Page 43 of Crystal Iris #1

Thirty-Five

“From my rotting body, flowers shall grow, and I am in them, and that is eternity.” – Edvard Munch

W hen I open my eyes again, I’m in the hospital. Everything hurts. My entire body is exhausted.

Aaron speaks from my left. “How are you feeling?”

“Akira…”

“She’s okay. She’s in the next room.”

I nod. “How did you…?”

“Hoyt called. He told me to find you, to find Darion. I remembered you mentioning him from Harvard. I told the police. They were running license plates and IDs when we heard about the fire. Darion’s family owns the place. We came as fast as we could.”

“He…”

“He’s gone. They’ll find him, Iris. They will.”

I know before he even says it. It doesn’t matter. Even if they do find Darion, his family… They know. They know about my prism. They’ll never stop until they have it. And I know I can’t be without it. I have no other choice. I have to run.

I allow myself to feel scared for two breaths, then I shut it out.

I look at Aaron. “I need your help.”

“Whatever you need, Iris.”

“My apartment. I need you to go there, pack me some clothes, shoes, my computer, my passport—it’s in my bedside table—along with my mother’s letter. Don’t forget the letter. Bring it here as fast as you can.”

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know yet. I can’t be here, Aaron.”

“Iris, you need the doctors.”

“Aaron, please. I’m in danger.”

His eyes are on me, scared. In spite of that, he leaves with my keys. I’m glad they found my bag at the club. I must have dropped it there.

The police come by to ask me questions. I give them descriptions. How long do I have until Darion and his family find me again?

I ask the nurse to take me to the room next door. I have to talk to her.

Akira’s eyes open as I hold her hand.

“Are you okay? The fire? How did you get out?” she asks me.

“The prism—it somehow protected me from the fire.”

“Iris, they ran. The police?—”

“I know. Look.” I grab both her hands. “I’m going away. I don’t know for how long, but you can’t come looking for me. Nobody can. Or you’ll all be at risk.”

She sits up higher. “You’re not running away alone, Iris.”

“I have to. I’m not letting anyone get hurt because of me.”

“Iris, please, listen to me. I can go with you.”

“Akira, you’ve done more than enough for me,” I say, tears welling up. “Please, I still need one last favor.”

“What?”

“I need to break up with Hoyt. I need your help convincing him that I… never loved him. Or he’ll come looking for me.

Darion doesn’t know about him, about his prism; he would’ve said something if he did.

I need to keep it that way. I can’t ruin his life, his family.

They have a life. You have a life. I don’t want anyone to lose that because of me. Will you please help me? ”

She nods, crying.

“I need to call him before he gets on a plane,” I tell her.

“Iris?” Hoyt’s voice is weak; he’s been crying.

“I’m okay,” I say.

“Oh, it’s so good to hear your voice. Aaron told me you were in the hospital. I’m at the airport. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“No, Hoyt, don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t come, please.”

“Why?”

“I… don’t want to see you.”

“What happened, Iris?”

“Darion, I think he wanted to…rape us… He didn’t. We are okay. Akira too.”

“I need to see you.”

“Hoyt, please. I…”

“What?”

“I can’t do this… us.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m sorry, Hoyt. I just can’t.”

“Are you… breaking up with me? Over the phone?”

“Hoyt… I’m sorry, okay? Aaron is here. I’m not alone; he’ll take care of me. I belong here, with him.”

“Aaron?”

“It’s always been him. I’m sorry, I’ve gotta go.”

I let myself cry until the nurse comes to take me away. I ask her for another minute.

“Akira, please, promise you’ll play along. Tell Hoyt you knew Aaron and I were still seeing each other. Please. If Darion or his family finds out about him, I…”

“I promise, Iris. Will you tell me where you’re going?”

“I can’t. For your own safety. I’ll try to… I’ll be okay.” The nurse starts to move me, insisting that both Akira and I need rest .

Aaron arrives a little later. He has two bags instead of one. “I’m going with you,” he says.

“No, you’re not. Aaron, you can’t.”

“I’m not letting you go by yourself. You’re still hurt.”

I know he won’t let me leave alone. I should’ve thought of that.

“We need to move now. Sign the papers, sign my release, please.” We both do, acknowledging that we know the risks.

“Where do you want to go?” he asks me on the way to the airport.

“Somewhere they speak English.”

He’s searching on his phone for plane tickets. “London?”

“Sure.”

I’m nibbling on some food he ordered for me while we wait to board.

“What happened there, Iris?” he asks.

I think about telling him, but I know it would put his life at risk. He knows so little about the prism. He could live a normal life.

“Nothing. You guys got there before they could do anything. They’d just gotten started.”

“I’m so sorry, Iris. About everything. How did Hoyt know?”

“I texted him. I… used Akira’s phone when they weren’t looking.”

“You didn’t call the cops?”

“I…tried but I had to be quiet.”

I ask the waiter to bring us drinks.

And then I wait.

As soon as Aaron leaves for the bathroom, I run. I buy a ticket for the first flight I can find where a visa isn’t required. I’m on a plane minutes later.

I take my seat; luckily, there’s no one next to me. I can’t wait another second. I rip the edge of the envelope as the plane takes off.

Hi sweetheart,

Happy birthday! You’re a woman now. I wish I could have been there—here—to see you grow up. I know you must have a lot of questions for me. I wish I could explain everything in person, but you’re too young right now, and I don’t have much time left. The doctors gave me weeks.

This necklace—my family called it an amulet—is not a normal piece of jewelry.

It’s special. It’s been in my family for a long time.

I took it from them. I knew they wouldn’t use it for good, and I couldn’t stand by their plans.

This amulet contains power—yes, like magic.

I know it sounds unbelievable. I remember when I first found out, too.

But take it seriously, Iris. This is not something to mess with.

The energy in it is too powerful; it’s impossible to control.

Protect this amulet with everything you have—if it falls into the wrong hands, life as we know it may not endure.

People will get hurt. I know it’s a heavy burden to carry, but I believe in you.

I always have. You can do hard things. Iris, whatever you do, never put it on.

I know you’ll be tempted, but fight it. And most importantly, never, ever let your blood touch it.

It needs blood to awaken, to fuse with your soul.

Once it’s fused, the stone becomes crystallized, and you’ll be connected to it for life.

Your father will answer your questions. I’ve told him all I know. Go easy on him. I had to ask him to wait until you were thirty to give this to you. I figured let you live a little first.

I love you so much, my ballerina, more than life.

Mom