Shining among Darkness

Chapter 49. Let them go

Shining among Darkness

By
WingzemonX

Chapter 49.
Let them go

Once the police let them go, Matilda, Cody, and Cole inevitably ran into each other again at the hospital entrance, even though their last conversation had practically been a goodbye. The air between them had become particularly awkward. Furthermore, the exhaustion was more than noticeable on their faces and postures. The only thing Matilda wanted in those moments was to get to her hotel, bathe as best as possible that her wound would allow, and sleep... also as best as that horrible wound would allow.

But before all that, she would have to prepare everything for her departure to Arcadia, to rest for a few days at her mother's house until her health improved. With her arm in this state, it was not advisable to fly, so her most viable option would be a train, which would take perhaps more than a full day to arrive in Los Angeles.

And about her rental car, another complication stood in the way of the psychiatrist's immediate wishes. Due to all the medications they had given her, including the anesthetic that had put her to sleep, and additionally her immobilized right arm, it was also not recommended that she drive, although the distance between that point and her hotel was not so long. However, Cole offered to do it for her since they would be going to the same place anyway. Matilda accepted in a somewhat cold way.

"I'll be staying in Salem, too," Cody pointed out, taking his two companions by surprise.

"Are you sure?" Matilda questioned uncertainty. "What about your...?"

"There's no way I can sleep without having nightmares tonight," he said with some regret. Then he felt his jacket, specifically the pocket inside it, making it sound like a rattle. "I'll have to use my pills. Besides, I'm too exhausted to go all the way to Seattle."

Matilda and Cole said nothing to him. They hoped that he really knew what he was doing.

The drive to Salem was really quiet. Cole had his sight fixed on the road, Matilda was staring thoughtfully out the passenger window, and Cody was fighting not to fall asleep in the backseat; the last thing they wanted was for one of the professor's vivid illusions to appear in front of them right there in the middle of the road. Neither said much, no more than a few random comments, most coming from Cole and none from the Californian woman beside him.

Once they reached the hotel and Cole parked the car in the parking lot, Matilda bolted inside, only offering a terse good night without looking at them. She entered the reception area before anyone stopped or spoke to her, and they quickly lost sight of her. Cole got out soon after, slamming the door with some force as a sign of frustration.

"Remember, it's rented," Cody muttered in a muffled voice, getting down as well. "At least you didn't kick it like that chair."

"I need a drink," the policeman murmured, running his hand over his face.

"I believe you. But I have to see if I can get a room, so..."

Cole waved a hand in the air, signaling him to go confidently. Cody took him at his word and entered the hotel through the same door Matilda had gone through. And once again, Cole was left alone.

He stood to one side of the vehicle for a while, thinking of what to do. Would he go for that drink by himself? Would he take that cigarette he hadn't been able to, or perhaps wanted to, smoke all night? Or would he follow the example of his friends and go straight to sleep? The last option didn't appeal to him, but the first two might.

He took out his pack, took a cigarette between his lips, lit it without hesitation, and began to smoke it calmly, trying to calm down... if that was even possible. After all, nothing in all that situation was worthy of inspiring calm.