I sighed. “I got a lead. Annabelle Springs. She says she can help.”
For a heartbeat, the mask slipped: Hayden’s jaw set, eyes narrowing, something almost electric passing through his expression. It wasn’t just concern. It was the alert, calculating look of someone who’s already imagining consequences.
“Springs?” he repeated, lower now. “She’s...” His voice trailed off as he pushed a hand throughhis hair. “You… You have no idea how fast things can change, dealing with people like her.”
My pulse spiked. “What do you mean? Do you know her?”
He shook his head, a muscle in his jaw tightening. “Not well. Just… enough. Listen, you asked for advice? Here’s mine: Don’t ever forget who’s holding the leash in this place. Especially if it’s Annabelle Springs.” He leaned in, voice dropping to a near-whisper. “If she offers you a shortcut, look for the catch. Promise me you’ll trust your gut, not just her words.”
The warning settled between us, sharp and heavy. I nodded, a strange mix of gratitude and unease twisting inside me. “I promise.”
He nodded once, the mask settling back in place. But his eyes lingered on mine, like he was weighing whether to say more, or just let me go.
EIGHTEEN
At 7:00the next morning, I picked up my phone to try calling my parents again. I realized then that I’d missed a text from Hayden. He’d sent it half an hour ago.
“Forgot to say: let me know how it goes with your parents.”
I stared at the message, not sure how to read it after the way we’d left things last night. Then I set it aside and dialed the number for the islet’s hospital.
After six rings, a female voice I didn’t recognize picked up.
“Emerson speaking,” she said.
“Hello, Emerson,” I replied. “My name’s Tanisha Lockwood and I’m calling to be put through to my parents, Rey and Norine Lock?—”
“Ah, yes. Dora said I should expect you to call.”
There was a disconcerting pause. “So can you put me through?” I asked, my tone impatient as my stomach twisted into knots.
“Um, normally I wouldn’t because, unfortunately, the swelling did not go down overnight, as we’d hoped it would, and their temperatures have also spiked unexpectedly, but?—”
My breath caught. “Wait, what? Their temperatures have spiked since yesterday?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” she replied, her tone apologetic. “They’re burning up and they have considerable swelling.”
“Why didn’t anyone call me?!” I tried to keep my panic hidden, but it bled through.
“I’m sorry, but we have many patients to attend to in this hospital, and we cannot always keep track of updating family members, when our focus is on the patients. It’s usually on the family to call?—”
“Okay,” I said, cutting her off, trying to reel myself in. “I understand, of course. So, why have their temperatures spiked?”
Emerson sighed. “As I assume Dora explained, this virus isn’t something we’ve had experience with before, so the symptoms can be unpredictable. However,” she added, before I could respond, “as I was about to say, in response to your request to talk to your parents, normally I would not pass a phone through in their current condition.However, they were informed that you called yesterday and they have indicated that they’re willing to tolerate any discomfort in order to talk to you, so in this case I will override protocol.”
I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. While I desperately wanted to talk to my parents, I didn’t want them to suffer any additional pain to do that. Still, the situation felt like it was spinning out of control and Ineededto talk to them.
“O-Okay,” I said. “Please pass me through.”
“Please hold the line.”
As her voice disappeared, suddenly my bedroom felt too small, the walls closing in on me. I went downstairs and paced up and down the kitchen-living area, trying to settle my nerves. It didn’t work.
Five minutes later but what felt like an eternity, Emerson returned. “Are you still there, Miss Lockwood?”
“Of course.”
“Okay, I’m putting you through to your parents now. Your mother first.”
