Page 177 of Should the Sky Fall

Something’s not right. Something is very, very wrong.

Before he can find out why, a sharp pain pierces through his skull, making him squeeze his eyes shut as images, horrible images, flash in front of him. Then the pain moves, ripping his chest apart and constricting his lungs. There is ringing in his ears, drowning out everything else.

He stumbles, feeling a dull pain as he crashes to the floor. Dawson’s voice calling out his name reaches him, though it sounds like it’s coming from far away.

“Cal! Cal, what’s wrong? Cal!”

There’s barking, loud and frantic. Something wet touches his face.

Donut. Their dog.

When Cal dares open his eyes again, Dawson’s terrified face is the first thing he sees. He can’t even tell if it’s real or not, but Dawson’s lips move, forming the shape of Cal’s name, so it must be. Dawson starts to get smaller, as if something is dragging him away. Cal tries to reach for him, to save him, but it’s too late.

Then everything goes dark.

Chapter 30

Heknowshe’satthe hospital, but it’s different this time. The walls are the same depressing white, the monitors beeping over each other like he remembers, but something’s not right. The whole room feels as if a shadow has fallen over it. He can hear voices, likely from the hallway, but they sound distorted. There’s a buzzing sound in his ears which gradually transforms into static, not painful but annoying.

He feels pressure against his left side. His body is cold except for his left hand, and when he looks, his heart stutters in his chest and all the noise dies down. It’s quiet and calm, and Dawson is there, holding Cal’s hand, his head resting on Cal’s thigh, eyes closed. His face is serene, but there are trails of dried tears left over on his cheeks. He looks so vulnerable and soft and—

Memories slam into Cal like a tidal wave.

The apartment. Dawson in the kitchen, smiling as he types on his phone, resting against the island.

Except he’s not typing and he’s not smiling. He’s crying, begging.“Please Cal, not like this.”And then—

Oh god.

Dawson’s face covered in blood, bruises littering his cheeks.

Caledon standing over Dawson with a clenched fist, holding a bottle of whiskey in his other hand.

Caledon gripping Dawson’s hair as he pushes his face against the counter before—

“That looks like quite an epiphany you’re having there.”

Cal’s head snaps up, searching for the voice.

“Sienna,” he breathes, confusion battling with fear when he sees her sitting on the bed next to him. How did he not notice her? More pertinently, how can he see her?

“Hi, stranger,” she says, her teeth flashing in a dangerous grin. “I’m hurt. Are you not happy to see me? I missed you.”

This isn’t right. She can’t be here. Not unless…

“Are you here to take me?” Hopelessness overtakes him. This isn’t right. He and Dawson, they didn’t have enough time—

“No.”

A heavy weight lifts off his chest.

“One of the patients?” he guesses. Hospitals were pretty much the only place his and Sienna’s paths ever crossed.

She smiles. “No.”

Cal frowns, his confusion growing. That’s not possible. She has to be here to do a job. If she’s not here for him or a patient, then—

“No.” He tries to squeeze Dawson’s hand, but his body won’t listen to him. Why won’t it listen?