Her face was on the screen.
Herfacewas on the screen.
They had used a photo from an old yearbook. Rui stared, not quite recognizing the smirking girl with long black hair. That girl looked a lot more confident than she ever remembered feeling.
“That’s you, isn’t it?” the nurse said, her excitement barely contained.
Rui made an incoherent sound.
The machines’ beeps sped up, and the nurse jerked into action. “No, no, you mustn’t get up.”
“Turn it off!”
“Okay, there,” the nurse said, hitting the switch for the television. “Better?”
Rui thought quickly. She had to get rid of this woman. She pretended to settle down. “Yes, better. Sorry, I was just confused. I didn’t expect to see myself on the news.”
“I can’t imagine how frightening it had to be, but you were so brave.”
Rui avoided eye contact. She didn’t want the woman’s sympathy or admiration.
“It’s a miracle you survived,” the nurse went on. “I heard the entire subway tunnel caved in.”
It’s because he saved me... again.Rui wasn’t sure how Zizi had done it. The tunnel had collapsed further when Ten closed the portal. But none of the rubble had fallen on her. She touched the red string tied around her wrist. It’d stayed on throughout everything somehow. The only piece of him she had left.
“We couldn’t get that thread off,” said the nurse. “Couldn’t cut it for some reason. Do you want me to try again?”
“No!” Rui pulled her arm back, almost snarling. The nurse looked at her funny. Rui tried to smile. “I’m hungry. Could you get me something to eat, please?”
“You poor thing, of course. I’ll get you some hot soup.”
The door closed.
Immediately, Rui bolted upright. She yanked out the needles and tubes connected to her arm. The machines went silent. Already fearing what the hospital bill would be, she swung her legs over, shivering when her bare toes touched the cold floor.
There was a sharp knock on the door.
A man wearing a white doctor’s coat and polished shoes stepped in. He took one look at her and chided, “You can’t be discharged yet. Please, lie down.”
“No, I can’t—” Her legs shook, and she lost her balance. Just as she was about to hit the floor, someone caught her fall.
“Don’t you know, Doctor? She’s very bad at taking advice and very good at doing whatever the hell she wants.”
“Ash?” Rui said, staring at the newcomer who had swooped in to help her. He was wearing his noncombat Exorcist suit and a faded bruise on his angelic face. The right side of his head was shaved, and he’d flipped his gray hair over to cover it. He laid her back gently onto the bed. When he turned to talk to the doctor, she saw that his hair was hiding a fresh scar on his scalp.
Ash smiled, charming as always. “May I speak with Cadet Lin for a few moments in private, Doctor? Guild business—you understand.”
The doctor glanced at the red pin on Ash’s jacket lapel. “You have fifteen minutes. We must get her hooked up again, and she needs to rest.”
Ash shut the door firmly after the doctor and sat in the armchair.
“I’m probably not the person you want to see, but I’m here nonetheless. Don’t worry, I won’t stay long. Your father’s been here every day, and Ada visits too. But no one else has been allowed into your room yet. Guild’s orders,” he said, almost apologetically.
They don’t want anyone to talk to me before you do, Rui thought, swallowing painfully. Her throat was still parched. “Why did they put me in this room?”
“Because I told them to. We take care of our own, and as a valuable member of the Exorcist Guild, we’re making sure you’re in the best environment for your recovery.”
A valuable member of the Exorcist Guild?That was news to her.
