Scar (9 page)

“Yes, that’s the official story we’re getting at this time.”

“Is there concern that he may have started the fire?”

“Tina, we don’t have any more information right now. All we know is that Elijah Daniels is in police custody and currently being treated for injuries he received as a result of the fire.”

“That is one strange story,” the woman said, chuckling.

“It is, and I for one, hope that this young man was trying to sincerely do something good and not involved in anything sinister.”

The channel cut to a commercial and Caelyn was left wondering just what else could go wrong. Now the people on the news were speculating that Elijah had purposely started the fire—for what reason? Just so he could then break in and risk his life to save that family?

It didn’t make any sense.

But she knew from past experience that it didn’t have to make any sense. People would make assumptions based on their own beliefs and what they wanted to be true. Nobody cared what had really happened. All they cared about was justifying their own ridiculous theories about things that occurred in life.

She got off the couch in a bad mood, thinking that perhaps she’d try and sneak into Elijah’s room. Or maybe they’d allow her to visit if she asked nicely enough.

But before Caelyn had even reached the hallway to go to the elevator, she heard a very familiar voice calling her name. “Caelyn! Caelyn!” the voice called.

“Oh my God,” she muttered, turning to see Deena coming in the front doors of the hospital.

“Mom and Dad are right behind me,” Deena told her, smirking. “They’re pissed.”

“Don’t come near me,” Caelyn warned her.

But Deena didn’t
listen,
she just kept walking towards Caelyn. “You really stepped in it this time,” Deena said.

“How did you know I was here?”

“The police called,” Deena replied, stopping a few feet away and rummaging through her purse. “God, I need gum so bad right now. I have the worst taste in my mouth.”

“It’s probably what happens when you lie all the time,” Caelyn told her. “You get that bad taste in your mouth. Or it could be from your extra curricular activities.”

“Very funny,” Deena said, taking out a stick of gum and unwrapping it. “And don’t even think for a second about trying to take me down with you. I never told them I knew that you’d left. And because of me you were able to escape the police as long as you did.”

“You didn’t do it as a favor,” Caelyn reminded her. “You did it because you were scared I’d rat you out to Mom and Dad. And I still will, if you give me even the slightest reason to.”

Deena’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t threaten me, Caelyn. And don’t make me prove to you just what a bitch I can be. Because honestly? You haven’t seen anything yet, but if you try and hurt me—I will make it my job to hurt you much worse.”

“Honestly, I couldn’t possibly care less. I just wish you’d stay away from me, Deena.”

“They brought me here. Thanks to you, Mom and Dad are scared about me all the time now.” Deena rolled her eyes. “By the way, you really could use a facial and some makeup right now.”

“Go screw,” Caelyn muttered.

A moment later, her mother and father passed through the entrance to the emergency waiting room. When they saw Caelyn, they came running to her with their arms out.

Caelyn was shocked and surprised to be hugged so thoroughly by her parents. Especially her mother, who grabbed Caelyn and held her tightly, whispering in her ear, “I’m so glad you’re safe.”

Caelyn hugged her bag, stunned by the feelings that rose up at the unexpected display of emotion.

“I love you Mom,” she told her. “I’m sorry I scared you.”

“We can’t lose you, Caelyn. Please don’t ever put us through that again.”

Her father hugged her as well, and his cheek was rough and his whiskers scratched her face like she remembered. He smelled of aftershave and his eyes were red-rimmed. “We were sure that he’d kidnapped you and done something terrible with you,” her dad said.

“Who?” Caelyn pulled away from his grip. “Elijah?”

“He was escaped from prison,” her mother said. “Of course we thought anything was possible, and you never contacted us to tell us differently.”

“Elijah didn’t kidnap me,” Caelyn told them. “And you heard how he saved that family from the house fire, right?”

Her parents agreed that they’d heard the story, but weren’t sure they believed it.

“It’s on video,” Caelyn told them. “Elijah saved those people.”

Deena was rolling her eyes. “I guess when he’s not busy stealing cars and dealing drugs, he saves people from burning buildings.”

“Deena, so help me God, you better shut your mouth,” Caelyn told her. “Why did you guys even bring her? You know how we feel about each other.”

“You are also still family. You’re sisters and that counts for a lot in my book,” her father replied.

Caelyn shrugged and then silence descended on them, as nobody seemed to know quite what to say next.

“How about we grab some breakfast on the way home?” her mother asked, breaking the silence. She was obviously trying hard to sound chipper. “Does that sound good, honey?”

Suddenly, it dawned on Caelyn that her mother meant to take her home right there and then. “Mom, I can’t leave yet.”

Her mother’s expression darkened. “You cannot and will not stay here with that boy. It’s over, Caelyn. You’re lucky the police haven’t arrested you for the things you did.”

“I know. But I can’t leave him.”

Her father folded his arms and his cheeks grew red. “How much more do you intend to put us through? Do you know that your mother’s developed an ulcer? Do you know that I’ve hardly slept a wink in three nights? All we do is worry about you, Caelyn.”

Caelyn’s mouth went dry and her throat tightened as she looked at her family. Their faces were all drawn and tight. She realized that she was causing her parents a great deal of pain and distress, even if they hadn’t always handled things the right way.

Maybe it really was time to stop putting them through hell.

But then she thought about the fact that Elijah would probably be going to jail for a very long time, and this would be her last chance to spend time with him. How could she just leave and go home now?

She bit her thumbnail and thought for a long time. “Can I just have a few hours?” she asked them. “Just let me have one last visit.”

Her parents exchanged uncertain glances.

Deena snorted. “Don’t let her play you,” she said. “One last visit will turn into another night and then another visit. She can’t stay away from him. Maybe he brainwashed her or something.”

“Deena, I’m serious. Shut your mouth. Or I’ll…” Caelyn caught herself before she said anything more.

Deena’s lips tightened as she realized that Caelyn had been close to revealing her secret. “Whatever,” Deena said, flipping her hair dramatically. “I’ll sit in the waiting room for a few hours. What do I care? I’ve got homework I can do.”

“I’ll bet,” Caelyn said, smirking.

Deena flashed the middle finger at Caelyn and flounced away.

“Excuse me, young lady,” her father yelled after Deena. “That is unacceptable behavior.

You have no idea
, Caelyn thought, but she kept her thoughts to herself.

***

They finally let Caelyn into Elijah’s room again.

This time, a different police officer was in the room with him—a young guy with a goatee and sideburns. When she came in, the two of them were laughing loudly about something.

Elijah wiped tears from his eyes as he laughed. “Shit, it hurts,” he gasped. “Don’t make me laugh again, please. I can’t take it.”

Caelyn walked in, smiling, her heart lifting as she saw that Elijah was doing so much better.

When Elijah noticed her, he made an effort to sit up in bed, holding out his hand. “Babe, come over here. You’ve got to meet my new friend, Judd.”

“Hi Judd,” Caelyn said, shaking the officer’s hand.

“Pleased to meet you finally,” the cop told her. “I’ve had to listen to hours of this blabbermouth bragging about you, so it’s good to put a face with the name.”

Caelyn laughed and sat down next to Elijah, holding his hand. She could feel blisters and winced at the idea of how much pain he must still be in.

But Elijah didn’t seem worried about his pain. He looked at her. “What’s wrong, kid?” he asked, instantly seeing it in her face.

She took a deep breath. “My parents came to the hospital this morning.”

Elijah’s smile went away. “They’re here?”

“Yeah,” she replied, her voice soft. “And they want me to go home with them.”

Elijah nodded his understanding. “I get it. I can’t ask you to stay here with me at the hospital. You’ve already done way more than I could ever have expected.”

She bit her lower lip as the tears spilled unbidden down her cheeks. “I don’t want to leave you.”

He squeezed her hand. “I’m fine, Caelyn. Really. I’m doing good.”

“But when will I see you again?” She brushed the tears away and looked at him.

His eyes were pained as he met her gaze and she saw that he was having some trouble containing his own emotions. “I’m not sure when we’ll see each other again, but that won’t stop me from being with you. I’ll close my eyes and picture you sitting next to me, and smiling. I’ll spend hours just thinking of your eyes, your voice, the smell of your hair. And it will be like a part of you is still with me—even when we can’t be together.”

She shook her head. “I can’t be strong enough.”

“You are strong enough, Caelyn. And our love will survive this. You know I’ll always come for you again. And if you move on—“

“Please, don’t. Don’t say that. I can’t take it.” She closed her eyes and shook her head.

“I’ll give you two a moment,” the cop said, and walked out of the room.

After the door closed, Caelyn felt Elijah’s hand on her cheek. “Don’t make me reach so far,” he said, his voice strained.

Caelyn opened her eyes and saw that he’d had to stretch to reach her, and it was making him grimace. She slid closer to the bed, laying her head on his shoulder. She could smell him—that distinctly Elijah smell that instantly comforted her. His skin was warm against her cheek, and she felt his breath against her hair.

He kissed the top of her head and stroked her softly. “Don’t get sad on me now,” he joked. “This is way better than that time I drove our car into a pole.”

She laughed a little bit, but her heart wasn’t in it. “I keep losing you,” she whispered.

“Impossible. I’m like a bad penny,” he said. “I keep turning up.”

And even though she wanted to believe him—even though she desperately wanted to feel better, Caelyn couldn’t shake the feeling that this time their luck truly had run out.

After everything they’d been through together, it was really going to stop here. The world had finally won, all of the opposing forces had found a way to keep them apart, and this time it was going to last forever.

She would try and wait for him, but who knew what would happen over the course of the next however many years Elijah was in jail? Would he even still want to be with her when he got out?

How would she pick up the pieces and continue to live a life that didn’t mean anything without the man she loved more than anything else in the world?

Life would become an endless procession of dreary and lonely days spent knowing that her real life—the one she was supposed to have—had been stolen from her. And Elijah would be changed by all of his time in prison, and when he got out, he would likely be bitter and cynical and forced to go right back to all his old ways.

There’d be little choice for him but to continue the life of crime he’d so desperately strived to break free from.

Her thoughts were so bleak that she couldn’t bear to look at him.

Sensing it, he didn’t talk for a while, stroking her hair and rubbing her back and letting her just lay her head on his chest.

“We’ll get through it together, because we have to,” he said eventually. “I don’t like it anymore than you do. But it’s just the way it is.”

“Maybe you can escape,” she said.

He gave her a look like she was insane. “Caelyn…”

“Think about it,” she told him. “That cop left the room. If you get out of bed now—“

Elijah laughed. “Kid, you’re talking crazy.”

“Don’t laugh at me,” she said, sitting up. “I’m not joking, Elijah. I’m trying to find a way for us to be together. And it’s not funny.”

His smile faded. “Look, I know. I know it’s bad. But I’m not running away anymore. I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because,” he said, “saving those people from that fire changed me.”

“I don’t understand.” She felt like screaming at him. Now she was finally ready to do anything—even if it meant running from the cops again—to be together. Suddenly Elijah had become a boy scout.

“I know you don’t understand,” Elijah said, his dark eyes watching her with compassion and calm. “But it’s something that I felt when I thought I was going to die and everything kind of flashed before my eyes. I realized that until I met you, my whole life was a joke.”