Page 162 of Fractured Future

“Just tell me what’s wrong with me,” I cut him off to address the doctor. “I don’t need to hear all of this medical bullshit.”

Pausing to assess us both, Doctor Fawn flicks through his paperwork. “Ember, I know this is a lot. It’s okay to feel afraid right now.”

With a shrug, I look down at Warner’s hand still gripping mine. As much as I want to run and find somewhere to hide from this, I know that I won’t get far.

“I’d like to discuss the results of your CT scan next.”

“Go on,” I whisper defeatedly.

“You have an eight-centimetre scar beneath your hair. The CT scan shows a healed fracture in your skull. Perhaps a few years old.”

Warner’s palm tightens to the point of pain. “What?”

“Do you recall how you obtained that injury?” Doctor Fawn queries.

I clear my throat, ignoring the pressure of Warner’s stare burning into me. “Yes.”

“Perhaps you could talk me through what happened.” He glances at the man by my side. “I’ve been made aware of your history and the ongoing investigation.”

Attempting to unlock my clenched jaw, I fight through my weariness. Tensing up is making every protesting muscle I strained feel even worse.

“There was a street fight a few years back.”

Doctor Fawn nods in encouragement.

“I suffered a bad head injury that put me out of action for months. My captor’s physician kept me alive, but it took a long time to recover.”

When Warner mutters a curse to himself, I know I’m in for a bollocking later. I kept some details to myself during my interviews, including this unveiled secret. He isn’t going to let that slide easily.

“That would correlate with the results I’m seeing.” The doctor nods again. “You’re lucky to have made a full recovery.”

“I didn’t feel so lucky at the time.”

“When did you experience your first seizure after the injury?”

“Maybe a few weeks. Perhaps a month.”

“I see.” He seems to ponder for a moment, lips puckering in thought. “And how often after that?”

I’m acutely aware of Warner’s fingers digging into my hand. He’s clinging onto me for dear life–whether for his benefit or mine, I’m not quite sure.

“It varies.” I shrug.

“Give me an estimate.”

“Um… Perhaps every few weeks. Sometimes more. If I’m overwhelmed, stressed or exhausted… They can hit more often.”

“Fucking hell.” Warner’s curse is much louder this time. “We’ve been pushing you to train for weeks now!”

Wincing at his harsh tone, I refuse to look at him. I haven’t seized since the episode in the shower before my first interview, but it was only a matter of time.

“Sometimes, significant trauma to the skull and brain can lead to a condition we call PTE.” Doctor Fawn shifts on his feet. “Do you know what that is?”

“No.”

“PTE—or Post-Traumatic Epilepsy—can take the form of trauma-induced seizures after a severe head injury. It’s less common but still a possibility.”

And there it is.