Schasm (Schasm Series) (16 page)

I wonder if I’ll meet her, too.

I can’t hold in my question. “Why have you never revealed yourself to me? Why have you let me come here again and again without reaching out to me? Thirty seconds…ten seconds. Two seconds.” I feel tears gathering. “Why didn’t you care enough to come?”

His brows furrow. “Chloe, my darling…I’ve worried about you since the day you were born, knowing what was likely to be in store for you. You’ve had no one to help you with your condition and having to learn to cope all on your own must have been so difficult. My deepest regret is that I never approached you about them. I am truly sorry for that.”

The tears come now. He wipes them with his thumb.

“This is why I sent my good man Alexander to always watch out for you. Someone you could relate to, who wouldn’t scare you away. Someone who could come to you as a boy and as a young man.”

I can’t hold back the anger. “You have no idea what my mother has put me through because of this…
condition
. Forgive me, but your apology sounds a little thin at this point.”

He nods. “I understand completely. I don’t expect you to come around to the idea of me very easily. Had I been able to, I would have done anything for you, including straightening your mother right up. But it wasn’t safe…not for you, and not for me." That’s all he says about it. "I hope someday you can understand.”

I have no idea what to say to that.

“Marius, sir," Alex chimes in. "I brought Chloe to you today hoping you could give us some insight on a little problem." Alex tips his head to me for the explanation.

“I…uh…I had a little accident in one of my drifts. Apparently, I’m in a coma…the doctors will be performing some sort of neurological tests on me to see if there’s any activity in there. I’m terrified of what the outcome might be. Alex thought you might have some knowledge on the matter and could maybe help me figure out how to come out of it before they…intervene.” It’s such a terrifying word in this situation.

My great-grandfather's forehead crinkles. “Lucky for you, you’re in good company for this sort of situation. People with our condition generally get stuck when comatose.” He sighs, trying to find a way to explain it to me. “We’ll need to figure out how to get your subliminal thought patterns to level off. This will help your two very different locations match up again, like putting a puzzle together.”

“There is a way, then?” I ask, sounding hopeful.

He nods cautiously. “Not a safe one, but yes…a way.”

Alex looks at me. “Are you willing to take the risk?”

Why is this being put on me? “I don’t know the risk…how can I tell you I’m willing to take it?”

He nods. “There’s a pharmaceutical manufactured by a man I know. It helps level off your activity.”

I look over at Alex and smile. “Well, that sounds better than any other option right now.”

“It’s dangerous…and it’s temporary.”

Alex nods. “She has nothing else, sir.”

My great-grandfather nods, too. “I suppose you’re right.” Then he turns to me. “Chloe, I’m going to do what I can to help you out. I promise." He turns back and trades glances back and forth between Alex and me. " I need you and Alexander to stay put in the city while I procure the drug.” His eyes settle on the clock hanging from a nearby wall. “I should return by five. Please be back here then, too.”

 Alex nods at my great-grandfather. “We’ll be here." Alex nudges my shoulder. He leans over and takes a sip of his coffee. He shoves his hand into his pocket and pulls out a small handful of European dollars. “I don’t think we’ll have a problem occupying ourselves while you’re gone.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

IN THIS MOMENT

I’M WALKING OVER THE COBBLESTONE ROADS
that I’ve been admiring each time I’ve come here. It’s beautiful. I just want to gaze into all of the storefront windows as we pass, admiring the mannequins exhibiting fashions from an era I never expected to be a part of. The thought of taking a mystery drug to bring myself out of a coma lingers in my mind, but I try not to think about it.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

Alex laces his fingers through mine and squeezes my hand. “You’ll see, beautiful.” He smiles. “We’re almost there.”

We walk a ways further and turn one last corner. And there it is, spiring up into the sky: the Eiffel tower. It’s taller than I ever imagined, and it’s so breathtaking that I could sit here for hours gazing at the intricacy that hovers above us. I feel like the woman in the painting I was admiring in the café.

I pull Alex toward the tower, staring in awe. “Can we take a ride to the top?” I ask.

Alex tugs on my hand. “The cables that would have allowed us to ride up to the top were cut just a couple of years ago, and they won’t be repaired for another year or so. I’m sorry. Would you accept an IOU?” His lips tug into a half smile.

It’s silly to think something like that would ruin this experience for me. “Of course. The view is beautiful enough from right here.” My vision pans from the top of the tower down to Alex’s face. “It’s like a dream.”

A broad smile stretches across his face, and his arm sweeps around my back. “Ready to walk on?”

“If we must.”

Alex cranes his neck, looking for something in the distance. “How are your sea legs?”

“My what?” I raise an eyebrow.

He pulls me ahead. “You’ve never been on a boat before, have you?”

“What do you think?” I hate that I have to keep reminding him of my miserable life.

“Well, we’ll just have to test our luck,” he says while waving a hand to someone on one of the boats ahead.

We arrive along the side of a long body of water that appears to cut the city right in half. It’s breathtaking and like nothing I’ve ever imagined. It looks like it goes on forever. People line the river, enjoying picnics or watching their children chasing hula-hoops. Some are caught up in a romantic embrace, and some are painting the beauty that surrounds them onto canvas.

Alex brings his lips near my ear. His breathy voice sends quivers up my spine. “This is the best way for me to show you the views in such a small period,” he says.

We climb up a narrow set of stairs to reach the top deck. Rows of benches stretch across from one side to the other, but we’re the only two here. He pulls me to the edge and wraps his hands around the railing, so I do the same. The people lounging along the side of the river are all staring at us and waving.

The boat glides away from the dock. I grip the railing for support as Alex shifts into tour guide mode, describing all of the sights and pointing to various landmarks. He’s just too amazing. There’s no way I can concentrate on what he’s saying when the sun is reflecting in his eyes like that.

“Do you see that bridge?” he asks.

I squint my eyes ahead, trying to see if there’s something different about it. I nod. “Is it special?” I ask.

He smiles. “It will be,” he says. “In about a hundred years from the time we’re in right now, that bridge will be lined with thousands of padlocks.”

“Is that a bad thing?” I ask.

“People from around the world will come here and engrave their names on a padlock, attach it to the bridge, and throw the key in the water. It will symbolize their unbreakable love,” he says. “We should put the first lock on.”

The thought overwhelms me.
Love? Unbreakable?
Alex and me… forever. My heart swoons at the thought. When he notices my glazed over look, he stops speaking. I feel flushed. I’m glad he’s as persistent as he is, because I see the same look on his face that he had on the Ferris wheel and after we saw the shooting star. I’m not turning away this time. I need him to know how I feel, too.

All of his moves are slow and careful as he glides his arms around my waist. His fingertips press into my back and he pulls me in against him. My body melts into his. My arms tremble as I wrap them around his heated neck, and my cheeks scorch from a fiery hotness. His eyes blaze into mine as he glides his hands up my neck, and over my cheeks to cradle my face. He takes his time as he inches his mouth down to meet mine. Flutters explode in the depths of my stomach. His ocean-blue eyes hypnotize me as they drift down to my lips. My heart has stopped, my breathing has stopped, and time has stopped. His lips close in and his breath tickles my lips. His lips part and I close my eyes. His nose sweeps over mine and I tangle my hands into his hair, bracing for impact. His smooth soft lips press lightly onto my bottom lip, then my top lip, and then everywhere in between. With his mouth on mine, I remember how to breathe, my heart picks back up in rhythm, but time remains still. The butterflies release from within the depths of my stomach, allowing my anxious nerves to be replaced with contentment and warmth. I realize now how much I need him. We are meant to be together—two of a kind, both with separated minds.

He pulls me in even closer, pinning me up against him while he nestles his head into my hair. “Chloe,” he breathes. “Being here with you…it’s perfection. I’ve waited so long to touch your lips, breathe the same air, and feel your heart beat…for me. I’ve imagined this kiss, dreamt about it, and wished upon a million stars for it.” He squeezes me so tight that I can feel his nerves trembling throughout his body.

I want to cry at his words. I can feel things now, things that I never knew existed. I want to cry because I’m happy, because someone wants me to be me, because he has been the one person who has always cared enough to never lose sight of me and to never give up on me. I’ve never had something in my life that actually feels
this
true.

We remain entwined, deep within each other’s embrace, enjoying the remainder of our boat ride. We don’t speak. We don’t have to. We’re so in sync and connected with each other that words just don’t seem necessary.

Our afternoon ends, and we return to the café quicker than I could have hoped. I can already see my great-grandfather sitting on a bench outside.

Alex greets him before I can open my mouth. “Did you find the man you were looking for, sir?”

“Yes, son, I did. Come, let’s go for a walk.” My great-grandfather stands up and waves his hand for us to follow him.

The café drifts out of view as we walk, and Marius holds up a pill and begins to explain. “You take this while you are sitting somewhere comfortable. You should also know that it does not work or feel like a typical mind-drift. You will fall asleep wherever you are, and your mind will be blank for about an hour or so. When you awaken, you’ll be out of your coma and back in the hospital. If timed properly, this will prevent the doctors from using any other form of intervention. But you’ll need to stay put until you’ve been released—no drifting until they feel you’re healthy enough to return to general activity.” He takes my hand and releases the pill into my palm, pushing my fingers down on top of it. He kisses my hand. “Be safe, Chloe. We will meet again soon.”

“Thank you,” I say.

“Alexander, take care, son, and make sure she gets to where she needs to be.” Marius puts his hands on my shoulders and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

Alex nods. “Yes sir.”

He turns and leaves without even saying good-bye.

“He’s just not good at good-byes. Don’t worry,” Alex says as he puts his hand on my back to guide me further down the street and over to a park.

We both sit on a bench under a newly bloomed cherry tree. It reminds me of our new relationship. It’s at a peak, and I’m afraid of what comes next for us. “I wish we could stay here. I’m going to miss you so much.”

I feel a disconcerting good-bye approaching, and before I can even finish that thought, Alex clutches my shoulders and brings his nose in to meet mine. “I bet in three days’ time, you will be released from the hospital and we'll see each other,” he says. His eyes are large and he’s forcing a fake smile. It’s clear that he isn’t confident in what he’s saying.

He closes the gap between our lips. I can feel his heart racing against my chest, and I’m starting to have second thoughts.

“Alex, I know you said you’ve known Marius for a while, but are you sure this pill is safe? We don’t even know who his doctor is.”

He smooth's his thumb over my temple, trying to calm my fear. “Yes, I’ve known him most of my life. He’s a kind man. He’d never hurt you. I trust him completely.” He looks me in the eyes. “I’ll see you soon. Do what the doctors tell you so you can be released as soon as possible.” He cups his hands around my face and presses his lips against my temple.

With a tear running down my face, I throw the pill toward the back of my throat and swallow it hard. Alex gently pulls my head down to rest on his shoulder and my heart rate relaxes to the rhythm of his steadying pulse. As drowsiness sets in, he places his arms around me, holding me close with his chin hovering over my head.

I start to feel as though I haven’t slept in a year, and my eyelids feel as if they have ten-pound weights pulling them closed.

I feel relaxed, emotionless.

Free.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

AWAKE

I CAN’T TALK.
My throat feels scratched and bruised.

What is this thing?

I reach my hand up to my face. My fingers are trembling as I drag my fingertips from my cheek over to my mouth. There's a tube protruding from my mouth.

I have to get this out.

I tug at it, but my tongue gets lodged around it and I gag.

I don’t want this down my throat…I don't want anything down my throat. Why would someone do this to me?

A pair of hands clasps around my wrists and pulls them away from my face. I try to bat off whoever has a hold of me, but my hands are forced down and clamped with a cold metal object. Now I can't move at all.

I keep falling in and out of awareness, and my vision is still too blurry to focus on anything other than a white haze in front of me. I stare through it while I try to put all of the pieces together, hoping to figure out how I ended up in this situation. I feel a cold hand on my face, and the tube is finally removed from my throat. I’m left with a horrible burning sensation, radiating through my esophagus, and I choke. The pain is incredible.