Chapter 44: Broken Bones

The world around me went dark and I slipped out of consciousness, a welcome escape from my reality and the pain that seemed to radiate from my right forearm.

I wasn't sure whether I'd been asleep for hours or days when the muffled sound of an argument seemed to pull me back toward wakefulness. I opened my groggy eyes, looking around for the source of the conflict.

It was immediately clear that I was in the hospital. The sterile, white room, that lingering smell of cleaning products and disinfectant, and the sound of distant beeping machines gave it away instantly.

Aunt Mara was sitting beside me on an uncomfortable-looking chair, reading a book with great focus.

My head was throbbing and I wanted to reach up to touch it, but the attempt caused a jolt of pain in my arm and I groaned. The memory of the bloody bone sticking through my pale skin made me feel sick all over again, but Aunt Mara's gasp served as a welcome distraction.

"You're awake!" she exclaimed, scooting closer to me in