Chapter 70 Gravity

Chapter 70 Gravity
Callista.

At first, there is nothing.

I float in empty space, trying to make sense of it all. There’s darkness all around me, although it’s not the oppressive kind I’m used to in my nightmares. No, but there is serenity in it. Something tells me that the moment darkness disappears to give way to light, my little resting time would be over.

And I don’t want that. My memories are hazy, and I have no idea where I am at the moment, but one thing is certain, I am tired. I’ve been feeling tired for so long, and needed a rest. But more than that, I have been craving safety. Now, in the darkness where I am weightless, I have both.

But of course, like all good things, it had to come to an end.

I don’t know how it starts, but one moment I am happy and floating, but the next I’m being dragged down by a force strong enough to rival gravity. I scream my reluctance into the void, but there is nothing to help me.

As I get dragged down, I start to gain a semblance of self, along with memories. I learn my name, my age, my purpose, my curse, my punishment, and everything in such intensity that I forget to breathe.

That’s when the pain starts.

It’s like a wildfire, burning all over me, consuming me. Everything hurts!

And then I’m gasping, my eyes wide open and tearing from the bright light that assaults them. Immediately, I want the darkness to take me back, because everything is too much.

There are two figures hovering over me, and their mouths are moving. And my focus grows through the fog of the tears, I see that one of them is elderly, dressed in a long doctor’s coat, looking concerned but foot together while the other is young and dressed in a crumpled outfit, looking like he had a rough time, every bit of a mess as his clothes suggest.

My mind recognizes them and provides me with names.

The elderly gentleman is Dr. Haeger from the Rexellen pack hospital, one of the few people in the pack who had been kind to me from the start. His eyes are very wide and assessing, and gradually his words start to dawn on me. He’s asking me if I’m alright, if I hurt, if I can see right…

The young one is the King. The Alpha King. Alpha of the Rexellen pack, ruthless, respected, feared, and all for good reasons. He’s just as wicked as his rumors suggested, and prejudiced, easy to manipulate…that’s why I ran from him.

Theon Rexellen. But how? How am I here? I ran away!

“W-wh…” I try to talk, but my throat is as dry as parchment. I start to cough. New tears spring to my eyes, and my chest seizes. My vision blacks out from the corners, and a wave of elation rushes through me, hoping that the darkness will consume me once again. I’m not ready to deal with this now, any of this. Especially having Theon’s presence looming over me. Dr. Haeger, as if he’s sensing my distress, gently places a hand on the King’s shoulder and pushes him away, leveling him with a look.

For a moment, I think that Theon would refuse, even snap at the good doctor, but he just sighs and moves away from my line of vision.

And just like that, Dr. Haeger places himself in front of me like a barrier protecting me from his King, a kind smile adorning his lips.

“There you go, it’s alright now. Here, my dear, it’ll help.” Dr. Haeger places a cup of water on my lips, tipping my head with his other hand lightly. The rim of the cup nudges against my lips, which automatically open. “Take small sips, slowly.”

The water feels heavenly on my burning throat, and I try to pace myself, so I don’t gulp the whole cup down.

As my mind keeps clearing with every bit of receding pain, memories start to hedge up. I don’t know how long it had been since I landed in the hospital, or how I came here, but I remember a night more gruesome than anything I’d ever seen.

I remember how the phantoms haunted me, but I can’t remember who they were. I remember being laid on the stone slab, but not what happened after. I can remember looking up at the full moon with fear in my heart, of the man who took from me as if I belonged to him.

As if I owed him.

Dr. Haeger moves away after I’m done with the drink and places the cup on the little desk and comes to me. He checks me over quickly, pulling my eyelids to look into the white, examining my pupils, and then my face and skin. Why is he looking at my skin with such concern?

“You’re doing better.” He murmurs, more to himself than me. “You’ve healed remarkably. Your eyes don’t hurt too much, does it?”

I shake my head, and that gives me the opportunity to look around. Theon had moved as far away from me as possible, which is not anything new, but the look of concern and interest he’s wearing is. He truly looks rugged, like he had not been getting enough sleep or food, or even showers. He looks unkempt, and one thing I’ve never seen before is the Alpha King being anything but impeccably dressed.

When my eyes meet his, he looks down! I must be dreaming this whole thing, because I’m pretty sure I’d just seen the expression of Shame on Theon Rexellen directed at me.

I’m more confused than ever. What’s happening?

“What happened?” I ask them, my voice still raw. “Why am I here? How did you get me? What’s going on?”

“Do not panic, Callista, please.” Dr. Haeger replies. “You are here because you’ve been injured, and you were rescued. How we find you is not a question I know the answers for, and I have limited knowledge of what has gone down. But it’s not an easy story to tell, and I’m certain you will be receiving your own memories regarding the event soon enough, and I’d much rather wait until then to answer you. For now, just know that no one will lift a hand to you, regardless of who you are or who you angered, do you understand me?”

I stare at him for a few moments, mind racing. Wondering if I can trust him. Wondering why I don’t have memories in the first place.

Before I can give the doctor a straight answer, Theon decides to pipe in.

“The werebears tried to make you a human sacrifice,” Theon looks at me with concern. The last time I saw that expression on his face directed towards me was in the infirmary. It’s not comfortable, no matter how much my heart squeals about it.

How ironic it is that it takes literal torture for him to care for me every single time.

I’m tempted to keep my mouth closed and ignore him, but there are far too many questions I need answered to do that.

“Sacrifice? Why?” What had happened? My memories continue to remain blotchy.

“You got caught up in a bad situation, which we still don’t know how exactly came into being. What do you remember?” He sounds oddly gentle. I still can’t find it in me to look at him.

From the single window in the hospital room, I can see the sky start to get dark. Rain is coming. Funny how the sky always fits the mood around here.

“I didn’t go to them,” That memory is clear I remember running and fighting for my freedom. I’m always running and fighting for my freedom. “I didn’t even know they existed before they came to me. I mean, I knew bears existed, but not around those parts-”

Then another memory hits me, and I sit up in alarm. “Jenny!”