Chapter 57: Unconscious Call

CALEB A nurse showed up a few seconds later, carrying a trolley. Another nurse came behind her, pushing a bed. Dr. Flora helped me lay on the bed, pushing me towards the emergency room. 'How did no one see you earlier? You literally walked into a hospital with half tied bandages and blood everywhere." She whispered beside me. 'I guess your staff isn't as alert as they're supposed to be." Actually, that wasn't the case. I wore a very long fur coat, and it covered most of the wounds. It was cold. Dr. Flora snorted, and I smirked, clutching my head. I was slowly losing consciousness, but I wanted it. I wanted the dark. I'd been so caught up in everything that had been happening for the last few weeks that I never really got a good rest. A day or two unconscious wouldn't hurt anyone. I shut my eyes, allowing the darkness to see through my veins, taking over my consciousness. The last thing I saw was Brielle, standing beside my bed with a worried expression. 'Caleb….." I heard a faint whisper. I tried to open my eyes, but it was no use. My limbs were useless too. I couldn't use them. It was like I was held prisoner inside my own head. 'Caleb…" My pulse drummed. This was going to be one long night. The voice didn't stop. I was unconscious for approximately two days, battling for my own strength and consciousness. Stuck in an endless loop. I couldn't recognize the voice that kept calling me, and quite frankly, I didn't even want to. I preferred to think of it as a figment of my imagination, born as a result of all the trauma my head and heart had gone through. By the end of the second day, I awoke with a start, staring at my surroundings. I was still in the hospital. My ward had two other patients, an elderly woman, and a young woman. Ironic. I glanced around, searching for Brielle. 'Caleb…" I heard the voice again. It sounded clearer, more distinct. Like it'd been waiting for me. I darted my eyes across the room. There was literally no one around. I tried getting up, but the sharp pain in my sides forced me back down on the bed. I groaned, cursing my inner wits. 'Caleb …" 'The fuck is going on!" I yelled. The two women jolted in their positions and stared at me, eyes wide with fear and concern. I rang the nurse's bell beside the bed, and a petite woman scurried towards my bed with a trolley. She had a worried expression on her face. 'Sir? What's the matter?" She began searching my body, probably for any sign of complications. 'Where's my sister?" I said through gritted teeth. 'She's in the office with Dr. Flora. Should I call her for you?" I nodded, tired of talking already. She dashed out of the ward, and Brielle returned a few minutes later. She looked a lot better than she did a few days ago, but there were purple smudges under her eyes. She looked tired. 'Caleb… you're finally awake." She rushed to my side, stroking my hair. I held her hands. 'How's Kyle?" She sighed. 'That's something you need to see for yourself. He's…improving, at least." For some reason, that statement made me calm down a bit. I relaxed in the bed, and glanced at my phone. 'Caleb, I've been worried about something." Brielle muttered, as I grabbed my phone from the bed table. 'Hm?" I swiped through my emails, when I realized I had two missed calls from Uncle Kelly. Brielle had started talking, but her voice trailed off in my head. Shit. Shit.. Shit… Uncle Kelly was a man with an aura, and a dangerously short temper. Him calling twice… I straightened my back, and turned towards Brielle. I'd deal with Uncle Kelly's demands later. Worst he could do is kill me, right? 'You were saying?" I said, with a non-apologetic look on my face. Brielle paused. '..." 'Come on, keep talking." She sighed. 'What if you turn into a werewolf too? Just like Kyle?" She blurted, her voice shaking a little. My blood ran cold. She has a point. That stupid wolf had bitten me. 'Where's Flora? Has she said anything yet?" Brielle shook her head. 'She just took some samples and left. She hasn't returned since then and I'm worried about that too." Unlike Kyle, I didn't feel anything change inside me. I felt pretty normal. 'Find her and get her here. If anything changes with me, I need to be sure first." The thought of that possibility made my throat dry. I couldn't…. ********* I was discharged from the hospital on the fifth day, after my wounds were deemed healed enough for me to leave. Scratch that. I basically left the hospital myself. Uncle Kelly requested a special meeting between everyone in the family, including Kyle. I had wanted to lie to him about his condition, but I couldn't. He'd find out anyway. I walked into the mansion, filled with nothing but dread and apprehension. It still looked the same, but as always. I turned in the direction of the guest parlor and found all five of them already seated, talking in hushed tones. Harry, the eldest, with his usual seriousness, stood by the fireplace. He had a cup of coffee in his hands. Ursula and Keiran were chatting happily by the door leading towards the kitchen. Paul and Gina, the twins, were seated on the couch with their heads lowered, probably sharing some sort of inside joke. I hadn't seen this lot in six years. I took a deep breath and approached them. 'Hey everyone. It's been a while." My voice felt tighter than usual. Harry turned, and gave me a slight nod. 'Caleb, it's good to see you." Ursula smiled brightly, and walked over to give me a hug. 'Caleb, it's been way too long. How have you been?" I stared at her pupils. Wide, but tired. And not just physically tired, she looked mentally and emotionally tired too. We had all been through some sort of shit. I chuckled lightly. 'I've been good. You know how it is, always busy." 'Busy with what? Last time I remembered you were playing private investigator." Keiran taunted, grinning. 'More like a detective, but yeah." I smiled lightly. 'And what have you been up to, Keiran? Still playing pranks on everyone?" 'Meh, only on those who deserve it." He shrugged. Gina looked up at us and smiled. 'It feels good to have us all back together. Feels just like the old times." 'Except without all the drama." Paul nodded. Harry cleared his throat. 'Speaking of which, does anyone know why Uncle Kelly called all of us here?"