chapter 22: the hanged man

Nicole was only aware of a few things when she came to and that was the pain in her arms and back from where her body weight was being supported only by her arms and a startling smell of what she could only describe as iron and piss.

"Oh, you're awake. For a second I thought that those idiots had killed you...which would defy the purpose from which I brought you here." a breathy voice said from somewhere in the darkness.

"Who are you and what do you want?" She demanded, struggling to keep the shake out of her voice although she wouldn't give him the pleasure of knowing how scared she really was.

"It's simple, I want freedom and if I can break the heir...perhaps I can lift the veil on this town since if the line ends now, there will be no heir!"

The voice that spoke sounded almost as if the thought drove him to madness but the whole situation seemed like the prattling of a madman to Nicole.

What the hell was he talking about?

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

She said, hearing a scoff in response.

"Lair! Surely you noticed the oddness around the Earp name, around the legends!"

The next thing she felt was a pain, white hot as it ripped through her left side, dangerously close to her lung.

She tried not to scream, but the choked whimper still escaped her mouth.

"I need to keep you alive for as long as possible but that doesn't mean that I can't have a little fun."

Wynonna felt bile rise into her throat as she entered the revenant campgrounds, taking note that they were dangerously close to the edge of the triangle.

"They are planning something...Why else would there be so many bodies here?"

Dolls commented, earning a look from Wynonna who opted not to say anything as she and Doc walked on through the carnage.

"Campers. Whoever or whatever this is wanted to draw attention to itself."

"Oh, it's drawing attention to itself alright. The bastard better not have hurt her or I will fucking do more than send him back to hell. Have you ever seen this before Doc?"

"I've seen a lot in my years but I can not recall that I have."

He answered as they came up to what could only be described as a cabin, or what had once been a cabin for it stood in ruin.

"Fresh blood is on the ground here. Be on guard."

Nicole could barely hear anything over her own muffled screams and racing heart as she struggled just to stay conscious as breathing got harder. However, suddenly there was gunfire, a scream and then what sounded like the rush of fire.

"Shit! Someone call 911!"

Waverly felt sick as she waited outside the hospital for any information. She couldn't keep the tears at bay, especially since she had seen the state of Wynonna's shirt upon arriving.

"So this is where you disappeared to."

Willa surprised her by sitting down beside her on the bench.

"I just...Why is it that every time I love someone they end up leaving in one way or another?"

The outburst caught Willa off guard a bit but she only smirked.

"So you love this girl? After knowing her for how long?" Willa begins before adding in a less teasing tone "she's strong you know if anyone can survive this... it's her."

Waverly couldn't keep herself from leaning against the older woman, despite how upon the touch Willa stiffened.

"What if she doesn't? What if it's too much..."

As soon as she said those words dry heaves began to wreck her body once again.

Willa sighed, putting a hand on her back as she tried to figure out something to say that would make a difference.

"Let's go see if anyone has any information on her condition. No good is going to come from sitting out here alone, worrying yourself sick."

Nicole woke up to find Wynonna passed out on the couch on one end of the room, Waverly curled up against her, half lying on top of her, clinging to Wynonna as if she was afraid that the twenty-one-year-old would disappear if she had let go.

"Oh, you're awake. How are you feeling?"

Nicole couldn't help but jolt at the sudden, unexpected voice but relaxed when she saw Willa standing in the doorway.

"Like I've walked directly through hell. What happened?"

She watched as the older woman sighed and walked across the room, putting a bag down onto the small table before answering

"You were kidnapped by this freak of nature known as the jack of knives. Do you remember anything before or after all of that?"

Nicole bit her lip as she thought back, although most of what she remembered was a flash of fire then some kind of white light as strength shot back into her body.

"I remember something cutting into me, and that I was tied up in chains. Before that, I only remember talking to you outside at my truck, and Waverly pushing me into the barn earlier."

Willa sighed as she came over next to the bed, taking a seat before saying in a low voice.

"They had to resuscitate you at the scene...you had lost a lot of blood and was going into shock. Wynonna says one of the first responders just would not give up...not until you came back to them." she said, glancing at the heart rate monitor as it picked up tiny bit.

"I saw Wynonna....standing over fire. I...I didn't go to hell, did I?"

Willa chuckled at that, shaking her head.

"No, you saw Wynonna sending some bastard there. We'll explain but only after you're out of here. I don't think Waverly could handle seeing you laying in this bed longer than already necessary."

Nicole wanted to know what Willa meant but felt too weak to really care at that moment.

"I'll go get the doctors...They'll give you something for the pain."

Willa said before heading toward the door.