Page 117 of Chained

"You couldn't have done anything," I interrupted her.

"You weren't supposed to be targets," she said sadly, looking down at her boots.

"I know, please don't think about it. There was nothing anyone could have done to change it. But Taylor and me, we used everything you taught us and we survived - somehow."

"Because of Coal, not me."

"He saved us all, but that training saved us several times too." I reached over and held her hand.

"And how are you going to repay me?" Coal said, breaking the tension and forcing his way in between us onto the sofa. He put an arm around both of us.

"If we're talking about life debts I think you're still in mine," Alicia said.

She jumped on top of us all, making Laurie scream and twist to get away as Alicia wriggled her toes under her nose. Coal grunted as her weight landed on him and she shifted so that she wasn't crushing him.

"No, that Creeper King made us even," Coal protested.

"Yeah but I took out the rest of them so I think that gives me another point."

"We helped," I added.

"A bit," she conceded. Her gaze locked with mine and she smiled.

"I think that one was a team effort then," Coal suggested.

"Okay, okay," Alicia said. "Just remember who you can rely on when you're next in trouble." She smirked.

"You realise you're just setting yourself up for a fall? Next time you need saving, we might not bother," Laurie said.

Alicia jumped up, pulled off a sock and ran past Laurie, slapping her around the face with it.

"I'll kill you!" Laurie screamed as she jumped to her feet and chased Alicia round and round the sofa.

I tucked my feet out of their way and let them get on with it. Hunter laughed as he dished out steaming bowls of stew and handed some to Coal and me. My stomach rumbled appreciatively as I scoffed the lot and Hunter smiled as he gave me second helpings.

Chapter Forty One

Taylor still wasn't awake when we arrived at the hospital. Baba promised us that it wouldn't be a long wait, though how she knew I couldn't guess.

I wondered vaguely whether he had had any visitors whilst we were gone and hoped that he hadn't been aware if not.

"Taylor?" I asked, standing by his bedside and pushing his hair away from his eyes.

He really did need it cut. Coal sank into the chair behind me and Laurie, Hunter and Alicia lurked by the door, unsure what to do with themselves.

There was no response. An hour passed us by and Alicia paced back and forth so many times that I sent her, Laurie and Hunter to find us something decent to eat and drink.

Coal reached for my hand and pulled me towards him. I let him move me away from Taylor and turned to look down at him in the chair.

"What can I do?" he asked with a little frown.

"You're here, that's all I need." I sighed.

He stood up and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against his chest. I breathed him in, pulling myself as close to him as I could.

"Okay then, I'm not going anywhere." He ran his fingers through my hair and I felt a shock of electricity shoot down my spine. I tilted my chin up and felt his lips press against mine.

My body reacted instantly and I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me as my heartbeat accelerated.