Branded (The Branded Series) by K.L. Hawker

talked to
her mother this morning,” Anna answered. “She’s doing better, but hasn’t said
anything since . . . the accident. Her mom heard her sleep talking last night
though. The doctor said it’s normal for someone to be mute after experiencing
something traumatic like this.” Anna looked out the window when her voice
started to quiver. I reached across and held her fidgeting hand. We continued
our journey in silence.
     
    “Anna,” Ms. Stevens called down
the hall when we got off the elevator. Lexie’s mother was pacing the hall
outside of Lexie’s room.
    Anna ran and
greeted her with a hug and they both consoled each other. Ms. Stevens looked up
at the rest of us and tried to smile as she composed herself.
    I pursed my
lips and smiled slightly, nodding. “How is she?”
    Ms. Stevens
dried her eyes with her worn-out tissue before answering. “She’s awake. Doctor
said her shoulder will be just fine. Maybe you can talk to her. She won’t talk
to me. She only stares out the window. And whenever anyone talks around her,
she covers her ears and just cries silently.” Ms. Stevens fought back more
tears. “She doesn’t want anyone talking to her.”
    Anna went
straight into the room without another word, followed by Noah. I hesitated. What
if she looked at me and said her first words: “You failed me.”? That’s
ridiculous , I thought. As far as she knows, I’m normal. No normal person
could’ve done anything to help her.
    “Are you okay,
Jake?” Rachel asked as she reached out to touch my arm, making me realize that
I was pacing the floor and that we were now alone.
    “Where’s
Lexie’s mom?”
    “In the room.”
Rachel took my hand. “It’s not too late you know.”
    “For what?” I 
asked. “You heard Ms. Stevens. She’s going to be fine. She doesn’t need a
healer anymore.”
    “But she
does,” Rachel said. “Her body may be healing on its own, but her mind still
needs help.”
    I looked at
her. Go on?
    “You helped
heal that kid’s mind at the ski lodge. You can do it, Jake. I know you can.”
    “How can you
be so sure?” I pulled away from her grasp. “I can’t fail again.”
    “I saw it,”
Rachel said, looking down at the floor. “I didn’t want to have to tell you
that. But I had a vision you healed her mind. I know you can do it. Come on.”
Rachel pulled me into the room where everything felt cold and barren.
    “Anything?” I
asked Anna hopefully.
    Anna was
sitting next to Lexie, holding her hand as Lexie stared out the window. Noah
was standing at the foot of the bed with his hands in his pockets, looking
uncomfortable.
    “Nothing,”
Anna answered. Lexie rolled over and pulled the pillow to her ear.
    I backed up to
the door and motioned for Ms. Stevens to follow. Then I whispered, “When she
was sleep talking, what did she say?”
    Ms. Stevens
answered, “She screamed and then covered her ears and said, ‘My ears! My ears!’
But the doctors have checked her hearing and it’s fine,” Ms. Stevens said.
    “I’m sure
she’ll start talking soon. This is probably a normal part of the healing process,”
I said, sounding way beyond my years.
    “I know, Jake.
I know. Thank you.”
    When we
returned to Lexie’s side, Rachel was suggesting to Anna that she take Ms. Stevens
downstairs for something to eat. Anna stroked a piece of Lexie’s hair from her
forehead and then carefully let go of her hand. Lexie looked at Anna for a
split second, then returned her gaze to the window.
    “I’ll be right
back,” Anna whispered to her.
    Once they
left, Rachel motioned for me to take a position up by Lexie’s head. Noah gave
me a questioning look, and I shrugged in response. I placed my hands over
Lexie’s ears and began thinking healing thoughts.
    “What are you
doing?” Noah asked quietly, but with every syllable he spoke, loud, thundering
gunfire split the air. I threw my hands up and jumped back, crashing into a machine.
    “What the
hell, Jake?” Noah said,