Running Home

The Mountain Top

Where the hell was this guy going? And who the hell did he think he was? Why did he look at Kyle like I was supposed to know something already. I've never seen this guy in town and I try to at least keep notice of the large murderous types. Geez this guy is fast. We sped through town, I know he's noticed me trailing him multiple times, we've made eye contact through his rear view mirror. Luckily I was familiar with the road or I would have been forced to slow down and lose him. Winding around the mountain, we were on the far side of town, I thought for a moment he'd take the exit and head out towards the city but instead he continued on until the road narrowed to a single lane and began to ascend up the mountain past an old gate that clearly was meant to be closed. I had never taken this pass before but it couldn't be worse than the far side that I was so familiar with. Zander's truck began to slow as we climbed around the curves of the mountain side, eventually I watched him pull over onto the edge of the road. I pulled up behind just as he stepped out and began walking towards me. I couldn't even get off my bike before he was practically on top of me. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he boomed. Honestly I should have been expecting this response but somehow I was at a loss for words, I had never been on this side of the mountain, somehow the air felt different, my skin began to prick and I felt a tingle begin up my spine and shooting down through my finger tips. Zander must have noticed the changed in my expression and reached to grab my arm as I began to stumble back. All I could see was spots as he carried me into his truck. I tried to tell him not to leave my bike, but the words wouldn't leave my lips. I sat against the door, vision blurred, watching Zander speed to wherever he was going, occasionally glancing over at me with a concerned look on his face. At some point I must have blacked out completely because the next thing I knew I was laying in a bed.

"Why would she have reacted like this?" I heard him say to an unknown person. "Sir I am unsure but we are working on it, we've ran a blood test and should have answers soon" the person replied. I could smell bleach and by the brightness of the room I could only assume it was a hospital, we must have turned back down the mountain while I was blacked out. I realized the tingly was still persistent and attempted to move my hands to rid myself of the feeling. Zander turned noticing my movement, almost jumping to my side. His face was contorted, I couldn't tell if it was worry or curiosity in his eyes, but the tone of his voice seemed calm and collected. "How are you feeling Alex? Do you think you can sit up to drink some water?" I nodded my head my voice still somehow escaping me. He gently pressed the paper cup to my lips allowing me to slowly sip. I swear I'd have thought I'd had my tonsils removed if they hadn't already been gone. He looked at me puzzled, almost trying to read my mind, when the doctor came back in. "Sir can I see you in the hallway, we have the results." My eyes shot with worry as they both walked out of the room. Did I get slipped something at the bar, my last job was an easy one I hadn't even been in contact with anyone, I received my instructions via e-mail and my payment was wired directly to my bank, that couldn't be it. Zander and the doctor walked back in, Zander sat down beside me while the doctor glanced at her chart. "Alex do you have any family history that I should be aware of?" I shook my head, but they both continued to watch me. "I don't know my family" I finally whispered out. Zander shot a look at the doctor then back at me. "Do you know anything about your childhood?" he asked. Again I shook my head, "No as far back as I remember I've been alone, I bounced around in foster homes for a bit, but at 15 I left the system and have been on my own since." I never spoke about my childhood or my background with anyone, not even Ty, but here I was with a man I just met in a hospital for unknown reasons, telling him my secrets. "Alex I'm going to give you an IV with some medication in it, it should subside the symptoms you are feeling. If this does work you should be free to go tomorrow." She smiled placing a new bag on the IV tree with a yellowish liquid in it, I watched as it traveled down the tube entering my hand. I jolted and could feel it burning through my veins, I immediately started to claw at the IV and Zander grabbed my hand. "Alex I'm sure this doesn't feel good, but that does mean it is working. If it wasn't going to you would only be feeling a cool wash running through" the doctor said with sorrow in her eyes. "I would rather have the cool wash" I said through gritted teeth "What is going on? What does this mean? Am I dying?" The doctor quickly glanced at Zander then back at me, "Alex did the orphanage choose your name for you, were you left with anything?" "What does this have to do with what's happening to me?" I asked. "We think your family history is why you felt the way you did coming up the mountain" Zander said softly.