Different (3 page)

"We have to get this girl to hospital,” protested one of the paramedics. “She's in a critical condition."

"I'm sorry but I have my orders,” the sergeant said. “She'll have to stay where she is."

"Sophie?” Jay asked weakly, making Mary jump. “Is she going to be ok?"

"They ought to have taken her to hospital by now, but the police have put us under quarantine,” Mary said. “Are you ok? How did you do that and what's that blue light?"

"How did I do what? What light?” Jay asked and sat up. “What are you talking about?"

Mary pointed to Sophie. “You lifted the bus off her and the stuff that's covering her shot out of your hands."

"I don't remember,” Jay said. “I feel as though I've just run a marathon. I'm shattered."

"There's something you're not telling me. You must have run at about ninety miles an hour to get here so quick,” Mary said. “Now you're lifting up buses and shooting out blue light. What's going on, Jay?"

A puzzled expression came over Jay's face. “I don't know,” she said. “I can't remember anything after getting your call.” She rubbed her forehead as though trying to remember. “It's just a blank."

The car door opened and Mary's dad looked at Jay in concern. “Are you all right?” he asked. “Everyone's talking about what happened and the police want a word with you."

"She can't remember anything Dad!” Mary said determined to protect her best friend. She was worried about Jay, who looked dreadful. She looked so tired, weak and confused. “Has anyone told Sophie's Mom and Dad about the accident?"

"Yes, her home number was in her mobile and the police are sending a car around to their house. Is it true you can't remember what happened, Jay?"

"Yes, it's all a blank."

Mary's dad nodded. “Maybe it's for the best,” he said. “I'll tell the police you can't remember anything about it. Then I'll ring your grandparents and tell them you're with us and explain what's going on."

"Thanks, Mr. Slymonds,” Jay said.

"Dad, do you think that light is dangerous?” Mary was frightened for her dad.

He smiled and stroked her cheek. “No, I don't,” he said. “It's just the police can't afford to take any chances. I feel fine so stop worrying. Ok?"

She nodded and hoped he was right.

Dr. Jacob Newman was on duty in the Accident and Emergency Response Unit, arriving at the scene, he stared in amazement at the translucent blue pulsating light that completely enshrouded the young teenage female. The people accompanying the patient moved aside to allow one of his colleagues to run a Geiger counter over the girl while taking care not to come into contact with her extraordinary coating.

"What the hell is that...” Jacob began, but one of the paramedics interrupted him.

"We don't know what it is, doctor,” he said, “but it seems harmless."

"We're not getting any unusual traces of radiation,” the scientist with the Geiger counter said. “Whatever this stuff is, it's not radioactive but it may contain an electrical field."

"Excuse me doctor, I'm Bryn Slymonds, and we've touched, Sophie and the light seem harmless."

Cameras flashed and Jacob realised the press had arrived. “Then let's get that girl to the hospital.” He turned to the paramedics who were picking up the stretcher. “How's she doing?"

"Her heartbeat's stronger and...” The paramedic broke off and pointed at Sophie in surprise. “Look at her face,” he said. “The abrasions and bruises have gone.” His gaze swept down to the girl's legs and he gasped. “I don't believe this!"

"This is impossible,” the doctor, who'd first examined Sophie, said. He peered at her legs and shook his head. “This is quite extraordinary,” he said. “I've never come across anything like this before."

Jacob Newman listened to the exchange and frowned. “Would someone mind telling me what's going on?"

The other doctor nodded distractedly. “She had severe facial lacerations, a fractured cheek bone and I suspect a fractured skull. Her pulse and heartbeat were erratic, both of her legs had multiple fractures, but according to our friend here,” he indicated the paramedic, “and as you can see, except for the bruising, both legs seem to be normal now. Whatever this light is, it appears to have the most amazing recuperative powers I've ever heard of."

Jacob didn't doubt the older man's diagnosis or conclusion for a moment, for both the paramedic and the doctor had observed the same phenomenon. Apparently, the girl's injuries had started to heal in a mater of minutes.

"Well, lets get her to hospital where we can conduct a thorough examination,” he said.

"Can you tell us what the girl's name is and what that light is?” A reporter, holding a camera, moved towards them but was intercepted by one of the policemen.

The paramedics quickly carried the girl towards the ambulance and Jacob hurried along behind them.

The ambulance came to a halt outside the Accident and Emergency ward at the hospital and within seconds they were wheeling the girl inside.

A couple, obviously Sophie's parents, were already waiting for their daughter inside the Emergency Admissions ward, and they came hurrying towards Jacob as he supervised the girl's emergency treatment.

"I'm her mother. How is she?” The woman's attractive features were twisted with worry.

"She's not critical but we haven't started doing our tests yet,” he said. “We're arranging the X-Rays now.” Jacob looked down at the girl and frowned, there was something different about her but he couldn't put a finger on it. Then he realised what it was, her blue shroud was gone.

"You're sure she's not in any danger?” He father asked anxiously. “She will be ok?"

"Yes, but we'll be able to give you a more accurate diagnosis after the tests,” Jacob said, his mind still on the mysterious glow. “If you wait over there, I'll..."

"Mom?” Sophie's eyes were open and she was struggling to sit up.

"Sophie!” Mrs. Anderson put a hand on Sophie's shoulder and eased her back down on the stretcher. “Don't, you've got to have some tests. How are you feeling, sweetheart?"

"Weak but all right I think, and I'm starving, Mum. Can I have something to eat?"

Mrs. Anderson looked at him and Jacob, stunned by the turn of events, shook his head.

"Not until after the tests,” he said. “If we find anything wrong we may need to operate.” Somehow though, he didn't think they would.

A nurse came hurrying over. “The X-Ray department is ready for you, doctor,” she said.

"Take her along to X-Ray and I'll join you there,” he said and the nurse helped the porter to wheel the girl away.

By the time Jacob reached the X-Ray department the results were ready. According to the plates, apparently Sophie Anderson had received no skeletal or internal damage, and yet a bus had run onto her legs.

Her parents were delighted and it was all he could do to persuade them to let their daughter remain in hospital for twenty-four hours, which was normal policy following a head injury.

After making sure the girl was safely installed in a ward, Jacob was about to enjoy a cup of coffee when he received an urgent request to go to admissions.

He rounded the corridor to find an agitated Mark Hammond, the hospital administrator, trying to usher a group of men and women towards the exit. It took a few seconds for Jacob to realise the group were reporters. Mark spotted him and waved him over, but then the reporters also saw him and they surged towards him.

"What can you tell us about the glow that's covering the girl, Doctor? Is it true that it seems to be healing her?” The woman who'd asked the question pushed a microphone into his face.

"The patient doesn't seem to have suffered any serious injury and should be released in the morning,” he said.

"Doctor! What about the reports that the girl was covered in some kind of blue light? Witnesses including the doctor, who made the initial examination, and the Paramedics, insist that a teenager, who was kneeling beside the girl, lifted the bus off of her and was responsible for that light. They also say that the girls’ injuries were critical but started to heal."

Jacob swore under his breath but realised there was no point in trying to dispute the facts. “Yes, there was some kind of electrical glow covering her,” he admitted, “but whatever it was, it's gone now. As I said, the patient will be discharged tomorrow."

Not waiting to answer any more questions, he turned on his heel and made his way back to the staff-room puzzling over what had happened.

"If I were you, Jay,” Mr. Slymonds said as he parked the car outside her house. “I'd only tell your grandparents what you can remember. It could just be a coincidence that the light appeared while you were holding Sophie's hand."

"But you don't think it was though, do you?” Jay asked, quietly. “You think that because of what happened with the bus that it had something to do with me."

"Dad didn't say that,” Mary said, but Jay could tell her friend wasn't sure.

"Yes, I do,” Mr. Slymonds admitted, “but that's not the point. You can't remember anything about it and chances are it will never happen gain. I think the whole thing was triggered by your distress at seeing Sophie, so badly injured. Unexplained things like this happen all the time. You know that."

That was true.
She'd read of similar things like that before, but had never expected to experience it herself. “I hope you're right.” she said. “I don't know what I'd do if it ever happened to me again."

"I'm sure Dad's right,” Mary said, giving Jay's arm a reassuring squeeze. “It was probably one of those once in a lifetime things."

Jay almost told them about her fall but decided against it and smiled. “I feel much better now and I'll see you tomorrow, Mary. Thanks for everything Mr. Slymonds. I'd better go in, or Grandma will be getting worried."

She climbed out of the car and waving them goodbye she let herself into the house.

Her grandmother looked at her in concern. “You look worn out, Jay. You get yourself up to bed and I'll bring you up a hot drink. Thank goodness that girl is ok."

Jay felt exhausted and even the hot spray of the shower failed to revive her. Going into her bedroom, she found a mug of hot chocolate on her bedside table.

Slipping between the sheets, she leaned back on her pillows and sipped the delicious liquid. When she'd finished, she switched off the table lamp.

Jay stiffened and cried out in surprise when a warm glow spread down her arm and flooded into her body.
It feels as though I'm being re-energised, like a battery,
she thought.

The bedroom door opened and Granddad Tom came in. He looked at her in concern. “Are you alright, love? I thought I heard you call out."

"Yes, I'm fine Granddad. I burned my hand on the mug that's all."

He nodded apparently accepting her explanation. “Well, you get your head down and have a good night's sleep. There's no reason for you to get up early in the morning. Goodnight, Jay."

"Goodnight, Granddad,” she said.

Her granddad shut the door behind him and Jay paused in the act of switching off her lamp again. She remembered everything and could almost feel the power that had coursed out of her body and into Sophie, which meant it could possibly happen again.

Alex took another swig from his bottle of lager. “It wasn't our fault she got herself killed,” he said, trying to sound unconcerned, but in truth he wanted to get back home and give way to the grief threatening to overwhelm him. “I wouldn't have really hurt...” He broke off when Carl signalled him to be quiet and pointed to the radio.

"... and according to an eyewitness, the light was completely covering her. Dr. Harrison, who attended the girl at the scene, said..."

"They're talking about Sophie,” Carl said, excitedly. “They say she's ok. That blue light they're on about healed her."

"You what?” Alex listened to the rest of the news bulletin with growing confusion and fear. “Shit!” he exclaimed when it finished. “If Sophie tells the cops about us..."

"We're going to get done, whether she can prove it or not.” Carl finished for him. “Look, they're keeping her in hospital overnight, so why don't we go and pay her a visit. Warn her to keep her mouth shut."

"I'll do more than bleeding warn her,” Alex said. “Don't you worry about that."

They arrived at the hospital in time to see Sophie's parents leaving. Alex grabbed Carl and dragged him into the shadows before they were spotted. Her mum and dad hated him. They walked past looking so happy that Alex knew Sophie really must be all right. After her parents left, Alex and Carl walked into the reception area of the emergency ward and up to the counter.

The receptionist, who was a woman about the same age as Sophie's mother, also gave him the same kind of disapproving look. “Can I help you?"

"Yes. We're here to see Sophie Anderson,” Alex said. “She got knocked over by a car and..."

"I'm sorry,” the woman cut him off. “It's after eleven-o-clock at night and that's far too late for visitors."

"But I'm her boyfriend..."

Behind her glasses her eyebrows arched and her mouth stretched into a tight smile, but she said nothing. Just sat there staring and waiting for them to go away.

Alex, wary of a security guard who was standing a few feet away and watching the exchange, resisted the urge to call the woman an old cow or something worse. “Well ok. What ward's she on? I'll ring her in the morning."

"I'm not allowed to divulge that kind of information,” her smile broadened. “But as you're her boyfriend, why don't you ask her parents? Good night, boys."

She swivelled her chair away from them and opened a manila file started to read the contents.

After glaring at her down turned head for a moment, Alex turned on his heel and strode towards the exit. “What the hell do we do now?” He asked.

The following morning Jay went downstairs to join her parents for breakfast.