I can hear the sirens approaching, making me snuggle closer to the safety Axel’s strong arms are providing. Just when I think I am finally free . . . What a joke that was. I’m beginning to think I won’t ever be free of Brandon’s reach.
Dee is directing the police officers and the paramedics into the living room. I can hear Greg off to the side somewhere talking in low tones with Maddox answering back. I can’t tell where anyone else is, and I’m in no hurry to open my eyes and check.
“Ma’am.” A new voice joins the group. “Ma’am can you open your eyes?” Axel shifts and moves me away from his warmth, placing my body in a way that allows this person to start touching my face. Immediately, I draw back into his body.
“Shhh, Izzy, let them look at you.” His warm breath tickles my ear and his arm tightens around my shoulders, reminding me that he is here and I’m safe. His head turns from my ear and he addresses the new voice. “I don’t think she can open her eyes without pain. She tried a second after I reached her but they snapped shut quickly. Hasn’t opened since. Her breathing sounds raspy and her voice seemed hoarse when she was able to talk. Hasn’t spoken since. Her back has what looks like a welt-like bruise from tailbone to shoulder blades. I haven’t been able to take a good look at it. Neck injury, and the source of the blood is from the back of her head. Again, I haven’t taken a good look.” He must be speaking to the paramedic, because when he finishes, I feel soft gloved hands start pressing into my face, around my neck, and up my throat.
“Ma’am, I need to lean you forward a bit so that I can look over your back and head slowly, and let me know if you feel like you’re—” He doesn’t get a chance to finish before I empty the contents of my stomach all over the floor.
“Okay, that’s okay. Do you feel nauseated?”
“Y-yes,” I answer back, again not recognizing my own voice. I sound like I’ve spent the last few hours screaming.
“Did you hit your head?”
“No . . . yes,” I whisper my reply, “I don’t remember. I was pushed into the doorframe before he grabbed my neck. I don’t remember much after that.”
“That’s okay. Let’s check you out right now, okay?”
His soft hands spend a few minutes taking my blood pressure before they continue to press and poke around my tender skin, earning a few hisses of pain from me and growls from Axel. They have me lean forward again, moving my hair around to check out the source of the bleeding, and then he checks my back. I can feel the torn skin on my back stretching and pulling tight with every small movement of my body.
“Sir, I can’t be sure without taking her to the hospital, but I’m willing to bet on a concussion. The head wound definitely needs stitches. Her back is troubling, but again, I can’t guarantee the damage done is only on the surface. That isn’t even counting her facial injuries. I would strongly advise a trip to the hospital.”
“That’s fine, but I’ll be driving her. I’m not letting her out of my sight.”
Even I can tell by his tone that there will be no bending on this. The poor guy trying to do his job attempts to explain to him that I would be completely safe riding in the ambulance but there is no use. Axel and all his stubbornness have spoken and there will only be one way for me to get to the hospital tonight.
Begrudgingly, he stops his protest and asks Axel to sign off that no further treatment by the paramedics is preferred. He gets my head cleaned and applies some gauze to my back, telling Axel that he needs to keep pressure on my head until I get to the hospital. I get a few ice packs and hold one to my right eye and the other to my sore neck. After he has done all he can, the paramedics take their leave.
I start nodding off shortly after, listening to the voices around me explain the events leading up to my crying out from the porch. I attempt to answer the questions the officers have for me but my drowsy and confused mind keeps pulling me under. Axel rouses me a few times and I am able to tell them who attacked me, but after falling asleep again, I faintly hear Axel tell them to meet us at the hospital with any further questions. Despite his calm and strong tone, I can hear a small tremor of fear.
He adjusts me in his arms and begins to stand. I don’t hear much after he tells telling someone to get the truck and drive him to the hospital. I let the safety of his strong arms and the comforting scent that only comes with Axel carry me off to the numbing blackness.
I wake up to the annoying sound of beeping and the nauseating smell of antiseptic and cleaner. Death—I’ve always thought the hospital smelled like death. It’s a smell you never forget and one I have always hated.