...and there was no sound.  

His last call came echoing into the room slowly, one syllable at a time until the sounds warped into nothing.... 

Just silence and stillness. 

Rocking to a slow stop, my eyes fell upon the monitor at my bedside. The green peeks formed no longer, just a static picture of green mountains remained.  

My heartbeat was the last to surrender to the calmness and once it did, I wasted no time in pressing my feet against the cold floor. Running to the window, shock flooded through me upon seeing the frozen outside world. There was no movement...no sound...no time... 

Catching my own sheer reflection in the window, I looked at myself the same way as that day in the salon.  

It was me.  

I was doing it. There was no burning, no waves, no fire in my veins. It was just me. Whatever lived inside me had nothing to do with what I was doing. The thought was almost intoxicating but the realization shifted my focus....I needed to find Mr. Stokaya. 

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xoxoDistamtDreamer