After attempting and failing to move my body, I take a deep breath and try to figure out what’s going on and why I’m unable to move. I can hear a voice somewhere in the room, so I direct all my attention on that and try my hardest to pick up on something that might be useful.
With every fiber of my being, I strain and concentrate, but only manage to pick up a word here and there. “… asleep still… days… haven’t caught… should call her family… optimistic… should come.” I try to focus some more, but it’s taken so much of my energy just to understand those twelve stupid words. I want to weep when the fear seeps into my bones. I have no clue what’s happening, or where I am. The last thing I remember is going into the office and getting that stupid email from my mother.
I try to keep my mind alert long enough to figure out what the hell is going on, but after only a few moments, I’m flying away again towards the darkness.
****
God! Every single part of my body hurts. My head is pounding like I’ve just come off a weeklong bender, my throat and lungs burn with every breath I take, my arms and legs feel as if I’ve just worked out at that torturous spin class Izzy likes to drag me to, and oddly enough, even my hair hurts.
What the hell?
After accessing my body, and realizing that yes, every inch does in fact hurt, I fixate on the sounds around me. I can hear voices again, but this time I know who they are. Or at least I think I do. I definitely recognize Maddox’s low growl. It takes me a second to place Coop’s voice, though. He doesn’t sound like his normal playful self. Chelcie’s voice is the next one I catch, talking in a rushed low tone; I think she sounds scared, but I can’t understand her words clearly enough to be certain.
Just when I think that I know all the players in the room, one more voice speaks up, and my heart stops in my chest for a minute before it picks up speed. I don’t even need to have my eyes open to know he’s sitting right next to me. Now that I’m becoming more aware of my surroundings, I can feel him. Not just the warmth on my arm and hand, but I can feel his energy in the room. The ever-present love and strength is pouring all over me like a warm blanket. But I also feel his darkness, that vibe of menacing violence that is just itching to come out. He’s pissed and trying to contain it.
I try to remember what happened that could cause this type of reaction from him, but my mind keeps coming up with a big fat nothing. It’s there, the answers that I need, but they are just out of reach.
“She’ll wake up when she’s ready, so I’d appreciate it if you would stop talking about her like we need to start planning her goddamn funeral.” Beck’s snarl shocks me for a second until his words penetrate my brain. Why would they think I’m dying?
I want to cry out and scream that I’m awake, I’m here, and everything is going be okay, but when I open my mouth, nothing comes out but a strangled choke. I feel the vibe in the room change instantly when they realize I’m waking up. The waves of sadness, anger, and confusion dissipate, and a burst of joy and relief zaps through my body.
“Shh, it’s okay, Baby. Let me call the nurse and have her come check you out. I don’t know if I can give you any water, so let me go get her.”
I grab his hand with what little strength I have when he goes to move away from me. Tightening my weak fingers around his hand, I desperately hope he understands that I don’t want him to leave my side. My eyes refuse to budge, so I slowly turn my head to where I think he is. Opening my mouth, I try to tell him not to leave me, but that sickening noise comes out again.
“Dee, please don’t try and talk. I’m not leaving, I’m right here. Coop, go get the nurse.” I feel him move closer from where he must have been standing, his free hand brushing against my hairline. “I’m not leaving,” he vows.
The energy around me goes still, and he continues to murmur in my ear. I can’t tell what he’s saying because he’s speaking too low, but it’s still comforting. His soothing tones calm my out of control heart in seconds.
“Well, I see sleeping beauty decided to wake for her prince, after all. My name is Destiny; we’ve been waiting for you. I’m going to move your bed up slightly so that I can move the straw into your mouth. Okay, Honey?”
When the nurse’s soft voice starts explaining to me why I hurt, I start to panic again. What the hell happened to me?
“All right, Honey, open up and let’s see if we can get you talking. Your throat’s going to hurt, but let’s see what we can do. That’s it, small and slow sips.”
When I get enough to make my throat feel less like I’ve decided to eat sandpaper and closer to a dull throb, I unlatch my lips from the straw.
“That’s good, that’s good. Can you tell me your name, Honey?”
“D-de—nise.” My voice causes me to jump slightly. A low moan of pain escapes, and I try to calm my breathing when the pain gets a little too intense.