Page 54 of Into the Mist (Into the Mist 1)

Speechless, Hilary nodded.

“Last night it was a cut that bled. A lot. It might’ve even needed stitches. I can’t tell you for sure because it healed too fast for me to worry about it.”

“May I?” Hilary held out her hand.

“Sure.” Mercury let the doc examine her finger.

“This is healed. Almost completely,” said Dr. Hilary.

“Ours too.” Imani said. She and Stella showed the doctor their fingers, which looked like Mercury’s.

“Where were you when the bombs went off?” asked Stella.

“I was just through there,” Hilary pointed back at the dining room. “Outside on the patio, enjoying a cup of tea and some scones.”

“Did you see the green fog?” Mercury asked.

Hilary nodded. “Yes, it swept over everything out there not long before the first earthquake. I remember vividly that I thought I was on fire because my skin burned. Then I believe I lost consciousness, but not for long. I woke in time to run inside. I was in the foyer.”

“All of us whose blood made the potatoes sprout felt something when the fog hit us,” explained Imani. “And we also lost consciousness.”

“Jenny and Karen didn’t, or at least they didn’t remember it happening to them, and their blood also didn’t do anything to the spuds,” said Stella.

Hilary turned to Mercury and held out her hand. “Cut me.”

Without hesitation, Mercury took the knife and pressed it to Hilary’s thumb. The doctor squeezed until blood welled. “Should I start with the potato?”

“Might as well. I brought out the other vegetables so we could see if it’s just potatoes,” said Stella.

Hilary nodded and wiped scarlet on the potato. Then she shrugged and said, “While I’m bleeding, I might as well spread it around.” She squeezed her thumb several more times so that it bled freely, then dripped blood on each of the other vegetables. When she was done, Stella handed her a piece of gauze.

“I’d give you a Band-Aid, but I have a feeling you’re not going to need it,” said Stella.

“How long does it take?” asked Hilary as she stared at the vegetables.

“It was pretty fast last night,” said Mercury. “It should only take a few—”

“Hey, Doc? Ladies? You in here?” Tyler’s voice drifted from the front of the kitchen.

All six women jumped.

“Here! Cover them.” Mercury grabbed a dishtowel and tossed it to Stella, who draped it over the row of veggies.

“Yeah, we’re back here!” Imani called.

Tyler jogged to them. “Oh good. Um, some guy just drove up.”

“Is he injured?” asked the doc.

“Nah, I don’t think so. Jenny and I were outside getting more boards for the windows and we saw him. We yelled for him to park on the side of the road ’cause the parking lot is pretty dicey, and he’s driving the front part of one of those big eighteen-wheelers. He waved and yelled okay, and then backed out. He didn’t seem hurt, but I thought I should get you guys.”

“Yes, absolutely. We’re coming,” said Dr. Hilary.

“Awesome!”

When he just stood there, Stella said, “Tyler, could you bring the breakfast dishes back here to the sinks so we can get them cleaned up?”

“Oh, sure! I’ll do anything for someone who can cook like you.” He flashed a besotted grin at Stella before he scampered away.