Free Evolve Two: Vampire Stories of the Future Undead by Unknown Page B

to see what damage she had done to herself.
    “I’m all right,” she said. “Really. I just slipped.” Everything seemed to be in working order, except for one broken toe. It hurt like a bitch.
    “Are you sure?” the janitor asked. He still didn’t look convinced, so she pulled herself to her feet and smiled, even though the pain was horrendous.
    “Absolutely! Sorry if I frightened you.”
    She walked down the stairs until she heard the janitor leave the stairwell, then groaned and hobbled back to her room, feeling like an idiot. Flying was definitely out.
    Her head started to ache as she climbed into bed and attempted to contact Gina. She didn’t feel the usual warm click, and frowned. “What the hell?”
    Tried again. Nothing. She felt the first flicker of panic, but steadied herself and tried again. Still nothing. She touched the scar and felt a spot of pain where she’d obviously hit her head.
    “Oh my god!” she whispered. Almost without thinking, she grabbed the emergency button clipped to her bed and pressed it over and over again, as though it could do some good. She’d disconnected herself from the V-Link! She was all alone.
    The nurses added sedatives to the chemical stew they pumped into Roslyn’s body and for days she couldn’t pull it together enough to even get out of bed. The truth was, she didn’t know if she wanted to. She couldn’t hear a whisper from the Link.
    “I’ve lost everything,” she muttered.
    “What was that, dearie?” A nurse stood on the other side of the room. Roslyn hadn’t realized she was there.
    “I think I’m going to die,” she whispered.
    “Oh no, dear,” the nurse said. “Just three more days and you’ll be right as rain.”
    “Three more—”
    “Your procedure, remember? We had to wait for the swelling in your brain to ease.”
    Roslyn closed her eyes and swallowed. Her throat hurt. How long had it been since she’d fed? Then she frowned. “Swelling?”
    “Why yes. You took a tumble. Hit your head. We had to put off your procedure until the swelling eased.” She walked to Roslyn. “Can’t you remember?”
    Actually, she couldn’t, but she was not letting the nurse know that. “The drugs are muddling my head,” she replied, using the young girl cadence in her voice that seemed to calm all meat. “But I remember now.”
    “Just rest,” the nurse said. “Soon, you’ll be back with the rest of us. Dr. Erickson is a miracle worker.”
    “Yes, I’m sure he is.” Roslyn muttered, trying to keep the smile on her face until the nurse finally left the room.
    As soon as the door clicked shut, she kicked off the blankets and got out of bed. She was weak, but not debilitated. And her foot didn’t hurt anymore. Healed. Maybe her head had healed too.
    She closed her eyes and focused on connecting. She tried not to think how much she needed it, just cleared her head and waited for the warmth. She thought she felt something, but couldn’t be sure; her head was still fuzzy from the drugs.
    Anybody there?
    Is that really you? The thoughts winding into her head were so weak she barely believed they were real. But they had to be.
    Yes, it’s me.
    A flood hit her. Thoughts, from all over the country. All of them saying, Thank god you’re back! We can’t lose any more!
    Gina? Roslyn hadn’t felt her thoughts in the cacophony. You there?
    The sudden silence made her panic. Had she been cut off again? One small taste, then back to black?
    Are you still there? she thought-screamed. Please be there!
    Finally, a Yes, but it sounded like Mandie Lee from Spokane.
    Where’s Gina? More roaring silence, and she thought-yelled, What the hell is going on?
    She’s dead, Roslyn.
    Roslyn felt as though she’d been caught between two breaths, felt the moment stretch and become impossibly long.
    She can’t be dead, she finally thought . She’s just hiding again. Spying on the doctors.
    No.
    Maybe her implant was removed.
    No! Stronger this time, but still Roslyn