"HIDDEN FLAME" by Sarah Ryniker

STORY LAST UPDATED ON 20/05/2002

Hidden Flame Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Epilogue

CHAPTER TEN

I was shocked when I woke up. I was on a gurney with an oxygen mask on my face. They were wheeling me out to an ambulance. I looked around, but my body was much too weak to get up. I couldn't help but want to laugh. Ella had tried to kill me, Alec had tried to kill me; I couldn't help but wonder who was next. To the surprise of the paramedics I laughed.
    Richard walked up to the gurney just as they went to put me in. He smiled at me, a smile of relief. "I'm glad you're being amused, Phoenix," he laughed. "I'm just glad you're alive."
    "I'm glad I'm alive." Then I thought about it and shot straight up. "Where are the girls?"
    "They're fine, Phoenix. They've been sent to the hospital, too. They were rushing out of the house just as the police, Julie and I pulled up. I couldn't believe they were moving they were in such bad shape. But hey, they must have their mother's grit, huh?"
    I nodded. "I'm proud of my girls."
    He got into the ambulance beside me and took my hand. "I'm proud of them, too, Phoenix. They got away from the psycho. He was arrested. God only knows how long you were up there. The girls said that they had been reluctant to leave without you and had stayed hidden for hours and hours," he said, shaking his head in disbelief.
    "Honestly, Richard, I didn't care if I lived or died. After I had the girls hidden away and safe from him, I knew that he couldn't harm them. I knew they'd get away. So it didn't hurt as much as it would have before." It certainly hurt now, though.
    He nodded and squeezed my hand. "You're strong, Phoenix. And your children are your first priority. Selflessness is what makes you such a wonderful mother. I never saw you with your girls, but I knew that you were a damn good mother."
    I smiled at him through the mask. I could hardly feel the paramedics working on me, the pain was numbing. I was awfully tired, though. "Richard, I've lived in that house for years. But I never want to see it again." I felt whatever medicine they had given me kick in. My eyes were heavy and I was falling asleep.
    Richard leaned down and kissed my cheek. "Don't worry," he whispered in my ear. "You'll never have to see that place again."
    I fell into a deep sleep. I was released from the hospital three days after both Kit and Gabby. Richard had taken them home with him and had taken care of them. I was happy that they had been kept safe and told him so. He seemed embarrassed and made some excuse to go. Kit followed him out of the room. But Gabby stayed behind.
    "I like him, Mama. He really cares about all of us," she told me, sitting beside me on the hospital bed.
    "That's because he was so involved in finding you, honey." I squeezed her hand.
    "He helped you, Mama. I'll always love him for that." She gave me a kiss, and left after that.
    As I sat thinking of what she said, I smiled. "I will, too, Gabby," I whispered out loud to myself. "I will, too."

Hidden Flame Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Epilogue

Back to Home