Precipice (Tribe 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

trash from my blood binge into a Ziploc bag inside my purse, then I rinsed out my mouth with a little water, checked myself in the mirror for any stray blood droplets, and returned to the waiting room.
    Alex sat beside his Dad, talking in hushed tones.  I sat on Alex’s right side, and he took my hand and squeezed it.  Then I saw his eyes drop down. 
    “What’s that?”
    I followed his gaze…right down to my purse.  It sat in my lap, gaping open on one side, with a corner of the Ziploc bag protruding.  I hadn’t zipped my purse up all the way.
    Cursing myself for my carelessness, I stuffed the Ziploc back into my purse and zipped it fast.  “Uh…nothing. I brought a snack, in case we were here for a while.  You know…low blood sugar.”
    “Oh!  That’s right.”  I could see Alex putting it together—I’d told him that the night I had healed him, I’d had to rush off because I got low blood sugar whenever I healed someone.  “I’m sorry, go ahead and eat.  Or maybe we should see if there’s a vending machine—”
    “No, that’s alright.  That’s sort of why I ran off.  I didn’t bring extras, and I didn’t want to eat in front of you.”
    Mr. Baxter looked up.  “Ember, if you’re hungry, Alex could go with you to get something.  The cafeteria would be closed, but you could run out to a fast food place—”
    “Oh, no thank you Mr. Baxter.  I’m alright now.  Besides, I’m not a fan of fast food.  I’m happy to stay right here.  My mom kn ew I’d be gone a while—that’s why she sent me with a snack.”
    “If you’re sure…”
    I could feel his concern, and I think he was a little relieved to have someone to worry about besides his wife.  As the minutes turned to hours, with no word from the surgeons, I did my best to keep their minds off the situation, or to help them think positively.  I knew how important it was to put out positive energy in a situation like that, and how difficult it must be for them.  I wanted to give them some soothing energy, but I’d only brought in one blood bag from the car.  I thought that was enough, since I only healed Mrs. Baxter partially, but the energy could be sneaky—sometimes you gave a lot more than you realized you did.
    We waited for endless hours, with a nurse coming out to update us twice.  The first time she updated us, I could feel her tension and receding fear, and I was pretty sure they’d lost Mrs. Baxter, but had been able to bring her back.  I didn’t tell Alex my suspicions.
    At last she was out of surgery, and in recovery.  She’d be transferred to the ICU soon, but the nurse couldn’t say when she’d be allowed to have visitors. 
    Mr. Baxter wouldn’t leave, and he insisted that Alex and I go home, despite Alex’s protests.  Only when Mr. Baxter promised to call him immediately with any news, did Alex relent. 
    When we got to the car, I unlocked it with my key fob, and he held the door open for me.  I sat in the driver’s seat and he closed the door, walking around to the passenger side.
    Then I saw the insulated backpack.  Sitting right in the seat Alex was heading for, with bags of blood in it. I had left them in the car, knowing the ice packs would keep them cool.  I had assumed I wouldn’t need more than one bag—at least not right away.  If I had needed more, I would have excused myself after drinking the first bag, and run out to the car for the rest.
    I snatched the backpack just as he opened his door, then I hopped out and popped the trunk, stuffing the bag inside and slamming it quick.   I normally would never have left the bag sitting on the seat in plain sight, but I’d been so frazzled when I arrived.  I cursed myself for my carelessness.
    “I could have done that for you,” he said when I climbed back in.
    “No biggie.  It’s just some library books.”
    I started the car and backed out of the parking space, feeling terrible for lying to him.
     

Chapter 5
     
     
    It was