Page 41 of The Devils They Are
After returning home from the rooftop meeting with Rylan last night, I found Mom sitting on the couch, a somber look on her face.
Immediately, I knew something was wrong, and after pushing her for answers, she finally caved and admitted that her bloodwork had shown some issues.
To be on the safe side, Doctor Lavings had requested that she present to Ridgeview Hospital for monitoring. When I tried to press for what it all meant, all she said was, "It's just my actions catching up to me. It will be okay."
I had fully intended to stay by her side, expecting that maybe it was just a quick visit to do further tests. But unfortunately, she was admitted under Doctor Lavings' request.
Now, we have the storm of the year hitting us, two months' worth of rain forecast over the next week. Because of the storm surge, the hospital had told me I was unable to stay past visiting hours but could return tomorrow. Mom promised me all was fine, but being stuck at home was torture. To be on the safe side, we also agreed to cancel the warehouse fights tonight, just to make sure no one was caught out in this weather.
At least she's getting help—that's what I keep reminding myself. After she left, I realized that there was not a single drop of alcohol in the house. The trash bin was piled high with empty bottles and the sink suspiciously smelled of liquor. I'm hopeful that this is a step in the direction of her recovery. I know it's not going to be that easy—demons never are. But she's already faced the biggest hurdle which I'm so immensely proud of.
I'm doom scrolling TikTok to distract myself when a text notification comes up. Flicking open the inbox, I can't help but smile at the words.
Rylan:I thought you'd be interested to know that I received an email about my wildcat donation. Turns out they were so grateful for my generosity, that they named a baby wildcat after me.
Rylan: [Picture Attached]
My grin is wide as I open the attachment, spotting the tortoiseshell creature. Even more amusing is the fact that it has striking blue eyes that remind me of Rylan.
Bexley:There's finally an adorable Rylan in the world. Do you feel fulfilled?
Rylan:I feel like my credit company does. What are you up to?
I wonder if he feels as lost as I do right now. It's been forever since we had to cancel a fight night. And because of the weather, we can't even venture to the beach.
Bexley:I'm deep in TikTok, rotating between UFC clips and cooking videos – and the occasional Karen skit.
Rylan:You watch UFC?
Bexley:Of course I do. I like to fight, don't I?
Okay—so, it's a bit of a stereotype, I'll admit. But there's something beautiful about watching two fighters dance around a cage. It's more than just an exchange of blows—it's a performance, using not only your primal senses and strength, but wits. As for the Karen skits, what can I say… It's a weakness. Especially the ones where they get put in their place.
Rylan:I'd love to go to an event one day. Maybe next year when I'm across the country at college.
Before I can reply, there's an almighty bang overhead, before the lights flicker twice, and the whole house falls into darkness.
"Shit," I murmur, heart racing. The crash was so loud that lightning must have struck a power station. I hope the hospital has backup generators.
I glance down at my cell to check how much charge I have when it starts ringing in my hand.
There's a small moment of hesitation as I read the name of the screen, but my finger quickly swipes the button.
"Hey," Rylan's voice comes through. "Did you just lose power?"
"Yeah," I answer. "It was pretty loud over here."
He sighs, the sound of him moving around catching my attention. "I tried to keep myself entertained since the fights got canceled, but now that's gone out the window with the power out."
"What were you going to do?" I ask, curious.
"PS5. Hunter, Tai and I were going to play COD."
Snorting, I adjust the pillow under my head. "Typical."
"Says the one scrolling social media."
"Don't diss my hobbies, Rylan. It'seducational. I was learning a recipe for Boston Cream Pie."
