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“They’re all fine. A few of them only stayed in the hospital a few days before going home.”

That made me feel a little better, but I still didn’t know who got out. I had passed out before the chopper ever arrived. Who knows who made it. And Jacob… My heart skipped a beat as I remembered the look on his face. “Do you know if any of them was Jacob?”

“Who?”

“Jacob? Were any of the other patients him?”

“Hunny, I don’t know. But try not to worry about it. You need to get some rest.”

“But I have to know if he survived!” I insisted, my voice shrill.

“I need you to calm down, or I’m going to have to sedate you.” We stared at each other, and I knew I was giving her the stink eye. She sighed, “Look, I don’t know the answer to your question, but I’ll see what I can find out for you, okay? In the meantime, I’ve messaged President De’vor. She wanted to be informed the moment you woke up.”

I slumped back into the pillow behind me. So Sasha had survived. That was one person off my list. But now I was left wondering about everyone else. I glanced back up at Alma, and then reluctantly nodded. I had a feeling it was the best I was going to get, and I had no intention of being sedated, not after finding out I’d been in a coma for two weeks.Damn.

“When can I leave the hospital?”

“Soon. Now that you’re awake, the doctor will want to look you over. Like I said, you’ve been healing well, but he’ll have a better idea of when you can go home.”

Home.

I didn’t have a home anymore. I was officially public enemy number one for Telvia, no doubt. And with the rebel base destroyed, I had no place to go. I worried my bottom lip as that last thought burrowed into my soul. I was officially homeless.

“Now, try to get some rest. I’m sure the doctor will be over soon, and you can ask him your questions.” She walked out, never giving me a chance to utter another word.

The nurse had been right. A short while later, a doctor arrived. After he fussed over me, he shared that I could leave in a few days. When I asked him about my friends, his answer wasn’t any more helpful than Alma’s.

Eventually he left, indicating that he was going to prescribe me some medication to help me heal faster, but added that it would make me sleep, which was why he hadn’t ordered it before since I was in a coma and all. Shortly after he left, Alma returned with a syringe, which she stuck in the catheter of my IV, injecting its contents. When I asked her what it was, she just said it was what the doctor ordered. I didn’t have time to ask her anything else. As soon as I felt the cool liquid seep into my veins, exhaustion overcame me. Then I was out.

56: Deal

Ididn’tknowhowlong I slept, but the next time I woke up, I was propped up by pillows. This time, when I opened my eyes, my face was tilted to the right, facing a window I hadn’t noticed the first time. I assumed the shades had been closed. But now, they were drawn back, allowing a beam of sunshine to light up the room, landing on the bed at my feet, warming them. I couldn’t help but smile at seeing the sunshine, the little dust particles dancing in the light, gleaming like glitter.

“You’re awake.”

I jumped, startled by the voice. I turned my head and found Sasha seated at the table in the corner of the room. She stood up and made her way to my bed before sitting herself down on the edge. Her silvery hair was braided, and she wore a simple navy-blue dress with a matching blue sash that wrapped around her head. It seemed odd. Sasha didn’t strike me as the type to accessorize.

Recognizing my stare, she smiled and lifted her hand to her sash. “Do you like it? I’m not one for modern fashion, but this trend serves my purpose. I don’t need everyone gawking at my staples.” Toying with the sash for a minute, she added, “It would seem that Chelsea is quite strong. The doctor hopes to remove them soon.”

Ouch… Cracked skull. I wasn’t too sure how to respond, so I settled for, “I’m sorry.”

“Nonsense, child. You have nothing to be sorry for. Now, tell me, how are you feeling?”

I went to say ‘awful,’ but hesitated. Mentally, I scanned myself, noting all my hurts, and then realized I was feeling good. “Decent,actually.”

A smile slid over her lips. “Excellent. I’m glad to hear that.” I smiled too. Whatever that injection was, it was amazing! “Now, I suspect you have many questions. So, before you overwhelm me with them all, allow me to answer a few of them right off the bat.”

I sat up, anticipation causing my heart to pick up speed. She was right…I had lots of questions. And I needed to know the answers to each one,desperately.

“You were in a coma for two weeks. And since waking from that coma, Dr. Sherman has been dosing you regularly with a medication that has stimulated your immune response and accelerated your body’s ability to heal itself. Something we call the Genesis Serum. The effect has left you ready to leave this hospital in just a day or two. It did, however, put you back into a deep sleep. You’ve been sleeping for the past three days since you initially awoke.”

“What!” Three days? I had missed another three days?

“Easy, child,” she lifted a hand up in warning. “Be grateful.”

I took a deep breath, noticing the exercise didn’t hurt anymore. In fact, nothing in me hurt. I nodded. “Keep going.”

She put her hand down and continued. “The siege at the rebel camp was disastrous for our cause. We are lucky that Wes sent the warning when he did. Had it not been for that, I’m afraid everything would have been lost.”