Stealing Promises by Brina Courtney Read Free Book Online Page B

Victoria carefully and slowly, almost like she was an injured puppy. She didn’t understand why he would treat her like that. Nothing was wrong with her. Levi needed help, not her.
    “ Good evening Victoria, I'm going to take a look at your ears, all right?”
    Victoria made no moves to let the doctor know that she was even in there. She wasn’t even sure she was in her own body anymore. It felt as though she was just watching this whole situation from the outside, and in slow motion. None of this was really happening. This didn't happen to people like Victoria and Levi. He had just got them an apartment. They were celebrating Claire’s birthday. Where was Claire?
    The doctor moved around her slowly so as not to spook her and shone a light into her ears. “Looks like you have some small damage, Victoria. Can you hear the words I'm saying?”
    Victoria realized that he was talking a bit louder, but she still couldn't fully understand him. It was then that she realized her hearing was affected because of the shot.
    She turned her head towards the doctor, a solemn look on her face and said, “Is someone coming for me?”
    The doctor looked taken aback, surprised by her sudden response. “Yes. I believe they've called your parents. They should be here very soon.”
    Victoria stood up off the cot and pulled the blanket around her. “I'm going home now,” she said.
    She began to walk towards the automatic double doors they had brought her in when the doctor put his hand on her shoulder.
    “Victoria, I'm afraid you can't do that. I would really prefer that your parents take you home. We need to make sure you're all right.”
    Victoria looked at him with steely gaze. “I'm not all right.” She turned and continued to walk away.
    Two security guards began to move in around her.
    “Miss, you're going to need to come with us.”
    She felt the hands try to lead her back towards the doctor but she resisted. Then the security guards had to make a move and they grabbed her upper arms and picked the screaming, kicking girl up off the floor to put her on a cot and get her under control.
    Victoria yelled, “Where is he? Where is my Levi? Do you know where he is? I want to be with him! You can't keep me here!”
    She sobbed and sobbed until she felt a strong stab in her thigh. They were giving her something. She hoped it would kill her.
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
    6
    When Victoria awoke she heard angry voices coming from what seemed like very far away. The voices were muffled, but she could tell that at least one was different from others.
    “ You mean to tell me he was shot, right in front of her?” Her mother sounded exhausted. Victoria had no idea what time it was, but she was sure it was late.
    A man's voice was next, one that Victoria didn't recognize. She strained her body to hear, but she couldn't will her eyes open to see who this new person was.
    “Yes. She's very fragile at the moment, we had to give her a sedative to get her into a room. She thrashed hard about an hour after that.  She has a nice bruise on her arm from hitting one of the trays. Eventually we had to strap her down. Besides her hearing being damaged, she checks out pretty good. If she feels good enough when she wakes up, we’ll release her to you and you can take her home. But I want to warn you, her life is going to be different now. She may be different now, you're going to have to accept that and help her through it.”
    Victoria heard her mother's voice again, it sounded like she was crying. “Yes, of course. Thank you, doctor.”
    Victoria didn't hear much after that except footsteps sounding like they were walking away, or maybe towards her, she couldn't quite tell. But she felt someone hold her hand, maybe her mother or her father. Then she heard another voice she recognized, it was Tyne.
    “They told us he died saving her. That he was trying to protect her when the guy shot him.” Her voice sounded flat, monotone. Perhaps she felt as