Subj: A Return to the Shadows part 29
Date: 6/17/01 12:14:27 AM Central Daylight Time
From: KimD
Julia entered the Collinsport Hospital and walked past the busy, but friendly
faces of the staff. She walked down the long corridors and into Carolyn's room.
It had been several days ago that Barnabas had left her on the grounds of Collinwood,
close to death. Willie had found her. It had only been last night that Julia
had administered a cure that had seemed to be working. Elizabeth and Roger were
already there, and Carolyn was awake. She was sitting up in bed, turned toward
Elizabeth and Roger talking. She turned as Julia entered the room and gave a
slight smile. She looked almost as if nothing had happened to her at all. "Good
morning," Julia said to Liz and Roger.
"Julia," Liz said smiling, "You've done wonderfully."
"We'll see," Julia said feeling unused to receiving praise. "I'll have to run
a few tests to find out how much improved she is." Roger and Elizabeth took
the cue and left the room. "Carolyn, how much do you remember of what happened
to you?"
"I remember everything," Carolyn said. She looked at Julia Curiously as if she
was asking what Julia intended to do about Carolyn's knowledge. For a moment
there was silence. The sun went behind a cloud, casting the room in shadows.
"What is it that you remember?" Julia said in her most professional in-control
voice.
"I remember going to the old house the morning of the costume party. Mother
wanted me to ask if Barnabas was coming to the party. I found him sitting in
a chair. He looked so old. Then he came after me with those teeth." There was
a long silence in the room.
"Are you sure that's what happened?"
"Yes," she said simply.
"You've been in the hospital for a while. Perhaps it was just a dream." It was
the first excuse that came to mind. Julia knew it was a terrible lie. She hoped
that having just woke up that morning, Carolyn would be disoriented enough to
believe it.
"I know what happened to me Julia. Why are you still trying to protect him after
all he's done to you? He wanted to kill you, you know."
Julia considered Carolyn's words and knew she was right. She wasn't sure why
she cared about Barnabas. She should let him take care of his own problems.
"Have you told anyone what happened?"
"No, so you needn't worry about mother or Roger. I haven't decided what I'm
going to do yet." Julia reached into her medical bag and retrieved a syringe.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going to take a sample of your blood, to see how far you've progressed."
She then proceeded to do so. "I'll be back again a little latter." Julia then
left the room to test the sample.
Carolyn considered what she could do now. He had taken part of her life, used
her, and then left her for dead. She knew he would have moved on to someone
else by now, but she couldn't hope that he would just leave her alone. She wouldn't
let anyone else know that she remembered anything. She would go to him. She
could prove valuable to him, until the right time came. Then she could decide
what was best to do.
She heard the door opening and smiled sweetly as her mother and Uncle Roger
entered the room. "What do you remember?" her mother asked as she leaned over
her bed.
"I'm afraid that I really don't remember that much. It all seems fuzzy and garbled
now."
"That's alright dear, I'm sure it will all come back in time. You just need
to rest now." Her mother smiled serenely and sat back in the hospital chair.