Chapter 55: Recovery

Ash felt like she'd been crushed under a ton of weight. A persistent beep she couldn't place kept going off next to her bed. Was that her alarm clock? Her mouth tasted of dried sandpaper. Yet, a hint of something metallic lay underneath the dryness. She opened her eyes and cringed at hospital lights humming above her.

"What the hell?" Her voice was hoarse and scratchy. "Wher - " The demon. Ned! Was it too late to save him? She rose, but a wave of nausea sent her back to the bed.

"Stop flailing. You aren't going anywhere until you've healed." Her Grams pushed down on her shoulders.

"How long have I been here?" The last thing she remembered was trying to exorcise the demon who had taken over her friend. Had the demon in Ned gotten away or killed more people?