SHADOWFALL 

By Tessa Harvey

    Hunter sat on the edge of his hospital bed. It was late afternoon. He had been wrapped in a foil blanket, checked over and had had a fluid drip inserted. That was gone, thank God, just bruises on the back of his hand.

    He felt small and vulnerable, watching the shadows lengthen through the tiny bit of window he could see. As a child he had been hospitalised several times for asthma. Struggling for breath, the nurses had placed him in a room with an older woman. They were short of space. She was meant to be recovering , but suddenly at midnight, was gasping for breath. Staff came running. Curtains were drawn around her, then it was quiet. Next day the bed was empty. Now, he had been advised to stay overnight, but the panic was growing. His fever had gone, but the asthma he had outgrown long ago was threatening a return.

    Hunter dressed and left quietly, stealing away in the shadows, just missing his brother, Tarrant, who had been notified of Hunter's whereabouts. Hunter headed for a taxi to find his car and head for the cabin. At least it was peaceful there, just a few night owls or the stealthy prowl of a passing animal, a whisper of movement, a ghost of a sigh. It was far more peaceful than a hospital at night. hunter's dreams were far from peaceful, and in the morning, he had an answer. Finally.