Chapter 2

  "He's coming," a woman said.

  Kim heard an echo in her ears. It sounded like she was in a cave. Or more likely a gymnasium. The way the sound bounced off the walls was... unnatural.

  "Mary, you can't let Daniel come here!" the anxious voice pleaded.

  "What do you imagine I could do to stop him?"

  "What do you mean!? Don't they listen to you?"

  The woman laughed sardonically. "I think you want me to be a leader like humans are. But I know you know better..." She sniffed the air. “She's awake.”

  Kim became aware of her body. She could feel her muscles twitch, and eventually, her body began to spasm. The pain was unreal. The sounds and smells of the room assaulted her. People were talking to her, but it was lost to her as hands frantically touched her.

  "STOP!" the woman yelled in a voice that was accustomed to being listened to.

  The other hands disappeared. Only one hand, strong and reassuring, replaced them, coming to rest on Kim's chest. "You're strong, child. That will serve you well. But now it's time for rest."

  Kim opened her eyes to see she was standing. Two security guards were on the floor. A priest and a nurse were at the door of what appeared to be a private room in a hospital. She tried to find words, but only growling came out.

  "Shhhh..." It was the woman with her hand on her chest. Kim turned her head in the woman's direction. "Let them put you back to sleep. You're healing. You need rest."

  She was stunning. Her long red hair was put up in a messy bun. Her green eyes pierced Kim to her soul. She knew her somehow.

  "No, no," she cautioned. "Don't try to speak." She gently directed her to the bed, and Kim sat down. She trusted this woman.

  "I'm going to give you a needle," she said.

  "You're not allowed," muttered the nurse.

  The red-haired woman smiled contemptuously. "You're welcome to try yourself."

  Words passed between them as Kim laid down. She couldn't make much sense of them. The needle stung. But only a little. The woman's hand never left. Her presence was calming. But not from warmth. More because she exuded strength. Like there was no situation she couldn't take control of.

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  "That was terrifying," she heard the man say when she woke again.

  "You're the one who wanted to bring her to the hospital," Mary shot back.

  The man sighed. "When will he be here?"

  "He doesn't exactly carry a cellphone. I tell you so you can prepare. He's spending some time with Sarah right now. When he's done, he will be coming. I've asked him to come alone. Pray he listens.”

  "Are we safe?"

  "Around Daniel?" She made a noise that was like a stifled laugh or a grunt. "Of course not! He's the Great Storm, Thomas. You don't control him. You control everything else and hope that's enough."

  "Sarah's dad is coming?" Kim mumbled. She remembered Sarah talking about her Dad. His name was Daniel. Sarah adored him. She could hear the woman walk towards her. Her aura of calm and strength impressing itself on her.

  "Ever the strong one, sweet thing." She stroked her face. “Do you remember me? I'm Sarah's mother.”

  "I couldn't... I couldn't find Sarah. I tried." Emotion ripped from Kim. Tears flowed like a river as the horror came back to her. She felt the need to act out again. But the woman surrounded her in a hug that seemed to push her strength and calm into her. Her iron grip would not let Kim have another physical outbreak.

  "Sarah is okay, child," the woman whispered in her ear, holding Kim close and stroking her hair as Kim cried hard into her shoulder.

  "You've done very well by Sarah. You always have. And she is doing well. Better now that she knows you're going to be okay. My name is Mary. You know me?"

  Kim pulled her thoughts together. "Mom? Sarah's mom. Daniel is her Dad." She reached into her scattered mind trying to piece together her memories.

  Mary smiled. "I bet she talks more about her Dad."

  Kim tried to chuckle but it hurt.

  "It's okay, I'm not jealous. I married him for a reason."

  "She says he's strong. And kind."

  "To the people he loves, he is."

  She laid her back down and sat at her bedside, stroking her hair.

  "He's coming. He's going to make sure everything is taken care of." Her smile was gentle. She gestured to the man at the window, and he came to join her.

  "Somebody did wrong by Sarah," Mary said.

  "Fucking Tammy!!" Kim cursed, her subconscious mind not able to grasp exactly what had triggered her anger.

  "Oh, I spoke to Tammy." A dark shadow passed over her warm expression. "But it was more than her." She placed a comforting hand on Kim's chest again. "And we know it wasn't you," she reassured.

  Kim wasn't sure what she was talking about. Her mind was so foggy. Mary was happy to divert the subject. "When you're better, Daniel and I will come to you. Until then, this is my friend Thomas. You are to listen to him until I see you again. Am I clear?"

  Kim could feel the woman's words impress themselves on her. Like they were branded into her heart. She could only nod.

  "Are you sure this is wise, Mary?" Thomas said.

  He was a middle-aged man dressed like a priest. His blond hair and green eyes both had enough grey in them to denote some wisdom, and exhaustion that went to core. He smelled of something Kim recognized immediately as fear.

  "It's very unwise. She should be deep in the forest with her own kind. Especially now,” she shot back at him bitterly.

  “You wanted her here,” she said before he could respond. “So here she is. That means Daniel is coming. Now don't try my patience further. I will be back before her third moon."

  He nodded. Obviously not wanting to push his luck.

  "Rest now, sweet thing," Mary said, stroking her cheek. "Your charge is safe. You're going to recover. Your parents will be here when next you open your eyes."

  Kim nodded

  and once again the merciful darkness took her.