The algae was gone?
“Completely void? It just disappeared?” Shock and confusion swarmed me. That didn’t seem right, even as much as I wished it to be true. A dreadful feeling settled in my stomach. Something wasn’t right.
Trying not to let panic overwhelm me, I grabbed my phone and called Phillip. It was probably nothing like what I was thinking, but I wanted to make sure.
“Gwendolyn,” he answered as soon as the first ring ended.
“Pops told me about the water, what happened? It just disappeared?” My voice might have risen a notch, but I just felt something awful inside me. The feeling was eating at me, and I didn’t know why.
“It’s gone, all of it. He saved us all.”
He?
He.
Phillip saidhesaved us all.
“Oh God.” My voice cracked, and my chest started hurting.
“Who, Phillip?” I didn’t want to make the assumptions my heart somehow already knew.
“I’m so sorry.” His voice mirrored mine; he felt the pain that was climbing up my skin like talons of a monster.
Shaking my head, I refused to understand what he was saying, even though the tears leaking from my eyes told me that deep down I was accepting the truth.
“Who ishe, Phillip?”
I needed to hear it, I had to. Oh God.
“Arthur sacrificed himself to save us all—to save you. I’m so sorry.”
“Is he dead?” Please, by some miracle, say he isn’t dead. Please, please, please, please. I begged the universe for some mercy.I can’t lose him.
“Not yet, but he’s close. He went into the water and used his body as a filter. The water was cleaned, but his body took everything in and kept it. His organs are failing from the toxicity, and he is not responding to any available treatment.”
Anger flooded my body as I stood up and slammed my hand on my table.
“He’s alive? Why didn’t you call me? I’ll be at the hospital soon.” I didn’t wait to hear an answer. I hung up with him and called Lynn.
She showed up five minutes later to me pacing in my living room. All the metal decorations in my house were crumpled up like paper on my floor.
“Watch her for a bit, please. I’ll call when I can. Thank you.” Pops and Cora were with me, and I left in a hurry. Arthur wasn’t dying without me there; I didn’t care if he told everyone that I wasn’t allowed to see him like that. I would pull the fucking iron out of their bodies if they got in my way. Arthur was my world—I would be there for him,withhim.
Thankfully, no one stopped me as I walked in and demanded that I be taken to him.
Phillip was talking with Esme by his door when I arrived.
Neither of them said anything to me as I used my powers to lift the metal handle and pushed the door back.
My legs lost their will to stand as my gaze fell upon his body, nearly lifeless, on the hospital bed. He had tubes hooked up to him everywhere, including one helping him breathe.
“No, no. Why did he do this?” I sobbed, my hand covering my mouth in disbelief.
“He did it to save you.” Phillip squatted down beside me and offered his hand for comfort. I jerked away. I didn’t want his; I wanted Arthur’s. He was my balm, my thunder jacket when I needed to be soothed. I needed him, and he gave his life for me.
I couldn’t stand on my own. My body was weak, seeing him like this. Eyes closed, glasses on the nightstand, and his tan skin had a gray sheen to it, like his pores were trying to expel the toxins within them. His body was giving up on him. I could feel my heart trying to talk to his, wanting to feel the love in his touch. That bond between us. But that bond had been cut, the code from my heart to his was silent.
“What is happening to him?” Phillip helped me walk over to his bed, where I sat and grabbed Arthur’s hand. It was still, like he was already dead. But I heard the beep of the machine telling me that was a lie.
