Page 81 of Ravaged From Fate

Jab once, duck, jab again.

Fuck the past.

Just as it had been back in that ring with Cyrus. All my past pain flowing out of me as I tackled those thugs with the anger of a man whose girl was in danger.

And I remember feeling that wave of pain as I got shot. Collapsing to the ground. Knowing my girl was alright and then everything going to black. I can’t remember anything beyond that until just moments ago when I opened my eyes for what feels like the first time in days.

“That’s me up there,” I manage to rasp out, meaning the figures on the TV screen.

Elsa’s startled, just as I intended. She spins around in her chair to look at me. The smile on her face makes the pain I’m feeling go away instantly.

“Caspian…”

“Hey.”

“I’m so happy.”

“Where am I exactly? Why does everything ache?”

She nods, readying herself for what she’s about to tell me. “You’ve been shot, remember?”

Of course.

“Yeah, I remember. That fucking gang… tattoo face… where the fuck am I?”

“You’re in the hospital a few towns over from East Springs,” she explains to me, rushing over her words. “You’ve been here for nearly a week, recovering. You’ve been pretty heavily sedated, but you’ve been coming to and from consciousness. You’ve actually been trying to leave. We’ve had to stop you from getting out of bed a number of times.”

“Huh? I don’t remember any of that. Sounds like me, though.”

“I’m so glad you’re awake again.”

“Are you okay?” I ask her. “Are you hurt? Last time I saw you… you were tied up…”

Elsa shakes her head. “I’m okay.”

“Yeah?”

“I couldn’t help you and that terrified me,” Elsa replies softly. “But I’m better now that you’re back. I was really worried, you know. It was touch and go for a minute. We’ve been waiting for you to wake up.”

“We’ve?”

And, just on cue, the door to the hospital room swings open, and in steps Cyrus with a tray of takeaway coffees, followed closely behind by Juniper.

“We’ve got a latte for you, Elsa,” he says before he spots me awake. In his surprise, he nearly drops the whole load of coffees. “You’re up?”

“What does it look like?”

“Holy shit, brother.”

Juniper flashes me a smile as Cyrus comes over for an enthusiastic fist bump.

“Welcome back to the living,” Juniper says, sitting down opposite my bed. Cyrus joins her, his face beaming from ear to ear.

“What did I say, guys? Caspian is a toughie.”

I chuckle. “I feel broken in half. That ain’t so tough.”

Cyrus waves my concerns aside flippantly. “You’ll be back on your feet in no time. And back in the ring.”