The Darkness of Shadows Read Online Free Page A

please.”
    Val held the cup for me while I took a sip from the straw.
    “You okay? Your family?” I said.
    “We’re all fine.”
    I saw what I thought was a blanket on the bed, but it turned out to be a quilt. One of Mrs. Guerrero’s.
    “Mom brought it from home for you,” Val said.
    Mystery of good-smelling stuff solved.
    A nurse came in, surprised to see me awake. She shooed Val out and did nurse things. She made a quick trip out of the room and returned with doctors, who did doctor things. Just what I loved, strangers touching me.
    “How’s the pain level on a scale of one to ten?” Dr. Poke and Prod said. “Ten being the worst imaginable.”
    I tried to hide the grimace. “It’s a one.”
    “You’re not a very good liar, Ms. Gannon. Just press this button and the pain meds will start.” He demonstrated on the line going into my arm. “If it becomes intolerable, call the nurse.”
    “I’m fine, thank you.” I shifted away from him.
    “If it wasn’t for Mrs. Guerrero, you wouldn’t have made it,” one of the other young doctors said.
    “What did you say?”
    A nurse stopped him and ushered him and the others out of the room.
    “My name is Helen.” Her voice was like bourbon and cigarettes—she smelled of the latter. “I’m a friend of Mrs. Guerrero’s. If you need anything, let me know.” She padded out of the room on silent nurse shoes.
    The truth about what happened to me would be nice, for starters.
    Everything was silent except for the whir of the machines. I touched the quilt. It smelled like the Guerrero home: lavender and vanilla. It made me feel safe for some stupid reason.
    I reached for the cup on the tray/stand thing. It seemed to be taunting me, just a few inches out of my reach.
    “Dammit!” I leaned back, exhausted by the small effort. The water was still on the tray, still mocking me. I pulled the quilt closer.
    “Natalie, how are you feeling?” Mrs. Guerrero said.
    She and Val had snuck up on the side of the bed with less machinery.
    “Mrs. G, I didn’t know you were there … Sorry for swearing in front of you,” I said.
    “It is all right, child. How are you?”
    “My stomach hurts. Mostly I’m confused.” I shifted in the bed as a wave of pain clawed through my belly. Note to self: moving less equals less pain. What a dumbass. “How long have I been here?”
    “Ten days.” The side rail of the bed was down. “May I sit with you?” I nodded. She took my hand in hers. “What do you remember?”
    “My father was at my apartment. He had a knife. Me on the ground. You and Val. And then nothing. It’s like short film clips that don’t make sense.”
    She had a worried mom-look on her face. “Try to remember. But if this becomes too much, you must tell me and we will finish another time. Promise me, Natalie.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” I sighed. “A few weeks ago … my father called me.”
    “WHAT?” Val said, pressing closer.
    “He said he wanted to see me.”
    Both Val and her mom stared, mouths open.
    “Are you fucking serious?” Val said.
    “As a heart attack.”
    “Why didn’t you TELL ME?” Val and I didn’t fight often but when we did, whoa, look out. But now, she had me at a mega-disadvantage.
    “I know you’re pissed—”
    Mrs. Guerrero uncharacteristically ignored the swear-fest.
    “That doesn’t even begin to cover it!” Val said.
    “Just listen to me for a minute.” The machines attached to me started a song of warnings. “Please?”
    “ Fine .” Val was waiting, not an easy thing for her.
    “I didn’t know how to tell you,” I said.
    “What did he say?”
    “He needed to see me.”
    “What else?”
    “He … he said you, your mom, and Tina were looking well.”
    “Jesus Christ!”
    The equipment was now scatting out a medical riff as another wave of pain rushed over me. Val’s anger calmed as she saw the anguish on my face. The worry in her eyes was killing me. The last thing in the world I wanted was to hurt