Chapter 161

Chapter 161 Back to Anemond

BECKY

My departure came faster than I was ready for. The night before was sleepless, as I couldn’t relax after everything that had happened between Dic kson, Silas, and

me.

Jasper had told me yesterday that the car arranged for me would be waiting outside of the clinic around 6:00 AM. I stretched my arms up above my head and yawned, then I checked the clock hanging on the office wall. It was around 5:30.

I had already packed up my belongings, except for a change of clothes. I would. sl*p into them before I left so I would feel refreshed for the long drive ahead.

For now, I decided that I would do one last round and see how the patients. were doing. It had been a quiet night in the clinic, but that didn’t mean much.

I left the office and walked around quietly. Most of the patients were still fast asleep in their beds and cots, but when I began to walk down the corridor off of the main clinic area, I spotted Angela and Marina. Marina was tucked in, fast asleep, but her mother was awake.

“Becky,” Angela greeted me with a small smile as I approached. “How did you sleep, honey?”

“Not as well as I’d hoped,” I admitted, and then I smiled back. “But I have plenty of time to rest in the car so it’ll be alright. How are you feeling this morning?”

“A little sore,” she replied and she gently rubbed one of the dark marks on her pale n*eck. “The marks hurt more and more these days.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I remarked, and then I held up my medical kit. “Let me take your vitals before I go.”

I went ahead and took her temperature and made some notes on her chart.

2/5

Once I was finished, Angela held my hand in hers and I was surprised at how warm it was. Her high b*dy temperature was likely related to the disease and it sent a wave of sadness through me.

“Thank you for helping us, Healer Becky,” she said earnestly. “May the Moont Goddess bless you on your life’s journey.”

When she squeezed my hand, I squeezed it back. “You as well, Angela.”

The woman nodded and then laid back on her cot and closed her eyes. I lingered there and once her eyelids started fluttering, I made my way back down toward the office. I took a moment to double-check that I had all of my belongings with me, and once I was sure everything was in its proper place, I picked up my bags and carried them out the front door.

The early-morning air was chillier than I anticipated and I shivered a bit in surprise. The car hadn’t arrived yet, but there, standing near the tree where I had discovered Silas last night, was Dic kson. His arms were crossed against his chest and his eyes were fixed on the ground.

I wasn’t sure how long he’d been there, but I supposed he had arrived early. He seemed lost in his thoughts but when I walked down the path and approached him, he finally lifted his gaze.

“Becky,” he said, and his cheeks flushed a little. “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” I replied politely but shortly. I wanted to say more but on the off chance that things were still strange between us, I kept quiet.

I had expected there to be awkwardness between us considering what Dic kson had said to me last night, but as he smiled at me, I could hardly sense anything off.

“I’ll take that,” Dic kson said, and he gestured to my backpack. “The car should be here in a minute or so.”

I nodded and handed my pack to him. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” he replied.

2/5

We stood there in silence until a long black car pulled up to the clinic. Once it came to a halt, Dic kson picked up my belongings and began to load them into the trunk. Just as he’d finished, Jasper arrived at the clinic and greeted us.

“Good morning Becky,” Jasper greeted me and then turned to Dic kson. “Dic kson, I didn’t think you’d be here so early. I wasn’t expecting you until the

afternoon”

His demeanor seemed bright despite the early hour, and I had the strong sense that it was because of Marley. My return to Anemond meant that she would be returning to Wild Crawler, and from what I’d gathered about the two of them, they bore strong feelings toward one another.

Dic kson smiled and pushed his dark gla*ses up the bridge of his freckled nose.

“I couldn’t fall asleep last night, so I decided to come to work early today,” he explained nonchalantly.

“I see,” Jasper noted, and then he glanced between us. “Why couldn’t your sleep? Was there a development in the research?”

Dic kson shook his head and gave an apologetic smile. “No, unfortunately not.”

I swallowed silently and stared beyond them. I had a strong theory as to why the healer couldn’t fall asleep, but I couldn’t say so, not to Jasper. After a moment, I glanced at Dic kson. There was a strange feeling hanging over my heart when looking at him, an unexplainable unease.”

“Well, if that’s everything, Becky, you should get going,” Jasper said and he glanced at his watch. “You have a long drive ahead of you.”

I nodded and then smiled at them. “Thank you both for everything. I’m going to miss you.”

“We’ll miss you too,” Jasper replied.

“We sure will,” Dic kson chimed in quietly.

3/5

comfier than the one I’d come to Wild Crawler in and I relished the cus hioned seats.

I had planned to rest during the drive, but again, I couldn’t fall asleep. Perhaps I was just too excited to return to Anemond to test out the water sample and get closer to the truth of this all, but I couldn’t pretend like that was the only thing on my mind.

As my head swam with the possibilities, I tried my best to cast aside all thoughts of Silas and Dic kson. They had given me a lot to consider, but I couldn’t worry about that now.

So, I simply stared out the window and watched as the vastness of looming forest gave way to sprawling cities and enormous buildings.

The hours went quickly until we finally arrived back in Anemond. As the car drove onto the street where Keller’s was located, the cloud in my heart diminished. I took a breath, and as we pulled up to the clinic, Marley and Cas sandra stepped out of the building and waved excitedly.

When I got out of the car, Marley rushed over and gave me a huge hug.

“Welcome back, Becky,” she greeted me warmly. “I missed you!”

I smiled and hugged her back. “I missed you too. But I’m sure there’s someone you miss more than me… someone back in Wild Crawler?”

4/5