1 A Hollow Chest

Many things filtered into my consciousness.

Warmth, it felt so foreign. Smooth sheets, a luxurious feeling. Beeping. Continuous beeping. And a dull ache in my chest; probably an old injury acting up.

My chest felt heavy though, as did my eyelids.

After a while of listening to the beeping and seeing the light filter through from under my eyelids I gathered enough strength to open them.

My head was laying flat on a stiff pillow as I stared up at a fibreglass panel ceiling. I looked down and saw the familiar sight of tubes in my arm.

Another of El-kor's plots; trying to make me reveal the name of Thresh's son. He knew that I would never tell him. He simply enjoyed my misery.

I looked to my left and saw my mom sitting on a chair next to me, her fingers scrolling through Facebook no doubt on her iPad. Glancing behind her I saw my siblings, Bradley and Ulyssa sitting and playing checkers on low seats at a coffee table.

Turning my head slowly I looked out of the glass wall to my right and saw my dad and older sister, Judith, talking to a doctor. They were both nodding as though the conversation was important. They both nodded a final time and then turned and walked into the room.

"Mommy, she's awake." Judith exclaimed.

The attention in the room then turned to me. I merely ignored them, catching only wisps of their conversation. It was all meaningless and only served one purpose. To get me to reveal that name. A name I hid in the recesses of my mind, never to see the light of day again.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart." My mom said, stroking my left hand, "It'll be alright."

They had said the Raph was dead. But that was impossible. 'It was just El-kor.' I told myself, 'He's trying to get into your head. Don't let him.'

After a week of this tedious torture Charm and Thresh visited. With their son. My heart stopped. In all of the hallucinations that El-kor had shown, he had never shown the actual baby.

My mouth parted open and my eyes went wide.

"Here we are Griffin, say hi to Aunt Brooke." Charm said, her hand holding her child's hand, waving it for him.

I gasped for breath, "How?" It felt like all of the air was being sucked from my lungs. 'He knew. Or… this was real. But where was Raph?' My heart began to thud and made the incessant beeping increase.

"Brooke?" Charm ventured, her hand reaching out to touch mine, "What is wrong?"

I continued gasping like a ridiculous fish out of water, "How do you know his name?" I asked in desperation, my eyes glancing between Thresh and Charm.

"What? What do you mean?" Her green eyes glanced nervously at her mate, "I named him."

"No…" I whispered. It was true. My heart wrenched. It was true, "This is real?" I asked Thresh, my voice a whispering screech. His grey eyes looked tormented. He nodded slowly.

I could feel the hyperventilating beginning, "This is true. This is true…" I continued rambling in disbelief. My right shoulder began to sting in pain and my hand flew to it. I began to moan in pain and soon a nurse appeared and Thresh told her what had happened.

I knew what they would do next.

Sedate me.

I squirmed in the hospital bed and did my best to crawl away but my limbs were practically useless. My body then began to shut down ending with my eyes and mind.

~~~~~~~~~

Days passed, each one filled with physical therapy and actual therapy. I complied with the physical therapy; I wanted to be able to walk at least. But actual therapy, no. I don't want to think about it.

The doctors said that there was an anomaly where my body was not healing and it was in fact reopening old wounds and breaking old bones.

I recognized it as Elven magic.

The ache in my heart continued always and only increased when the funeral was held.

It had been a month since my rescue. Since his death.

Thomas said the eulogy and I would've cried if I could've. I couldn't. My eyes screamed to cry but my tear ducts refused to release the liquid. That liquid that I knew would help to heal my mind in some way. That's what they said right? Let it out, cry if you need to.

After another month of living in the hospital they sent me back to my house. My birthday had passed, but it hardly mattered. I was only twenty-one years old.

I climbed into the car with the help of my mom. Thresh had allowed her to come, he'd been reluctant but he could see that I needed her.

Driving through the front gates of the pack I inhaled deeply, then my throat reacted with scorching pain. These gates marked the beginning of so many things.

My mom followed Thomas to where the three mansions resided; Thresh's was the biggest as he was the Alpha, next was me and Raph's… last was Thomas's.

My mom supported me as I climbed the stairs, her hand holding mine as her other was on my back. I gritted my teeth in pain and determination. I couldn't even climb stairs for crying out loud.

I was pathetic.

Duma would visit and was forced to wear sunglasses constantly to hide his eyes. It was in the middle of November so my mom found it strange.

My mom would talk all the time; about her book, something that happened at the store, on the road, at home.

I simply gathered strength by walking around our house. Soon I was able to stand straight, although that ability wavered from time-to-time. I could finally breathe with some regularity, my ribs would break at random times so it wasn't always easy.

After a month of my mom seeing me recover somewhat, she kissed me and hugged me, carefully, goodbye.

I was sad to see her go. She brought some warmth and familiarity to my now cold life. But she couldn't stay forever. She promised to visit though, and I hoped that she would.

Once she had left it was time for the funeral. The Pack's funeral.

Thomas and Duma helped me out of the car and onto the cemetery's snow covered grounds.

I spotted Nathan by his brother's grave and the hollowness in my chest increased.

With Duma's help I hobbled to the hidden place in the forest. I'd been here only once and I'd hoped never to be here again.

A stage built of rough cedar stood at the far end of the clearing. The clearing was covered with trampled snow. There was a breeze that rushed through the clearing and I shivered. Duma gave me his jacket and helped me to walk up the stairs.

I stood in the back while Thresh spoke of what a powerful and honourable Beta Raph had been. How he sacrificed himself for the Pack and for victory against the now extinct race of Elves.