The Gift: The Butterfly Effect, Book 1. Read online

  THE GIFT

  Copyright © 2017 Margaret McHeyzer

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN-13: 978-0-9946460-3-3 (ebook)

  ISBN-13: 978-0-9946460-5-7 (paperback)

  This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be stored or reproduced by any process without prior written permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher.

  Cover Design: Book Cover by Design

  Editor: Debi Orton

  Interior Formatting by Tami Norman, Integrity Formatting

  www.facebook.com/authormargaretmcheyzer

  email: [email protected]

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Sneak Peek: The Curse

  Also by Margaret McHeyzer

  Who could have known my life would be so drastically altered?

  I didn’t know. My parents didn’t either.

  It was a few weeks before my seventeenth birthday when everything changed. I was rushed into the hospital in the back of an ambulance, unconscious.

  I got there just in time.

  My appendix erupted, causing poison to leak into my blood stream. The doctors operated on me and removed it before the toxins could contaminate my other organs and kill me.

  They said I had a brush with death. They said I was lucky.

  When I woke I felt . . . different. Something inside me had changed.

  I knew it from the moment I opened my eyes. Something felt weird.

  Something was wrong.

  Or maybe something was right.

  This is how I received my gift.

  . . . Or maybe it’s my curse.

  “Alexa, can you hear me?” Someone pinches my arm, causing me to mumble in pain. “Alexa, wake up.” The pain continues and I want to swat at it, but my arms feel weak and weighted. “Alexa,” the voice becomes harsher and louder. “Wake up, Alexa.”

  Shut up! How many times can you say my name?

  “Alexa, if you can hear me, you need to wake up.”

  My eyes flutter open, then quickly close when the bright overhead light blinds me.

  “Nice to have you with us, Alexa.”

  Ugh, shut up with my name already! “What happened?” I ask. My throat is dry and irritated. When I try to open my eyes again, I quickly close them. The light is still too bright.

  “What do you remember, Alexa?” the woman asks.

  My memory is hazy. I was at home with my parents. I try to remember, but the image in my mind’s eye is filled with a white cloud, and only pieces of what happened are clear to me. “Um, I was home.” Man, my throat is so scratchy. “I’m thirsty.” I try to swallow, but the lack of moisture in my mouth makes it feel like my throat is coated with sandpaper.

  “I can’t give you anything until the doctor says it’s okay.”

  “Doctor?” I ask as I force my eyes open again, squinting against the bright light. There’s a young woman standing beside my bed. She doesn’t look too old, maybe in her mid-twenties. Her black hair is tied into a high ponytail, and a bright pink bow frames it. She’s got the kindest brown eyes, and a sweet smile. “Where am I?” Looking around, I notice the sterile environment.

  “You’re in recovery. You came in by ambulance and were rushed into surgery. Do you remember any of that?” Her gentle eyes assess me as she tilts her head, showing me a kind smile.

  I shake my head slightly, because I really can’t remember more than being at home with my family. “Where’s my mom?” Suddenly, panic fills me and I look around frantically.

  “Your parents are both outside. They’re waiting for you to wake up so they can come in see you.”

  Although she’s gentle and kind, hysteria takes over. My body trembles and my heart rate speeds to an unhealthy fast rhythm inside my chest. “Mom!” I croak through the hoarseness of my painfully dry throat. “Mom!”

  “It’s okay; both of your parents are right outside. Please, settle down, Alexa.” Her gentleness increases as she attempts to calm me.

  “I want my mom!” Tears fill my eyes, and my body trembles violently. “MOM!” I yell with all my might.

  “What’s going on?” Another woman approaches, and judging from her appearance, she’s nowhere near as gentle as the first.

  “Alexa is panicking slightly and I’m trying to calm her.”

  The other nurse looks me over and arches her brow. She’s older, with a stern face and hard eyes. Her weathered appearance says she’s been here for a long time, and knows exactly what she’s doing. “Go get her mother,” she says in an emotionless voice.

  The younger of the two turns and quickly walks out of the room. The scary one stares down at me. My heartbeat stays erratic and she frowns disapprovingly. “You’re disturbing the other patients,” she says in a tone as cold as her features.

  “I just want my mom,” I’m panting now, struggling to breathe.

  Her lips purse together into a tight line, and she places a hand to her hip. I quiver even more. She’s scaring the shit out of me.

  “Sweetheart,” I hear Mom’s voice, and I instantly relax because I know she’s near.

  “Mom,” I call in a quiet, reedy voice.

  She rushes over to the bed and takes me in her arms. I try to lift my arms to hug her, but I can’t. They’re still so heavy. “What happened?” I ask. The mean woman backs away and disappears, and the kind one joins my Mom.

  “We were at home and you doubled over in pain. You fainted and fell to the floor. Don’t you remember?” I try hard, but the haze is still there. I shake my head feeling troubled about how I can’t recall any of the events that led to me being here. “We had to call an ambulance.” She gestures toward the blank wall opposite me. “You’re in the hospital.”

  I nod my head, but the damn cloud is still hanging around. “Why?”

  “You had appendicitis. The doctors had to rush you into surgery to remove it.”

  “What?” I feel a sudden discomfort pinch my lower stomach.

  “Your appendix burst and they had to get it out quickly before the toxins spread. You could’ve turned septic, Alexa.” Her eyes tell me she wants to say more, but she chooses not to.

  I feel the blood drain out of my face as a rush of air escapes my cracked lips. “How long have I been out?”

  “You were in surgery for just under four hours. But you’re okay now.” Mom leans down and places a kiss on my forehead.

  “Okay,” I mumble, finally calming down.

  “I’m sorry, Mrs Murphy, but you’ll have to leave now. Alexa will be in her room within the hour, so you can wait for her there,” the kind nurse instructs.

  Mom looks hesitantly at the nurse and then to me. “It’s okay, Mom; I‘ll be fine.”

  “I need to check Alexa’s vital signs, then we’ll bring her to her room.” The nurse smiles.

  “Dad and I will wait for you there, okay?” Mom leans down and kisses my forehead again.

  I give her a weak smile and watch as she leaves. “Your mom is so sweet,” the nurse says.

  “Thanks.” I take a few deep breaths and shut my eyes tight. When I open them,
the nurse is gone, but she soon returns. “What’s that?” I ask eyeing the monitor she’s wheeling in.

  “It measures your blood pressure to make sure you’re okay.”

  “Oh, right.”

  She sets it up beside me, then untucks the blanket and grabs hold of my hand.

  The moment she touches me, my skin tingles with cold. I’m transported to a place I don’t recognize, but have no idea where I am. “What’s going on?” I breathe.

  It’s dark and I’m standing outside in a parking lot.

  A train speeds past. A light flickers in an overhead street lamp. I turn to my left, and I see a woman walking away from me. There’s a pink bow in her raven hair, and a bright red handbag slung over her shoulder.

  The parking lot is dark and isolated. I can still hear the speeding train in the distance.

  My focus goes back to the woman walking in the night. Her shoulders are high, and she’s walking so fast she’s almost running.

  “Hayley!” I turn to look behind me to see where the male voice has come from. I hear a gunshot and feel the thud beneath my feet. The man is hooded. I can’t see his face. He calmly walks toward where I am.

  I’m stunned. My voice is stuck in my throat. My hand flies to my mouth in complete shock.

  The man looks over his shoulder in my direction, then quickly to the opposite side. His face is clear now. He’s young, maybe her age, and he’s got an old scar running down his cheek. He steps forward, and shoots her again in the back. “I told you. You should’ve listened.” He stands over her body for a moment before turning and fleeing.

  I look at the body lying face down on the dirty asphalt. Rushing over to her, I try to turn her over. My hands go through her body. I can’t touch her. I can’t move her. I can’t do anything except stand there and watch the rich, red blood seeping from her motionless body.

  “Hayley,” I gasp.

  I’m returned to the present, and she’s standing over my bed looking at me with a perplexed expression. “How do you know my name?” she asks and steps back.

  Hyperventilating I stare at her. “What just happened?” I ask, freaking out.

  “What? I took your pulse.” She reaches for my hand again and I pull it back. The moment her fingers touch my bare skin, I’m transported back to the parking lot. The train is coming past, and I see her walking quickly. It’s the same. Exactly the same.

  “Hayley,” I hear the same deep voice call.

  “No!” I scream and try to launch myself between the guy with the scar and Hayley. But my feet have now melted into the ground, and I can’t move. What the hell is going on?

  The sound of the gun shot vibrates through my head. This time more intensely, because I’ve already lived this moment.

  “Hayley!” I scream as my feet refuse to move from the spot.

  Again, I’m transported back to the now. Hayley steps back and her eyes take in my hysterical state. “Are you okay? I’ll get the doctor. You blacked out for a few seconds.”

  “I’m okay.” I study her, making sure she’s the person I saw in this crazy awake dream I just had.

  She steps forward to grab my hand again, but I pull it back, too frightened to touch her in fear of reliving the same moment.

  “I have to check more of your vitals, Alexa. If you won’t let me, I’m going to have to get the other nurse.”

  My heart rate spikes as I dread her touch.

  My head is jumbled with confusion. I have no idea what’s going on. Why on earth am I seeing this tiny snippet of . . . of . . . of . . . I don’t know what I’m seeing.

  The muscles in my body completely tense. I don’t want her to touch me. But she does, and I’m back to the dark lot with the flickering light and the passing train.

  It’s on repeat. The same thing. Nothing changes.

  What’s going on?

  What am I seeing?

  What’s happening in my head?

  What’s happening to me?

  Am I going crazy? Am I losing my mind?

  I’m in my hospital room, with my parents sitting at my bedside telling me everything that led to me being in the hospital. Although they’re talking, my mind keeps going to the weird, nightmarish vision of Hayley being shot.

  I’m terrified.

  I keep seeing that damn vision, and I have no idea what’s going on. I want to tell my parents, but I’m afraid they’ll think I’m hallucinating.

  Maybe that’s it. Maybe the anesthetic they gave me is playing havoc with my mind. Maybe the painkillers were so strong that these are the aftereffects of them.

  “ . . . alive,” Dad says while running his hand up and down my arm.

  “Huh?” I question, suddenly realizing he’s speaking to me.

  “The doctor who operated on you said you’re lucky to be alive. Your appendix ruptured; and apparently once it does, it can be quite dangerous. It can, in extreme cases, cause death.”

  “Death?” A heavy sigh escapes past my lips.

  “Yes, Lexi, death,” Dad confirms.

  “But thank goodness we got you here and the doctor operated in time.” Mom leans down and kisses my cheek. “We were so worried. So worried.” She kisses me again.

  “Did the doctor say if anything strange happened to me in there?”

  “No,” Dad answers, but looks to Mom slightly. “What do you think could’ve happened?” his tone becomes wary.

  “I don’t know.” I have no idea what is even happening to me. “Did they give me anything? Or maybe . . . I don’t know.” Ugh, I’m so frustrated at myself, because I can’t tell them what I saw when Hayley touched me.

  It’s probably nothing.

  “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Mom asks as she rubs her hand gently up and down my arm.

  “Nothing.” I let out another sigh. What can I tell them? They’ll think I’m mad.

  Dad’s brows draw in, and he takes in a deep breath. “I can stay here with her if you want to go home. It’s late, and you need to sleep,” he says to Mom.

  Mom lets out a yawn and rubs her hand across her eyes. “I am tired,” she says, yawning again.

  “I’ll stay with Lexi. You go home.” He looks down at his watch. “Take your time and have a good sleep.”

  “What time is it?” I ask, curiously.

  “It’s nearly three in the morning.”

  “You can both go, I’ll be fine. You both need sleep.” I don’t want them to leave, because I’m terrified of what else is going to happen to me.

  “No way,” Dad says. “I’ll stay and your mother can go home to sleep. Go,” he says to Mom, who’s yawning again, this time adding a stretch.

  “I should stay.”

  “You can barely keep your eyes open. Go home, and come back after you’ve slept. Lexi and I will be fine here.”

  “I really should stay.” Mom’s conflicted. I can tell by the frown etched on her face. She thinks she should stay, but she’s tired and needs to go.

  “Mom, I’ll be fine.” As long as Dad stays with me. I hate that she’s feeling guilty.

  “Just go, woman,” Dad gently teases her. ‘Woman’ is his pet name for her. It’s what he’s always called her, and it always makes Mom smile.

  Right on cue, Mom’s lips curl up at the corners. “I don’t know,” she finally adds, still struggling.

  “Mom . . .” I drag her title out. “You need to sleep, so please go home.”

  Her shoulders rise with a deep breath. She lets out yet another yawn. “Only if you’re sure.” She pointedly looks to me, then Dad.

  “We’re sure,” both Dad and I chorus in unison.

  “I’ll walk you down and get you in a cab. You’re too tired to drive home.” Dad stands and makes his way toward the door.

  Mom smiles and stands. “Don’t be silly, I’ll be fine. If you need anything, call me.” She bends from the waist and kisses my cheek again. “I’ll be back by the time the sun has risen.”

  “Hopefully I’ll be asleep, so no rush,” I say.


  Mom picks her handbag up and heads toward the door. She stops before her hand even touches the door knob, and she turns, coming to me. “Anything you need, you get your father to call me.” She gives Dad a kiss.

  Her bloodshot eyes tell me how tired she is, and the dark circles beneath them confirm her exhaustion.

  “I’ll be fine.” As long as that crazy ass hallucination doesn’t come back.

  “Okay.” She finally smiles, but it’s forced. “Remember.” She points her finger to Dad. “Anything happens, call me.”

  “We will.”

  The door clicks shut as Mom leaves. Dad waltzes back to the chair beside my bed. He’s so tired he looks like he’s about to fall asleep, too. “You can go too, if you want,” I say. Please don’t go and leave me here with the horror in my head.

  “I’m not going anywhere, except to sleep.” Dad slides down in his chair, and folds his arms in front of his chest. “I suggest you try to get some sleep, too.” He closes his eyes and tilts his head down toward his chest, falling asleep almost immediately. The snoring that follows is all the proof I need to know Dad’s out of it.

  I attempt to turn on my side, but the sharp pain in my lower stomach reminds me of the operation I had.

  Closing my eyes, I seek sleep, but the recurring images of Hayley being shot by the man with the scar on his cheek won’t go away. I huff in frustration as I struggle to push the terrible nightmare down somewhere I can’t access it.

  As my mind begins to go blank, I hear the door creak open. Opening one eye, I see a nurse standing beside my bed looking down at me. “What’s happening?” I mumble as I turn to look at Dad, who’s still sleeping heavily.

  “Checking on your vitals, sweetie,” the older nurse says. “Go back to sleep. You won’t even know I’m here.”

  She grabs my hand to feel for my pulse, and I’m suddenly sucked out of my bed. Standing in a strange living room, I see the nurse sitting in a rocker, and an old guy sitting on a stool in front of her, rubbing her tired feet. “Tonight’s shift was hard,” she says to the old guy.

  “How so, Doris?” he asks while he keeps rubbing her feet.

  She lets out a moan and closes her eyes in appreciation.