Tears clouded her eyes as she stared down at her friend. Mary's face was covered in bruises and cuts. Both of her legs were broken. Patty had said that her friend had also suffered a concussion, two broken ribs, and a crushed pelvis. Her left lung had been punctured. By the time the paramedics got to Mary, her lung had already begun to fill with fluid.
Mary had lost a lot of blood. Too much. The doctors had frantically pumped the precious liquid back into her body. It was truly a miracle that she was still alive. Unfortunately, the doctors weren't sure just how much longer she would be able to hold on.
Savannah cradled Mary's hand, her fingers rubbing lightly over its back. “Mary, it's Savannah.” She swallowed, trying to clear the lump from her throat. “Can you hear me?»
There was no response. The machines continued to beep. The liquids continued to feed into Mary's body.
«Please, Mary. You've got to fight. You can't leave yet. You just can't.” But as she gazed at Mary's pale, still face, she was desperately afraid that Mary would, indeed, leave her soon.
Her fingers tightened around Mary's. “How many times did you hold my hand when I was in a hospital bed? How many times did you tell me that I couldn't give up? Do you remember that, Mary? You and Mark. You both kept telling me not to give up. You told me to fight.»
Tears filled her eyes. “Well, now I'm telling you. You've got to fight, Mary. You have to live!»
Did Mary's lashes flicker faintly? Savannah continued talking, her voice feverish with intensity. “You can hear me, can't you, Mary? I know you can. Stay with me, Mary. Stay with me! I know you're tired and that you hurt, and all you want to do is to slip away and let the pain stop. I know, because I've been there. I just wanted to close my eyes and make it all stop. But I didn't. I kept fighting. I wanted to live. And you want to live, too. I know you do. You want to get married. Have kids. Cute little kids that you can teach to hack computers. You want to go to Spain. You want to run with the bulls. You want to do so much. But if you don't fight, you won't be able to do anything.»
She felt Mary's fingers jerk against her.
Savannah leaned forward, hope lighting her face. “Mary?»
And then she saw them. Two tiny holes on the left side of Mary's throat. Barely visible, they would have gone unnoticed by most people.
But Savannah had similar marks on her own neck. She knew what those marks meant, what they were—
A wave of nausea rolled through her. “Dear God,” she whispered, her face full of horror. It hadn't been an accident. There was no way it could have been. Not with those marks. Geoffrey had done this; he had attacked Mary.
Mary's lashes lifted. She moaned, the sound harsh and full of fear.
«It's all right, Mary. I'm here.” Savannah tried to soothe her.
Mary began to thrash in the bed, her arms lifted, trying to jerk free of the restraints that held her.
Her IV flew across the room. Blood poured down her arm.
«No! Stop! You're going to hurt yourself!” Savannah frantically pressed the call button.
Mary's lips trembled. She tried to speak, but a groan emerged from her lips.
Patty ran into the room. Her eyes widened as she hurried to the bed, pulling Mary's arms down and securing them with Velcro straps. Mary struggled against the confinement, her eyes huge and tear-filled. Another long groan slipped past her lips.
«You've got to leave,” Patty said while pushing the call button and demanding that the doctor be summoned.
Mary began moaning. Her head thrashed.
«Calm down,” Patty told her. “You're safe. You were in an accident, but we're taking care of you now. Everything is going to be all right, Ms. Todd.” She began to insert another intravenous needle into the back of Mary's hand.
Savannah took a step back from the bed.
The doctor, an older man with steel gray hair and horn-rimmed glasses, appeared at the door. He took a quick look, instantly assessing the situation.
«Morphine, now,” he ordered.
A nurse hurried in from behind him, a long needle in her hand.
«D-d-d-d—” Mary's teeth clenched and frustration flashed across her face.
«You need to leave,” the doctor told Savannah.
The machines beeped, faster, louder.
Mary's pain filled gaze locked on Savannah. “D-d-d-dev—»
«Now, Miss!” The doctor's tone was sharp.
A nurse grabbed Savannah's arm.
«I'll be back,” she promised Mary. She hated to leave her. She wanted to stay, to make certain that Mary was all right.
«You've got to come with me,” the nurse insisted.
«D-d-devil!” Mary screamed, her face twisted in fear. “The d-d-devil s-s-said he was c-c-coming for y-you!»
Everyone froze.
«What?” Savannah's voice was a whisper of sound.
«H-he's c-c-coming. B-be r-ready.” Mary's eyes snapped shut and her body fell back, limp, against the bedcovers.
Patty crossed herself.
«Mary?” Savannah stepped forward, breaking free of the nurse's hold. “Mary!»
The machines beeped, slow and steady, in the quiet room.
The doctor leaned over the bed, checking Mary carefully.
«Is she going to make it?” Savannah asked, fear nearly choking her.
The doctor straightened slowly. “I don't know.»
Savannah pressed her lips together to control their trembling.
«What was she talking about?” Patty whispered, taking a quick step back from the bed. “The devil—»
The doctor frowned at her. “She was delirious. You know how patients get—»
No, Mary hadn't been delirious. The good doctor was very, very wrong. The devil had attacked Mary, and now, he was planning to come after Savannah.
Savannah stared at Mary's still body. Poor Mary. What she must have gone through! “Is she going to make it?” she asked again.
The doctor ran a tired hand over his face. “Maybe.” He shook his head. “I just don't know. It's hard to tell for certain in a case like this, and I don't want to give you false hope.” He sighed. “She's getting the best care. We'll do everything in our power to see that she pulls through.»
Savannah nodded. She stared down at her friend's pale face.
«You have to leave, Miss. She's got to rest.»
Savannah leaned forward and kissed Mary's cheek. “Fight, Mary. Fight for me.” Fight the devil who stalks you.
She stepped back, gazing at her friend's wan face for a moment more. Then she turned, and walked slowly out of the room.