Chapter 4 Into Timber Forest
Carter came back a few minutes later with my tea. It was perfection.
Carter Harrington: “Dr. White will be here in a few minutes. He said he found something disturbing in your test results. I can wait downstairs while y’all talk.”
Isabella Reed: “A. This tea is absolutely amazing. B. You saved my life. I would welcome you staying in the room if that is ok. I feel a safety with you here that I cannot explain. C. Why are you helping me?”
Carter Harrington: “I am so glad that you like it. After Dr White sees you, we can get some food in you. You give me a peace I have never felt before so I understand what you are saying. I am helping you because I have always felt drawn to you, always wanted you around. I just never knew how to express it.”
He reached out and stroked my cheek with the utmost care. The moment he touched my face it felt like electricity. We both gasped at the spark. I reached up stroking his hand, feeling the same electricity. We bother just stayed like that looking into each other’s eyes.
Dr White: “Do you two need a minute?”
I raced away from one another both chuckling at being caught for something that didn’t feel wrong.
Dr White: “Well Ms. Reed, I want to do a quick examination before we talk about your blood work.”
He checked my wounds, seeming surprised.
Dr White: “So upon examination everything is healing much faster than I would have anticipated. It might have something to do with your newly awakened power, but we cannot know that until we know what kind of power you possess. Ms. Isabella, Carter tells me this is your first surge, can you describe the experience?”
Isabella Reed: “Well after the beating and the slicing, I started to feel heat spreading throughout my body. It felt like my blood was boiling. After what felt like a very long time, power shot out of me forcing everyone back.”
Dr White: “That sounds accurate for what I found in your blood work. Your blood felt like it was boiling because it was. I found traces of Nythbane in your system. This has been used for generations to block power from prisoners. Someone was poisoning you to prevent your power from ever revealing itself. Your body burned it out of you. Do you know who would want to hurt you in that way?”
Isabella Reed: “My mother or the woman I thought was my mother. Genevieve Reed.”
Dr White: “Your body has long term effects of this poison. It has seeped into your tissue. Your power will slowly grow over time, but it will take time. You are healing at an incredible rate so I cannot give you a clear guess of when that time will come.”
Carter Harrington: “Dr White, what would have drawn me to that factory that night?”
Dr White: “I can’t answer that without more information my boy. That also requires more time, I would imagine. Continue to rest but you can start working on getting up and continuing daily life. Rest when needed. I will come back next week to check on your status again. I will see you both later.”
With that he left us sitting together. My mind was spilling.
Carter Harrington: “Your own family poisoned you. They tried to kill you.”
Isabella Reed: “My own mother tried to prevent my powers from even surfacing. I guess that isn’t true either because she isn’t my mother. My siblings knew the whole time. They helped her hurt me and my father just let it happen. I have no one.”
Carter Harrington: “You have me. I don’t know what it is, but I just want you close. I want you around. I will be your family.”
I looked at him. He was so full of sincerity and caring, it was overwhelming. No one had ever said anything like that to me or even just cared. I reached my hand out, shaking, to grab his. I looked at him nodding and my voice came out in a whisper.
Isabella Reed: “Thank you.”
Carter Harrington: “What do you think the electricity is?”
He reached his hand up, rucking a piece of my hair behind my ear. He moved closer to me sitting on the edge of the bed, keeping my hand in his. We stayed like that his hand on face, the other holding my hand, looking into each other’s eyes.
Isabella Reed: “I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense. I’ve never felt like this before.”
Carter Harrington: “I don’t think it matters. I don’t care what it is. You and I belong together. I don’t know in what way, but I just want you with me. Something has always drawn me to you. I can always feel you enter a room, seeing your face makes my whole day better. The night I found you and you were bleeding and broken, I almost lost it. You felt so important to me even then.”
Isabella Reed: “Carter, we don’t even know each other.”
He took his hand from my face, holding my hand with both his hands now. He looked worried.
Carter Harrington: “That doesn’t matter. We have our whole lives to get to know each other… Unless you don’t want to.”
Isabella Reed: “I didn’t say all that now. I want you around to. Let’s get to know each other.”
Carter Harrington: “Why don’t you rest until dinner then you can come downstairs and join my parents and I for a family dinner? Before you say no, my mom went a little crazy filling your closet and preparing everything. She has always wanted a daughter. They have been begging to meet you.”
Isabella Reed: “How can I say no? I will rest for a little while longer than I will come to dinner.”
