Pitch Black by Susan Crandall Read Free Book Online Page A

wait.”
    “No.”
    “All right. I picked up some sweats at the gift shop.” She handed him the bag. “Get dressed. I’ll go sign the papers to get you out. I’ll be right back and we’ll go see him.”
    He gave a brusque nod and grabbed the bag. His hands were shaking so much he could hardly get the ties of his hospital gown undone.
    Once he was dressed, he stepped outside the curtain.
    M put her arm around his shoulders. “This way.”
    Since his shoes were trashed, he was still wearing those dorky socks with grippers on the bottom that the hospital had given him. He felt stupid running around in the hallways without shoes. As they passed the open doors, he tried not to peek inside to see the people lying in the hospital beds, but his curiosity overcame his manners. It looked like everyone in here was old . . . and dying. Was Jordan dying, too?
    This place had the same weird overly clean smell that doctors’ offices had. But here there was an unmistakable underlying odor of . . .
sickness
was the only way Ethan could think to describe it. He didn’t like it.
    M stopped in front of a closed door. “Jordan has a private room. Do you want me to go in with you?”
    Ethan stared at the closed door and shook his head. He was torn between wanting to slam it open and hurry inside and running in the other direction.
    He pressed his lips together, took a breath, then put his hand on the door and pushed it open. The room seemed dim after the bright lights of the hallway. It was nearly dark outside. The fluorescent light over the bed was on, but not real bright, more like a night-light. Jordan looked like old sour cream; white and green at the same time. His eyes were open, staring, just like they’d been when Ethan last saw him.
    He was halfway across the room when he realized that Jordan’s mom and dad were sitting in chairs shoved into the corner beside the door; a place where the light didn’t quite reach. Todd McPherson was standing next to Jordan’s mom, leaning against the wall.
    “Oh, sorry . . . ,” he started to apologize.
    “It’s okay, Ethan,” Jordan’s mom said softly. “Go on. Maybe he’ll talk to you.”
    Ethan nodded, then walked up to the side of the bed. He was worried that Jordan’s parents would come up and stand there, too, but they stayed where they were. His back was to them, giving him just a little privacy.
    He leaned over, so he’d be in Jordan’s stationary line of sight. “Hey. It’s me.”
    Jordan didn’t move. He didn’t even blink.
    Ethan said, “Everything’s going to be okay. You need to rest and get better.”
    Jordan remained motionless.
    “You still look cold.” Ethan leaned across and pulled the covers higher. When he did, he hovered close to Jordan’s ear and whispered, “Whatever you do, don’t say
anything.
I’ve taken care of it.”
    As he straightened, he sent a cautious glance over his shoulder. Nobody was looking at him; nobody heard.

Chapter 4
    T HE CUP OF COFFEE in Kate’s hand had gone cold. How long ago had Todd brought it to her? The black darkness of night had turned Jordan’s hospital room window into a mirror, a mirror in which her reflection showed a woman she barely recognized. Self-consciously, she smoothed her hair behind her ear. Hating what she saw in the glass, she looked down at her coffee where congealed swirls of cream had risen to the top. Her stomach rolled. She set the paper cup on the floor beneath her chair, back where it couldn’t be knocked over.
    “Can I get you a fresh one, Kate?” Todd pushed himself away from the wall. He’d been standing there, strong and silent, while they waited for Jordan to “wake up”—while they waited for news of Steve’s condition.
    “Oh, thank you, no. I’m too jittery inside already. How much longer do you think it can be before we hear . . . ?” She couldn’t bring herself to finish the question.
    Steve’s brawny build and rugged manliness had captured her attention the moment they