Chapter Seventeen
1049 Words
The morning met Ivy already in the clinic, helping, adjusting, instructing. The pups woke up to meet her already there. Their faces lit up immediately and they all rushed towards her, calling her The Luna Lady. Her face grew stiff when she heard them but she wore a huge smile and attended to each and everyone of them.
The doctors and staffs were relieved to see her. They went into work immediately, attending to the pups who were already showing a great improvement by her return. Her presence seemed to calm them down.
When Kena woke up, her lips were already drawn into a smile. On seeing Ivy walking around, the smile grew wider. “Luna Lady,” She yelled and jumped off her bed, her tiny feet carrying her towards Ivy.
Ivy bent down and picked her up. “I told you to stop calling me that,” She said but the little pup only giggled and replied with a “But you're the Luna,”
Ivy decided against arguing with her and dropped her on the floor before leading her away for her medication.
At breakfast, they ate together and that was when Ivy noticed Betty's absence.
“Where's Betty?” She asked, panic climbing into her voice.
“She's at the emergency unit,” A doctor explained. “her condition became so critical that she had to be taken there.” He added.
“Take me there,” Ivy requested, already standing.
“Ivy,” The doctor called, alarm in his demeanor.
“Please, take me there,” She pleaded and the old doctor nodded before leading her past sterile corridors till they arrived the emergency unit.
Ivy walked in and headed for Betty's bed immediately. The little girl was pale, lying on the bed, looking lifeless. Tubes were connected to her body and her condition brought tears to Ivy's eyes. If only she was here. “Stupid Stoneheart,” She cursed and massaged the girl's hands slowly.
“Start the treatment please,” She wiped her head towards the doctor.
“Ivy, she…” The doctor tried explaining.
“Just this last time, please. I would be here all through,” She pleaded.
“It's past that stage,” The doctor mumbled.
“Doctor please,”
“Alright,” He sighed and left the ward to arrange for the treatment.
He returned back with a bunch of nurses and a table was being wheeled by one of them. On it, frightening instruments laid.
“A surgery?,” Ivy said in a whisper, more to herself than the doctor.
“Yes, a surgery.” He replied and they started working immediately.
Ivy stayed throughout, her hands clutching tightly at Betty's. She stayed through Betty's groans and cries when calming her down.
After the surgery, the doctor advised her to leave for a while so as to give Betty enough resting time.
By early evening, Betty was up and the oxygen tubes disconnected from her body. When she saw Ivy, her face lit up like the other pups. Ivy stayed with her for a while until she fell asleep again.
She took a walk around the clinic, comforting the pups and watching them play. At dinner, Betty joined them and the other kids were happy to see her.
Remi ate up her food completely which was a welcome improvement. The purging smell that emanated from the clinic was gone completely and the atmosphere was light, packed with joy.
When she left the clinic, she contemplated going to Zeke's chambers as she was yet to see him throughout the day and neither did she see Lucas. Zeke even failed in showing up for his usual evening checkups on the pack and she was just a tad worried about him. She decided against this to save her sanity and made her way to the her room.
A warm shower could do the magic of relaxing her nerves and muscles so she did just that. She came back just in time to see a note being slipped down through the foot of her door. Her heart slammed against her chest and she picked up the knife laying on the table.
Swinging the door open, a rush of cold breeze swept into the room, blinding her vision for a split moment. When she looked around the corner, there was no one in sight.
She closed the door again and placed a hand to her chest before bending down to pick up the paper.
The paper was ruffled and the ink was smeared but the handwriting was clear. “Do not trust easily.”
The words burned into her chest. Do not trust easily. A threat or a warning. From a foe or a friend. She inspected the paper but couldn't make out who had the handwriting. The paper wasn't signed so there was no clue to know who sent it.
Tessa.
She threw clothes over her body and pushed open the door before dashing towards Tessa's apartment. Her hands landed quick and loud knocks on the door. She heard Tessa's voice from inside the house and the shuffling of footsteps. Tessa pulled the door open and her eyes widened on seeing her.
“What are you doing here? And what's wrong with you?” Tessa's eyes looked her through as she pulled her into the apartment. The new found warmth was a welcome development.
“What's chasing you Ivy?” Tessa asked, falling into the couch beside Ivy.
Ivy shoved the paper into her hands, her breaths coming out in quick puffs.
“What's this?” Tessa looked up, her voice becoming shaky.
“I have no idea,” Ivy replied.
“Are you sure you're safe in your house? Who dropped this?” She asked again.
“I don't know, I came out of the bathroom to find it slipping in,” She explained.
“How are we to know who sent this and the purpose?” Tessa asked as she stood up, pacing the room.
That night,when Ivy returned to her room - after much convincing to allow Tessa let her go - she placed the paper on the wall and laid on her bed, staring at it.
The four words etched in her memory. Do not trust easily.
- Writer
