Into the Light (The Light, #1)(10)

“If you’re all right in here, I’m going to leave you alone for a moment while you brush your teeth. I need to go back in your room and change your sheets. When I come back, I’ll bring a fresh nightgown.”

I nodded. The little bit of water I’d consumed in the shower had merely whetted my thirst. I wanted more. As soon as I sensed that Raquel was gone, I drained the cup and hastily refilled it. At the rush of the running water, a cold chill tingled down my spine. I remembered Sister Lilith and felt sure that if she heard, she wouldn’t hesitate to reprimand me for my blatant disregard of the Commission’s decree. Nevertheless my thirst prevailed as I drank another cup of water before brushing my teeth.

Sister Raquel returned and whispered, “Elizabeth just arrived. I’m pretty sure Sister Lilith is ready to go, but she won’t leave until she sees you again.”

My tired muscles tensed and the water in my stomach churned at the mere mention of her name.

“Don’t worry,” Raquel continued, “They’re both still in the hallway. We’re the only ones in here. Before I take you back out, I want to get you dressed and comb your hair, and I need to replace the bandages on your eyes. It’s not good for them to stay wet.”

I sucked my lip between my freshly brushed teeth to keep from speaking. She was going to remove the bandage around my head. What if I can see? What if my eyes aren’t damaged? Then again, what if they are?

Raquel slipped a fresh nightgown over my head. Taking in the soft material, I felt long sleeves and buttons that ran down its entire front.

Whether from exhaustion or from being disconnected from the medicine, my fingers shook badly as I tried to fasten the buttons. The water I’d managed to drink sloshed violently in my otherwise empty stomach.

“Are you all right?” Sister Raquel asked as she reached out to stop me from falling forward.

I shook my head, perspiration coating my freshly washed skin.

“I was going to change your bandage and braid your hair, but let’s get you back to bed.” Concern laced each word. “I don’t want to be the one explaining to Father Gabriel why you collapsed in the bathroom.”

Father Gabriel? Wouldn’t she tell Jacob?

I heard the opening of the door and footsteps as Raquel wheeled me toward the bed. Though the footsteps sounded similar, they were different, letting me know that more than one person had entered my room. When my chair stopped, another set of hands helped me stand. I turned my covered eyes in that person’s direction.

“Sara, I’ve missed you,” the person said. It wasn’t Sister Lilith, which meant it must be Sister Elizabeth. “I’m so glad Brother Jacob called so I could come to see you.” From the location of her voice, she was taller than me, and by the way she held my hand and referred to me without the awkward title Sister, I got the feeling we were friends.

“I’ll inform the Commission that she’s doing better.”

Our reunion stilled at the sound of Sister Lilith’s voice coming from near the door. The way she referred to me made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

“Thank you, Sister Lilith, for staying until I could arrive.” Though it was polite, ice rolled from Elizabeth’s response. It seemed we all felt the same about Sister Lilith.

Sister Lilith didn’t respond, but I heard the door open and, eventually, the click-clack of her heels disappeared into the distance.

My nausea calmed a bit as I exhaled and settled on the clean sheets. Elizabeth adjusted my cast, putting pillows under my leg, while Raquel, on my right, reconnected my IV. The way they chatted felt familiar and safe. For the first time since I’d awoken from my accident, the atmosphere didn’t feel wrong.

Was Elizabeth my friend or, perhaps, a sister? Do I have family, other than a husband? Do I have children? Are Jacob and I parents? How old are we? My hand flew to my lips to stop me from speaking. I had so many questions.

As I rested against the pillow, their soft voices filled the once-frightening room with a feeling of friendship. My earlier bout of nausea had passed but the perspiration left me chilled. As if reading my thoughts, Elizabeth pulled the blankets over my shivering body. I managed a tired smile as the warmth enveloped me. Though I wanted to hear everything they said, in no time at all, their voices drifted away and sleep stole my first real chance for answers.





CHAPTER 4


Sara


A heated conversation infiltrated my dream, harsh words seeping unwontedly into the blissful scene before me. I tuned out the voices and inhaled the sweet scent of lavender. Step by step, I traveled across a purple-dotted meadow as tall grass brushed my bare legs. As I paused under the sun’s rays, my toes sank into the soft, cool ground and my skin radiated warmth. On the horizon, pink and purple clouds swirled together like paint upon a canvas. The brilliant sky was like a pair of blue eyes, shining with happiness.

The voice’s clatter wafted in ripples, small at first and only a word or two. But then it crashed like waves upon a beach destined to bear a hurricane’s wrath, each burst larger and louder than the one before.

I scanned the horizon in search of peace. The colorful clouds turned dark and ominous, bubbling and swirling above, changing the crystal-clear hues to varying shades of gray. I stood in awe of the building storm, while the wind howled and long hair whipped violently about my face.

The louder the wind roared, the more acutely aware I became of my impending doom. Panic swelled as strands of blonde tingled with electricity. Scanning in all directions, I sought shelter from the storm and then the harsh voices awoke me.