“Not broken.”
“All right, come over here so I can wash your wounds.”
“Lu…”
“She’s still sleeping. I tended her cuts—not nearly as many as you have and no broken bones I can see.”
There was more, more I needed to remember, but thoughts slid from one to the next, none solid enough for me to hold.
“This won’t sting, but you’ll taste mint. That’s how it is for me. Some taste licorice.” Ricky had maneuvered me to the back of Silver, where a dented green thermos, sponge, and towel waited.
She picked up the thermos. “Tip forward so I can pour this over your head.”
I did so, my breath hitching at the pain. Warm water poured over my scalp sending goosebumps down my spine.
“Now up.”
She poured the thermos over the sponge. With quick, careful strokes, she squeezed the water over my skin, from neck to belt, then down my arms, paying close attention to my bloody knuckles.
“Looks like the Hush tried to eat you,” she said quietly.
“Lu,” I said catching at memories. “Mother Hush possessed her. I thought… I thought…”
“You can stop thinking now. She’s alive.” She squeezed the sponge to clear the blood and re-wet it. “Now the shoes and pants. I want to see your legs.”
I pried off my shoes with a groan and dropped my trousers. The coolness of the sky and heat from the earth wicked across my skin, comforting and clean.
Ricky grumbled and poured more water, sponging a cut on my thigh, scrapes on my hips, and my abraded knees until the thermos was almost empty.
“Your feet are a mess,” she said, finishing off the last of the liquid by pouring it over both my feet in turn. “The only thing those shoes are good for is burning. You need boots.”
I just glared at the shoes. “Don’t have boots.”
She made a soft sound and replaced the stopper in the mouth of the thermos. “Mint?”
“Strawberries,” I said, swallowing the flavor. I dragged my pants back up and left the shoes on the ground.
“That’s a new one. Where’s Abbi?” she asked.
“We lost her. I lost her.”
She hummed. “Danube left,” she said. “Or I assume he was the werewolf running like the fires of hell were licking his tail.” She handed me a canteen, and I drank from it, the water slightly metallic, but soothing.
“Don’t drink it all. I don’t think you have a concussion, but I don’t want to clean up your sick if you do.”
I gulped down several more mouthfuls then capped it. “Have you seen Val?”
“No.” Ricky handed me the towel. I dried off as best I could and pulled on my filthy shirt.
The memory of what had just happened finally cut through the fog. “He jumped. Val jumped into Lu. He fought Mother Hush and forced her out.”
We both glanced over at Lu. Lorde had hopped up into the truck bed to curl up beside her.
“Think he’s still in there?” Ricky asked.
I used to know these things. Used to be the doorway through which any kind of ghost could touch Lu.
I stepped over and pressed my shaking hand on Lu’s wrist. I might not be spirit, but I could still see things, could still feel Lu’s heart, her soul.
