The hospital room was bright... too bright. the overhead fluorescent lights stabbing at Davina's eyes every time she blinked. She sat on the exam bed, legs dangling, dried blood on her knuckles and glass dust still clinging to her hair. Her clothes were torn, streaked with dirt and the metallic scent of the crash.
A doctor in blue scrubs stood in front of her, holding a small penlight.
"Alright, Davina, look straight ahead for me," he said gently.
She tried. The room swayed.
He flashed the light into her left eye. Her pupils contracted sluggishly.
"Headache?" he asked.
"Feels like someone's drilling behind my eyes," she muttered.
He nodded, checking the other eye. "Nausea? Dizziness?"
"Both."
He made a note on his tablet. "That's consistent with a concussion. You're lucky, honestly. Rolling a car at that speed… it could've been much worse."
Davina exhaled slowly, her ribs aching with the movement. "Feels worse."
"That's because you've got a few bruised ribs. They'll hurt like hell for a while, but they'll heal."
Before Davina could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway, fast, frantic, unmistakably familiar.
Lizzy.
A nurse tried to intercept her. "Ma'am, you can't go back there without..."
"Where is she?" Lizzy demanded, breathless, eyes wild with fear. "Davina RenTech... car accident... where is she?"
The nurse pointed toward the curtained exam bay. "She's in there, but the doctor is still..."
Lizzy didn't wait.
She ripped the curtain open so hard it nearly tore off the rail.
Davina blinked at the sudden movement, wincing at the light and the noise. Lizzy froze in the doorway, chest heaving, eyes scanning Davina from head to toe. the cuts, the bruises, the dried blood, the hospital gown half‑tied over her torn clothes.
"Vi…" Lizzy's voice cracked. "Oh my god."
The doctor stepped aside, giving Lizzy space. "She's stable," he reassured her. "A few bruised ribs and a concussion, but she's going to be fine."
Lizzy let out a shaky breath she'd clearly been holding since the moment she heard the words car accident. She moved to Davina's side in two quick steps, cupping her face gently, careful not to touch any bruises.
"You scared the hell out of me," Lizzy whispered.
Davina managed a tired, crooked smile. "Join the club."
Lizzy's eyes glistened, but she swallowed it down, trying to stay strong for her. "Sebastian's on his way. Theo is back at the mansion, They're freaking out."
"Great," Davina muttered. "Can't wait for that lecture."
Lizzy huffed a laugh, half relief, half disbelief that Davina was still making jokes.
The doctor cleared his throat softly. "She'll need monitoring for the next few hours. And someone should stay with her tonight."
Lizzy didn't even hesitate. "I'm not leaving her side."
Davina leaned back against the pillow, exhaustion finally catching up with her now that the danger had passed.
Suddenly Cory appeared next to the curtain. Her arms were crossed and she was clearly annoyed. "Cory..." "dont say a word" Cory interrupted. "I never should have listened to you when you said you didn't need police protection, now look at you" she said with anger clear in her voice. "Technically I did this avoiding a deer" Davina replied awkwardly. "Enough is enough Davina, until whoever is after you is caught, you will have 24/7 police protection" Cory demanded.
"Alright" Davina said in defeat. "Your right, I cant risk anything more happening especially since I just took in my Brother" Davina said. "Since when did you have a brother?" Lizzy asked suddenly confused. "Long story" Davina replied. "Im leaving 2 officers with you and am sending more to that fancy house of yours" Cory added, before turning to walk away.
"Feel better Davina" Cory added.
Davina sighed. Suddenly lizzys phone pinged. "Sebastian's here. You head out ill deal with the discharge paperwork" Lizzy said. "I dont think thats allowed" Davina replied. Exactly why you should get out of here before they see you" Lizzy said pulling Davina off the bed.
Davina stood up and looked passed the curtain. No one was paying attention. She sighed before walking out and straight to the elevator. Suddenly the elevator doors opened and Sebastian stood just inside allowing her to walk in.
"The reporters found out about your accident, their swarming the outside of the hospital and im sure will be swarming the mansion soon as well" he informed her. "Not surprising" Davina replied. "Cory is practically forcing me to have 24/7 protection and with the accident i couldn't deny it anymore" she added. "Not surprising either" Sebastian replied as the elevator doors opened on the main floor of the hospital.
Sebastian and Davina exited the building and reporters tried to push their way through the police officers that had cleared a path to the car.
"MISS WAYNE! MISS WAYNE! IS IT TRUE SOMEONE IS TRYING TO KILL YOU?" A reporter yelled over the other reporters.
"DID YOU PURPOSELY HIRE AN ASSISTANT WHO LOOKED LIKE YOU INCASE SOMEONE EVER CAME AFTER YOU?" Yelled another reporter. "DAVINA! WHAT WAS IT THEY TOOK FROM YOJR LAB?" yelled another.
But Davina and Sebastian ignored all their questions and went right to the car. Sebastian opened the rear door allowing Davina to get in the car first, before closing the door and getting in the driver's seat and driving off.
2 police cars followed them back to the mansion, and as expected reporters were already swarming the gate. "Just great" Davina thought. She hated the attention. especially when it hindered her hero duties. But now there was no telling how long Siren would be out of the picture in Welson.
Not with swarming Reporters and a protection detail 24/7
Davina got out of tge car and walked straight into the mansion and up to Ian's room. She knocked quietly. "Come in" he said simply. "I heard you got into a car accident" Damien said simply looking Davina up and down. "You look fine" he added. "Thanks for your concern" Davina replied. "Until further notice a police protection detail will be following both of us around, I unfortunately didn't have a choice In the matter anymore" Davina said. "Don't bring up..." "im not an idiot" Ian interrupted. "I know how to keep my mouth shut." He added simply.
TO BE CONTINUED