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  The Return

  Alternate Dimensions | Book 5

  Blake B. Rivers

  Contents

  The Return

  Extras

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  The Return

  Chapter One: House so Far from Home

  I stared, wide eyed at the ceiling in a stupor. My mind wanted to spin itself like a top, but I was slowed to a painstaking sort of trudge that made rational thought impossible. Had I told them about my drug intolerance? I didn’t know; I couldn’t remember. I thought it was in my charts, but did they even know who I was? How did I even get here?

  The last thing I remembered was dying. Was this hell? Being drugged out of my mind without the ability to think seemed pretty hellish. I hated being so powerless. So disconnected. It was gross.

  The ceiling was interrupted by a kind face. The lips were moving, which meant they were probably saying something, but nothing made sense to me. It was just a series of disjointed notes that blended into each other like a drunken melody.

  Drunken melody, hah. That was funny considering that I was medically drunk right now.

  Wait, was that funny, or tragic? I couldn’t decide. But it was probably one of them.

  The kind face went away, but not before fiddling with one of the many bags above my head. I paid it no heed and continued to stare at the tiled ceiling.

  Everything seemed so grungy here. Where was the slick polish, the chrome? Without knowing it, I had fallen in love with the sci-fi aesthetic of Jyra’s dimension. And maybe a couple of the aliens within it.

  Okay, that was a pretty cheesy transition, even by my standards.

  Hey, that had been pretty self-depreciating. I was terrible at that kind of stuff when I was high on pain meds. Was… was my mind clearing? Why would it…

  I looked to my IV bag with curiosity. I could almost read the label, which meant I definitely was coming out of my fugue.

  I tried sitting up, but the accompanying swirl from my head made me settle back down. Okay, maybe I wasn’t that coherent. But it was a step, which made me feel much better about this whole situation. I needed to figure out how I got to earth and how to get the hell off it, and I wasn’t going to be doing that from a hospital bed.

  And so I waited. And waited. And waited, and waited, and waited. The more alert I became, the more I was aware of how bored I was. My complete aversion to hospitals was rearing its head again, which made every moment that much more excruciating.

  Finally, I heard the door creak open and the same face as before came in. Along with the rest of the nurse.

  She seemed nice enough, with her dark hair pulled into a ponytail. She didn’t wear much makeup, but her bright neon nails stood out against her almost midnight skin. “Hello there,” she chorused softly, flashing me a smile with perfectly white teeth between her full lips. “How are we feeling?”

  “Drugged.” I answered tersely.

  “Yes, apologies for that. We didn’t know about your extreme sensitivity to opioids and other depressants until just a few hours ago. I cut them out of your bag and put the tiniest bit of something to combat all those drugs that were avalanching you. Might I say, for your size, you really are a lightweight.”

  “That’s me, always a conundrum.” I countered somewhat lazily. My mind was almost entirely back, but that didn’t mean that my body wanted to listen to it. It felt like there was a three second delay on every order my brain sent out. “Do you guys have my medical file now, then?”

  “Yes, thankfully.” She crossed over to my bed. “When you came in, you had no ID on you and the EMTs said no one at the scene knew you. You don’t have any fingerprints in the system.”

  “Really?” I asked.

  “You say that like it’s weird.”

  “Because it is. I was a ward of the state for a short time. My fingerprints should bring up a whole, messy file.”

  She paused, looking at the file in her hands again. “Huh. Interesting.”

  “So if you couldn’t find me that way, how do you know who I am now? Obviously someone had a eureka moment.”

  “That actually came from some tests we ran on your after your spontaneous awakening from your coma. We realized you had a plate in your head and we were able to get the serial off of it. From that it was a quick call to the manufacturer and there you have it.” The smile on her face dimmed a little. “You’ve certainly been through a lot. Can you tell me your name?”

  “Andi.” I answered flatly. I knew they had to ask, to make sure I really was who they thought I was.

  “Is that short for something?”

  Oh right. “Verdandi.”

  “Very good! Parents a fan of Norse Mythology?”

  “Dad was, apparently. The name was his idea.”

  “I see. It’s a lovely name! Now, Miss Andi, do you know how you ended up here?”

  I gave her a look. “Ma’am, I don’t even know what day it is or why you guys have me so hooked up to stuff when I seem to be in kinda okay condition.”

  “I understand it must be quite confusing.”

  “Does that understanding come with an explanation for me? Because I’m very far from doing anything remotely close to understanding.”

  “The Doctor will be in just shortly to talk to you. I’m just here to make sure you’re coherent and comfortable.”

  “Well get ‘em in here. I’m not a big fan of suspense.”

  “I’ll make sure she knows that you’re eager to see her as soon as possible.”

  “Thanks. But…” I tried to collect my thoughts that were threatening to scatter. “You can tell me how I was found, right? That’s not some sort of diagnosis, HIPAA whatever, right?”

  “You would normally be right, however our Doctor has expressed in your treatment that she wants to be present for this explanation just in case it causes you any undue stress.”

  “That bad, huh?”

  “Not at all! She’s just very cautious when it comes to anything that might retard the healing process. You’re going to love her, really.”

  “If you say so,” I said with a shrug. Or at least I tried to shrug. I’m not sure how it really came out. “But time is definitely of the essence, so it’d be great if we didn’t make this into a ‘hurry up and wait’ situation.”

  She gave me a little nod. “I will make sure she knows you’re bright eyed and ready to talk. Anything else before I go?”

  “Am I allowed to eat or drink yet?”

  “No, sorry.”

  I gave another shrug, and this time I was sure I actually made the gesture. “I figured. Not my first rodeo.”

  Her smiled faltered just the tiniest bit again. “Yes, I saw that in your medical history. You know where the call button is if you need anything!”

  And with that she was out, leaving me alone in my room.

  Speaking of which, I just noticed that I didn’t have a roommate. How fancy. Every other time
I had been in a hospital, I had never had a private room. What had I done to deserve such an upgrade? Did I even have insurance still? It was hard to say, because I had no idea where I was in terms of day, month or year. I wasn’t even guaranteed to be in the same city I lived in.

  I was expecting to have to wait for several hours, because that’s how life worked in the hospital. But I was pleasantly surprised when it only took about half an hour for a woman in a white coat and green scrubs to come in.

  “Verdandi,” She said, nodding her head to me. “I’m Doctor Ocampo. I’ve been handling your treatment since your arrival here. Nurse Paul tells me that you’re awake and seem to be ready to ask some questions.”

  “That’s a pretty accurate assessment of the situation. A little fuzzy around the edges, but still here.”

  “Perfect. First, do you mind if I do some simple cognitive tests?”

  “I figured you would have to.”

  She smiled but it didn’t quite reach the edges of her mouth. “Great. First off, your full name?”

  “Verdandi Mathers.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-two.”

  “What month is it?”

  “No idea.”

  “Alright, year?”

  “Somewhere in the two thousands I hoped. And the teenage years of it at that.”

  “Thank you. Follow the light for me, please.”

  She produced one of those stereotypical pen-lights from her pocket and moved it one way then another. I knew enough not to move my head and to chase after it with my gaze. Once that was done, she put her stethoscope in her ears and pressed to my front. “Breathe in.” I did. “Breathe out.” I did.

  “So, what’s the verdict?” I asked, as she stepped away once more, writing things down on my chart.

  “Everything is remarkable.” She flashed me a quick smile that looked much more genuine. “Your recovery is somewhat inexplicable.”

  “I was beginning to get that feeling. Is this the part where you tell me how I got here and what I have inexplicably recovered from?”

  “Yes. Let me just call a nurse in.”

  “Geeze, with all these precautions you’re taking, it makes me a bit paranoid.”

  “Don’t be. This is just my standard procedure.”

  “Whatever you say, Doc. It’s not like I don’t have considerable experience with the normal hospital protocol involving a patient with memory loss?”

  “Coherent enough for sarcasm. That’s fantastic.”

  Her matter of fact observation made me smile, and I waited patiently for another nurse to arrive. It wasn’t Nurse Paul this time, but I supposed there was a whole team on this floor. Granted, I would probably be a lot less patient and willing to roll with things if I wasn’t still coming off my high.

  “Alright, Miss Verdandi-”

  “Andi. Please.”

  “Of course. Miss Andi, you were found in the middle of a construction site with an open wound in your sternum.”

  “Ohhh,” I mused vaguely. “I think I got stabbed.”

  “You think?”

  How did I explain that a giant feline-like alien had been possessed by my temporal enemy and punched through my chest? “I’m… I’m not sure. I don’t think it was a knife. It was something… thicker?”

  She nodded and wrote something else down. “You were pronounced dead on arrival, however, when your body was being transferred to the morgue, your heart restarted.”

  “That’s a little weird, isn’t it? Was someone trying to resuscitate me?”

  She shook her head. “No. And they might not have even known you were alive, had your heart not been exposed and they could physically see it beating.”

  My eyes widened. “My heart was visible?”

  “What was left of it, yes.”

  “What was left of it?”

  “Yes. Some of it seemed to be… missing.”

  I let out a breath and covered my eyes with my arms. “You’ve got to be kidding me. How am I even here?”

  “We’re not entirely sure. Naturally you were unresponsive when you arrived, and you went straight into surgery. You were too unstable for a transplant, so our hope was to get you to a point where you would be eligible to go on the list.”

  “Sounds like that was a thrilling surgery.”

  “It was,” She said with a smile. “I was sure we were going to lose you. You flatlined multiple times, but every time you came back. Unfortunately, once we had you in post op, and then recovery, you never regained consciousness.”

  “That explains why I feel like I just woke up from a long nap.” I uncovered my eyes and looked at her again. “How long have I been here? Unconscious? To me, I was just awake about six hours or so ago.”

  “You’ve been in our care for two weeks and a Jane Doe.”

  “Two weeks?” I repeated. “Two weeks and you guys were treating me without knowing who I was or what my body needs?”

  “Yes. We left discovering your identity to the police. We were more concerned with your treatment. Now, I notice that you’re moving quite fine. Do you not feel any pain at all?”

  “Nope. Not a hair. You guys had me drugged to high heaven. I can’t even feel my face right now, actually.”

  She nodded, her mouth a thin line, and I realized that I was missing something.

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “I do not know what you mean.”

  I studied her again. “You’re holding something back. Something that’s driving you crazy but you’re not sure if you should even bring it up.” Her eyes widened in surprise and she exchanged glances with the nurse. “I’m really good at reading people.” I explained flatly. “Especially Doctors. All those rules narrow the possible paths you can take considerably.”

  There was a long, uncomfortable pause but I just stared at her without blinking. I was still somewhat stoned, so I could drag the awkwardness on forever. The one upside of being blitzed, I supposed.

  “Andi, would you look at your chest, where your wound was?”

  Was? That was a very particular word choice. As quickly as I could, I pulled my hospital gown away from my front. I had expected red, angry skin and a scummy packing of gauze, but there was nothing there.

  My eyes flicked to the Doctor, and then my chest again. Moving one of my boobs aside, all I could see was a small, half-dollar circle of scar tissue just at my rib-line. “That’s not possible.” I said, in thorough disbelief. “When did this happen?”

  “After your rather miraculous awakening and walk to the window.”

  I recalled that moment when I had realized that I had been transported back to my home world. Or at least what I assumed was my home world. There really was no way to tell. “Looking back, that really must have been a hell of a surprise.”

  “Oh, it was.” She answered with a nod. “To be quite frank, what has happened, is impossible. You, are impossible. This entire situation, is impossible.”

  “Careful, you keep on saying that word and it’ll stop sounding like a real word.”

  She gave me a bit of an odd look before recovering. “So, the police will want to speak about you soon about your case. I can hold them off if you’re not ready, but you certainly seem…”

  “Recovered? Normal? Not a zombie or otherwise mentally ill person?”

  “Coherent.” She finished firmly.

  “The sooner I talk to the police, the sooner I can get out of here, right?”

  “I suppose that might aide your discharge, although we cannot keep you here against your will.”

  “Unless you think I’m a danger to myself or others.” I corrected. “So I’d prefer to cooperate and recover the right way.”

  She seemed relieved at that. “That sounds good to me. I’ll have the nurses change out your IV and look into a sponge bath. I will be back by before you go to sleep to check in. Tomorrow, you can expect the officers.”

  I gave her a little salute. “Aye, aye, Captain.”
/>   Then she was gone, taking the nurse with her. I watched them go and settled back into my stiff, adjustable bed.

  Of all the situations I thought I might end up in, this was never an option. I had to find a way back home and to my computer. That’s how I got to Jyra’s world the first time. Maybe it would work again.

  I supposed there was only one way to find out.

  Chapter Two: Interview Nerves

  “Verdandi Mathers?”

  I looked to my door to see an officer step in, then another follow behind them.

  “Andi, please.” I corrected tiredly. I was still coming off of my drug high and had lost all the floaty, listless feelings and was just left with irritability.

  “That’s easier,” The taller one said. He was fairly standard as cops came. Umber skin with his hair completely hidden under his cap. His eyes had flecking of copper in them, which automatically gave him a very serious gaze. His partner was considerably shorter, and somewhat portly. Her hair was also hidden under her hat, but I imagined it was a tight, auburn bun. “I’m Officer Cady, and this is Officer Mazokowski. We just have some questions to ask of you.”

  “I figured this wasn’t a social call.”

  “If at any point you feel uncomfortable, or need to stop, just tell us.” The woman, Mazowhatever said. “There’s no need to rush this all out today.”

  “Thanks. But I think you’re going to find that this conversation is going to be a short one.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Because I don’t remember anything.”

  “Well, let’s try, shall we?”

  I lifted an arm and made a half-hearted gesture. “By all means, officer.”

  It was Cady who was talking again. “You were found in a construction site at six am on a Monday. Do you remember how or when you got there?”

  “Nope.”

  “What’s the last thing you do remember?”

  “Sitting at my computer and playing video games in my apartment.”

  “Your apartment?” The police officer repeated. “And that’s where?”