All of his movements could be simply automatic reflexes. He could still have extensive brain damage. Hell, he might not even be Lucien when he wakes up. He could be a different person entirely.
And even though that thought fucking guts me, I try to hold on to positive thinking…even when it feels like I'm grasping at straws.
He's gonna be fine, I tell myself over and over again as I raise his eyelids to check his pupils with my penlight.
Maria leaves the room, and then I feel another presence join us. A presence that I've become so accustomed to over the past couple of weeks. She brings in with her a scent of peaches — Adeline's body wash.
And it drives me insane.
I've been going off the deep end every day that we don't find Adeline, and Katya is a constant reminder that she's here instead, in her place, wearing her clothes, using her things.
Gritting my teeth, I turn to glare at Katya. "What are you doing in here?"
She looks taken aback by my tone. But then she quickly schools her features and glares right back at me. "I didn't realize I wasn't allowed to be in here. I'll leave if you want."
Fuck, I shouldn't be berating her. I should be apologizing. But I just can't seem to force myself to do it. I'm clearly wound too damn tight, and there's a point coming probably really soon when my strings are gonna finally snap.
But when I hear a groan coming from Lucien, the world around me stops. I turn my attention back to him. "Lucien?" I ask, and I can hear the hopefulness dripping from my voice. I want him so badly to wake up and join the rest of us in the land of the living.
"Lucien, can you hear me? Luc?" Glancing up at Wraith, I joke, "You would think he would want to wake up after sleeping for so long."
"Maybe he's not ready to wake up," Katya whispers. "He'll wake up when he's ready."
She's right. Lucien will wake up when he's ready. Maybe not today. Maybe not even tomorrow. But I need him to wake up soon.
Sighing, I stare at Lucien's face. His stubble has grown into an almost full beard. Maria has been meticulously trimming it, but she let it grow out some. It would drive Lucien insane if he knew.
And then I see Lucien's cracked lips open. "Ad…"
"Wait. He's trying to say something," I say, gripping his hand. "Luc, you need to wake up. Do you hear me? Adeline needs you."
There's no response for a long time after that. No automatic reflexes, no more lip movement, nothing.
"Do you think he can hear you?" Wraith asks.
"I'm going to find out," I answer determinedly. "Luc…Adeline is gone. She was kidnapped, and I lost track of her. I need you to wake up and help me find her," I tell him, feeling desperate and hearing the desperation leaking into my voice.
That gets me a response. Lucien manages to crack one eyelid open. He squints and grunts, and closes it again quickly.
"Turn off the lights," I tell Katya. When she obliges and the room is bathed in only natural light from the windows, I squeeze his hand again. "Luc, please wake the fuck up." After a deep sigh, I tell him, "I need you. I can't do this without you." And then I add, "Adeline needs you."
A guttural moan escapes Lucien's mouth. And then his reactions begin slowly — first with his fingers twitching and then his toes under the thin blanket.
And then…finally…he squeezes my hand.
"He's waking up," I whisper breathlessly with tears in my eyes.
Every twitch of muscle, every single movement has me practically sobbing with relief. It feels like I've been waiting for this moment for so damn long.
Lucien's eyes move rapidly under his eyelids, and I have to wonder if he's remembering what happened.
I stand when I notice how hard he's gripping my hand. It's to the point where he's going to start breaking bones.
And then his entire body convulses and a scream rips out of his throat, shaking me to my core.
"Easy, Luc! Easy!" I yell at Lucien, wrenching my hand from his grip and holding him down against the soft mattress.
Gasping for air, Lucien's eyes snap open, unfocused. He's wheezing like he's struggling to breathe.
