Zeke leans toward my phone, reading the screen out loud before glancing back at me, deep in thought about what to say. His reaction, along with the fact that no one else is speaking up, makes me nervous. Did they let him go again? Please don't let them do it again. How can someone keep getting away with bad behavior repeatedly? It just doesn't add up.
"Rocky, calm down. I see the wheels turning in your head as you jump to your own conclusion about what happened," Zeke says. He must notice me tense up, and my breathing becomes irregular. If he doesn't answer me soon, a panic attack will surely ensue. I don't need or want that.
"Then what happened?" I type it out quickly and thrust my phone back at him. This inability-to-talk thing is annoying. My hands tremble slightly, and I feel a knot tighten in my stomach, revealing my growing frustration and anxiety.
"He's in custody right now," Zeke reassures me, though I can sense an upcoming "but." "But he is trying to use the insanity plea." My eyes are probably bugging out of my head at the shock of him wanting to use that plea as his defense. The prosecutor wouldn't believe him, would he? Ted is not insane; he is in his right mind and knows what he attempted to do. The look in his eyes as he choked me was pure evil, but he wasn't crazy. Just angry and evil. Before I can ask anything else, Zeke's phone starts to ring. He looks down at it and then makes eye contact with me.
"It's the sheriff's office," he says apologetically. "I need to take this." He steps into the hall, his voice muffled as it filters through the closed door. I watch, hoping he'll return soon. For some reason, his absence from the room makes me more nervous. I need him to be with me, making me feel safe again. Nothing against my uncle, Sharon, or my father, but he is my rock—the person who keeps me grounded. Uncle Donovan signals with his hand to get my attention. I automatically turn to him and smile, hiding my uneasiness.
"Are you sure you're feeling okay, Roxanne?" His voice is filled with concern, and he can't take his eyes off the ugly black-and-blue marks around my neck caused by Ted's large hands. It makes me feel uncomfortable, like an animal on display in the local zoo. I nod my head at him, letting him know I'm okay. Sore, of course, but more than anything, the incident has shaken me up, more mentally than physically. Living across from that monster is the most unsettling thing.
"Thank you for showing up when you did," I type out and show him. He smiles up at me and leans over to hug me.
"Anytime, sweet girl. I wish I had gotten there sooner. Then he wouldn't have touched you," he says as he hugs me gently. I'm pretty sure he's afraid that if he hugs me too hard, I will break. It is laughable, really. This giant of a man is being so sweet to his niece. "Honestly, when I saw him choking you, my heart dropped. It felt like losing your mom all over again." So many emotions come over him, making him stop and clear his throat, trying to keep them at bay. He loves me because I am an extension of his sister, whom he lost at an early age. One he thought was gone forever. It is apparent he carries a lot of guilt over his siblings' disappearances, but he was young. He did the best he could to protect them. I'm sure Mom would have felt the same. Before anyone else can say anything, the door to my hospital room swings open, and Zeke saunters back in. He stuffs his cell phone into his hoodie and focuses his attention on me.
"That was the sheriff's office calling to see when you would be up to giving a statement," Zeke explains. "Of course, I told them you can't talk right now due to the bruising. They still want to see you. They also asked if you could type out a statement and email it to them about what led up to him choking you." He keeps his gaze on me the whole time, trying to gauge my emotions and body language. "Do you think you can do that, Roxy?" he asks gently.
I nod and type, "Can someone go to the house and bring me my laptop? It's on my nightstand in our bedroom." Then, I hold out the phone. Zeke reads it aloud to everyone. My gaze sweeps across the room to see who is going to sacrifice themselves for this errand. Of course, Andy is the one to volunteer right away and says they will get the computer and any other supplies we might need for the hospital stay. He also offers to pick up dinner on their way back. My stomach growls at the thought of food, and I hope my bruised neck won't prevent me from eating. Before they can leave the room, Zeke asks them to bring the documents and photos because we don't feel comfortable leaving them unattended at the house.
They quickly take the keys from Zeke, and Andy kisses my forehead before leaving. Donovan and Zeke are the only ones remaining with me. Zeke motions for me to shift over on my bed, then slides in beside me, sitting upright against the bed. I lean into him, feeling his warmth envelop me. It is comforting to rest in his arms; his presence is soothing.
Uncle Donovan clears his throat to grab our attention, causing my cheeks to flush. I momentarily forget he is present. Both men chuckle at my embarrassment, while I cover my face with my hands because it is probably as red as a tomato. Eventually, they stop laughing and teasing me and continue their conversation. Their voices gradually lull me to sleep, exhaustion still weighing heavily on me. Luckily, my nap is peaceful, with no strange dreams or omens. A few hours later, I awake to find Zeke and Donovan gone, and I am alone in my hospital bed once more.
Looking for my phone, I type Zeke a message: "Just wanted you to know I'm awake. Where did you guys go?" Instantly, the three little dots start to pulse on the screen.
Zeke's response is quick: "We went for a walk. Our legs were hurting, and we needed to stretch. We'll be back soon, baby. A deputy is supposed to stop by soon. Text me if he gets there before we do."
Tossing my phone onto the bed, I sigh, wishing they would hurry back. The thought of dealing with a deputy right now is too much. Why couldn't they wait until my voice returned to speak with me? Why does it have to be now? My question is answered when a deputy knocks on my door and then enters, accompanied by a crime scene technician. She is a small, petite woman with a camera hanging loosely from her neck. She smiles sweetly at me as she enters my room. The deputy is one I haven't met before, which is fine. Thankfully, it isn't the sheriff, who would have been a nightmare.
"Hello, Miss Sleighton," the officer greets. "I'm Deputy Tinsley, and this is CSI Technician Doley." I nod hello to them.
Grabbing my phone, I type a quick "He's here" to Zeke and then bring up a blank message and type out, "Hello, my vocal cords were bruised in the altercation, and I can't speak right now. Is it okay if we communicate this way?"
"Yes, that's fine. The doctor already informed us of your injuries. We just needed to take pictures of the bruising around your neck today for our investigation. Would that be okay?" He talks in a soft tone, as if I am a wounded animal. It is thoughtful, but really laughable. He must think I will be skittish after that ordeal; in a way, I am, but I know Zeke and Donovan are on their way to the room. It gives me a sense of security. The officer stands close to the door as if guarding it. In his own way, he must be trying to make me feel secure in their presence.
CSI Doley carefully approaches me, explaining each step, including how to position my head for the photos. As she tilts my head to the left, Donovan and Zeke enter the room. The deputy explains the reason for their visit. Zeke shakes the deputy's hand and leans against the wall opposite my bed, watching Doley and me closely. Donovan exits back into the hall after she starts asking me to remove my hospital gown for a clearer shot. Meanwhile, Zeke remains firm about not leaving, showing increased protectiveness due to this situation.
I am not sure what kind of danger he is worried about—maybe he thinks she might hurt me—but Doley is very gentle and friendly in her instructions. Deputy Tinsley asks if I am okay with Zeke being there, and I nod. Then Tinsley turns toward my door, giving us his back to ensure I have some privacy. I appreciate this; it shows that some decent people still work in law enforcement in our town. After Deputy Tinsley and Doley leave, my uncle and Zeke return to the room.
"You okay?" Donovan asks. I am starting to dislike that question. It is all anyone ever asks, and I can only nod in response. I can't find the right words to explain how I feel; even if I do, they won't come out easily, and typing on my phone takes too long. What I really want to say is no, I'm not okay. Some psycho is after me, my boyfriend, and my family. How can I be mentally okay in that situation?
I nod my head yes and type out to him, "Uncle Donovan, there's something I need to tell you about." He looks at the screen and raises an eyebrow at me, questioning what it could be.
"Okay, what is it?" he asks. Zeke once again sits in the chair next to my bed while I straighten up and sit with my legs crossed. After getting comfortable, I focus my gaze back on both men, and they stare at me, waiting for me to type again.
"While unconscious, I saw the night Samuel and Betty vanished," I type. Hesitantly, I turn my phone back to him, then move it to Zeke. Donovan appears confused, but Zeke is intrigued by what I typed.
"How? What do you mean?" he asks rapidly. Zeke reaches out and takes my hand, as he always does when I'm anxious. His touch consistently gives me strength.
I quickly type and show him the message: "When the vision began, I was lying on the ground behind the house. You hurried out the back door with two kids, telling them to run into the woods and hide until a family member came to find them. Betty said she was scared, and you told her and the other child to be brave. After they ran into the trees, you went back into the house to rescue my mom, I think."
Donovan looks shocked by my words because there is no way I should know any details about that night. When we talked about it, he was always vague with his answers or explanations. In my mind, he had gotten Mom out first, then gone back for the youngest siblings, but I was wrong.
"H-h-how do you know what I said to them?" he asks in utter bewilderment.
"I witnessed everything and even tracked them into the woods. Once my laptop arrives, I'll document everything I saw or heard. A key revelation is that Ted was the one who pursued them through the woods, forcing them to run for their lives that night," I explain.
"I don't know what to think or say right now," he says quietly. I barely hear him; he is obviously overwhelmed with the little bit of information I have given him. "I know you mentioned weird things happening at the house and dreams that told you when danger was real, but this seems surreal." Just as I am about to start typing again, Sharon and Andy enter, carrying pizza boxes and two-liter bottles of soda, but something feels off about them. Sharon seems to be thinking about something serious. Neither one makes eye contact with any of us. What in the world is going on now?