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Vi’s motor bike rumbled beneath her as she sped down the highway toward home. High above, the moon was climbing faster than she could keep up with. Time passed in drags and jumps, sticky tendrils wrapping around Vi, trying to slow her as she weaved around the few cars crawling down the highway.
The speedometer ticked up; any faster and she’d be tempting fate.
Her heart thrummed like hummingbirds’ wings. Her bike—the one she’d worked so hard for—had never seemed as slow as it did today. The two remaining hours separating her from Powder stretched into an eternity.
Leaving had been a mistake, even if only for a few days. If anything happened to Powder, it was on Vi’s head. The idea of her alone in a hospital bed, missing her sister, made Vi’s stomach twist.
When her gas tank dipped below a quarter full, Vi was forced to pull into the first gas station she found. She’d never make it home if she ran out.
As her bike fueled, she pulled out her phone, hitting the most recent number in her call history.
Caitlyn picked up on the first ring, answering before Vi could get a word out, “She’s alright.”
Vi’s world had been knocked off balance by Caitlyn’s last call several hours ago, but now something shifted back into place. “She is? Are you sure?”
“The doctors are keeping an eye on her, but she’s stable. I left you a voice—”
“I didn’t check.” She glanced at her screen long enough to see the notifications for a missed call, a new voicemail, and seven new texts. “Sorry.”
“It’s alright. How are you doing?”
“I’m halfway there. Are you still at the hospital?”
“I am, I’ll be here when you arrive.”
Vi swallowed the emotion rising in her throat. “Can you tell Powder I’ll be there soon?”
“Of course.”
“Have you called—”
“Claggor. Powder didn’t want anyone else to know yet, but he brought a bag of her stuff and will let Mylo and Ekko know in the morning. Everything is taken care of.”
The gas ticked off. “Thanks, I owe you.”
“You do not. Just please get here safely, Violet.”
Vi’s grip on her phone tightened, a cold fist clenching around her heart. If anything happened to her, what would it do to them? “I will, I promise.”
“Thank you. If you let me know when you get here, I’ll meet you at the door, alright?”
“Okay.” Vi sat on her bike, phone still pressed to her ear, helmet dangling from her other hand. The motorcycle was off, but she was shaking, vibrating out of her skin. “Cait?”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
“I know,” Caitlyn’s voice came out soft as spun sugar. “I love you too. Drive safe.”
It was nearing four am when Vi finally reached the hospital, the cool early-morning air doing little to stop sweat from breaking out along the back of her neck as she sprinted for the entrance.
At the first glimpse of blue hair and long legs, Vi was reaching for Caitlyn with shaking hands.
Caitlyn caught her, holding Vi tight to her chest. “It’s alright, everyone’s alright. Just breathe.”
“Powder’s okay?”
“She is, she’s sleeping now.”
Vi nodded, but clung to Caitlyn for a few more seconds before letting go.
In the elevator, Vi leaned against the wall, trying to force some of the tension from her muscles.
She reached for Caitlyn’s hand and, seeing what she was wearing, almost smiled. “Nice pajamas, cupcake.”
Caitlyn glanced down at herself. Her hoodie, stolen from Vi, was too big on her thin frame. Below it, she wore soft pajama pants adorned with cartoon dogs. She pinched the sleeve of Vi’s leather jacket. “Jealous your clothes aren’t as comfortable?”
She was, actually. She could have used a little additional comfort. Vi leaned her head on to Caitlyn’s shoulder. “Everything you’ve done tonight—”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“Who said I was going to?” Vi smirked, but it felt wrong. “You didn’t have to do any of this.”
The elevator doors slid open as they reached their floor. “I’m here because I want to be, not because I have to.”
“She’s not even very nice to you.”
Caitlyn squeezed her hand, leading her past the waiting room and down a quiet hallway. “She’s your sister, and I’m honored she reached out to me for help.”
Because Vi hadn’t been there.
Noting her expression, Caitlyn added, “This wasn’t your fault.”
“I should’ve been here.”
“You didn’t know this would happen. None of this is on you.”
They reached a door that must have been Powders because Caitlyn drew them to a standstill. Vi rubbed her temple. “I just wish I had been here for her.”
Caitlyn gave her hand another squeeze before letting go. “You’re here now. Go see her, I’ll be in the waiting room.”
With a shuttered breath, Vi turned and opened the door to her sister’s hospital room. She’s alright, Vi repeated Caitlyn’s words to herself. We’re all safe.
Because of Caitlyn. And when everything settled down, Vi was going to find some way to show her how grateful she was.