Chapter Seventeen
Carson was in and out of consciousness until Monday. When he was alert and found out he had to stay in the hospital until at least Thursday, he protested and tried to sign himself out. Since he wasn't eighteen yet they wouldn't allow him to. He was seething when Korith came to visit him. He only got angrier as she relayed Rory's message. “Dammit,” he swore. “She's made herself the sacrificial lamb to save us all. She's crazy, Korith.”
“She's been backed into a corner,” she pointed out. “When she left with him Friday, it was to save your life. She's staying with him to save all of us. I guess he threatened to harm everyone she loves if she doesn't fall in line.”
“Rory's living with him?” Carson asked with disbelief, trying to ignore his pounding headache and aching body. “How is it she's been forced into that? For god's sake, it's a new millennium. I thought the days of slavery were over.”
“I guess no one told the Hudsons,” Korith commented cynically. “How are you feeling?”
“Like shit,” he answered honestly. “But I'll be ready to get out of here Thursday night if it kills me. Tell Rory to find some reason to stay home from school on Friday. I have to see her.”
“She's going to refuse,” Korith cautioned.
Carson smiled crookedly. “Tell her to trust me. I have a plan. Could you or Jon have Charlie come see me? I need to talk to him.”
Korith looked unsure. “I don't know, Carson. If your plan involves Charlie, it could be bad.”
“It doesn't,” he assured her. “I just need him to do one thing for me before I get out of here.” Korith gave in and agreed to call him. She left shortly afterward, and Carson went back to silent misery.
When his mom came to visit him that afternoon, he had just been given some really cool painkiller that made most of his aches go away and left him feeling a little floaty. “Mom,” he whispered. “Don't you have to work?”
“I took the day off,” she answered. “I have to tell you something, Carson.” Evie took a deep breath. “It's my fault you’re here. I told Dalen you and Rory were at a club in L.A.”
“Why would you do that?” he asked in a distant voice. He was having trouble wrapping his mind around what she was saying.
“Because you were with his girlfriend. Carson, and you need to learn that you can't always fight the world, especially people like the Hudsons. You shouldn't have been with that girl, and I just wanted you to understand you have to give in at times. I didn't expect you to end up in the hospital.” Evie grasped his hand.
Carson pulled away. “She’s not his girlfriend, Mom. She hates him, and she loves me. You didn't teach me anything except you're a coward and afraid of the world. I'd gladly face Dalen again if it meant I could spend even one more minute with her.” He tried to focus on his mother and saw tears in her eyes. Or were they in his eyes? He couldn't decide. “You know where the door is,” he said harshly and watched her leave. The drugs kicked in and he slept deeply.