Page 71 of Dark Shadows
“Lab found skin cells in the blood mixture used to write your name at Beverly's. He must have cut himself during the crime; probably didn't even notice. But it gave us the scientific confirmation we needed.” Jacob looked at Wesley's unconscious form. “This has been years in the making, Savanah. You were never really free of this place.”
29
The hospital corridors seemed endless, fluorescent lights harsh against Savanah's tired eyes. She walked beside Mason's gurney, gripping his hand and ignoring the paramedics' attempts to separate them. Blood matted his hair where Wesley had struck him, but his eyes remained alert and focused on her face.
“I'm fine,” he kept insisting.
“You were almost killed.” Her voice shook.
The emergency room bustled with controlled chaos. A nurse tried to guide Savanah to the waiting room, but Mason's grip tightened. “She stays.”
“Sir, we need to—”
“She stays.”
Something in his tone made the nurse relent. While they cleaned the wound on his head, Savanah stood near the wall, arms wrapped around herself. The adrenaline wore off as the tiredness settled in.
Every bone in her body was aching, but none more than her heart. Every time she closed her eyes she saw Wesley's face. Heard his voice calling her Shadow.
“Hey.” Mason's voice pulled her back. “Come here.”
She moved to his side, letting him pull her close with his free arm while the doctor examined him.
“Mild concussion,” the doctor announced. “I’ll get you into a room so we can monitor you.”
“Not necessary. I’m not staying. This isn’t my first concussion. I know what to look out for.”
The doctor raised his hands on his hips. “Fine. I’ll start the discharge paperwork.”
The curtain flew back. Tina stood there, looking devastated with a tear-stained face. Mark was right behind her. For a moment, no one moved.
“Tina…” Savanah started.
“Don't.” Tina's voice cracked. “You shot my brother?”
“Tina, let me explain.”
“Explain what? That you came back and destroyed everything? Again?” Tina's hands shook. “He loved you. God help him, he loved you his whole life.”
“He killed people.” The words tasted like ash.
“Because of you!” Tina's scream echoed through the emergency room. “Everything was fine until you came back. We were fine!”
Mark wrapped his arms around her as she broke down. “Tina, breathe. Come on. Let's get some air.”
“He's in surgery,” Tina whispered. “Fighting for his life because ofyou.”
They left, Tina's sobs echoing down the hall. Savanah's legs gave out. Mason caught her, pulling her onto the bed beside him.
“Not your fault,” he murmured into her hair. “None of this is your fault.”
Jacob appeared in the doorway, looking exhausted. “Found your phone in the sheriff’s department parking lot.” He held it out to Mason. “It's been going crazy. Something about Cree being in labor?”
Mason took the phone, scrolling through messages:
In labor. If you die before meeting my babies, I'll never forgive you.
Mason? MASON? Answer me!
