And then …
“Jah …” It was the faintest of whispers. Almost inaudible. It was all I could muster. I thought for a moment that he hadn’t heard me, for he was crying far too loud. Though I heard a falter in his breathing, Jack did not instantly come to a full realisation. He froze for several seconds and I could not muster the strength to utter another word. My throat and mouth felt like sandpaper. Very slowly Jack raised his head which had been buried in my hair. Although I could not see, I could feel his eyes burning into me as he studied my face for some kind of movement. This time, my gratitude came much easier.
“Jack.” My voice was stronger this time.
With a shuddering gasp Jack seemed to panic beyond belief. He swore several times in quick succession and his hands held my face as though I were about to fade away.
“Oh, Ava, I thought you were dead. I couldn’t feel a pulse. You are so cold, and so thin, I thought you were wasting away. The food has just been piling up here by the look of it. Oh, god, what do I do?” Jack spoke very quickly and I had trouble making sense of it. I had so many questions for him, but I didn’t have the strength right now.
“Water.” I mustered.
“Water!” Jack said panic stricken, laying me back on the ground and fumbling around. It was only a matter of seconds before I felt the blissful, cool liquid spilling over my lips and I gladly open my dry, cracked lips and welcomed it down my throat. Before I had had my fill the water was gone and I was left gasping for more.
“Don’t worry, Ava, I brought lots for you.” Jack said instantly pushing more liquid to my lips.
I drank greedily for several long minutes until my shrunken stomach was expanded to its full extent. I tried to sit up with Jack’s help and the water sloshed noisily in my belly. I was so weak and fragile yet the water had made me feel a little better. I wonder how many days I had gone without food. At least I could talk now.
“Jack.” I said again, my voice cracking with emotion, “How?”
“Don’t talk right now.” He ordered me, brushing the hair from my face, “Everything will be okay. I’ll explain later. First I have to get you out of here.”
“I can’t walk.” I whispered.
“Don’t fret.” I heard a smile in his voice, “I have company.”
“Hawthorne?” I said as hopeful as I could muster.
Jack sighed, “Don’t talk.”
I didn’t want to press the matter further. Clearly Hawthorne was still missing after all this time.
“How long have I been here?” I breathed as Jack took me into his arms and I lolled hopelessly.
“Twenty-Five days.” Jack muttered, “You are so light … oh, Avalon.”
Squinting through my eye lashes I caught a quick glimpse of Jack’s tear-stained face before being consumed by darkness and passing out.
When I awoke I felt relatively pain-free. My ribs no longer ached after they had been fractured only twenty-five days ago. I assumed Jack had given me the once-over and checked for any damage. My stomach felt completely empty once again, and my bladder screamed at me for release. However I felt well rested and quite comfortable apart from the fact I was starving, though it seemed the water had done me a world of good. I did not recall much of my rescue.
Opening my eyes I found that I was in an unfamiliar place. It was a beautiful, elegant and very feminine bedroom adorned with several expensive looking things. I lay in an enormous four poster bed with red velvet hanging open around it. There was a charming vanity table to my right laden with bottles of fancy perfume and make-up. An enormous chest of draws was to my left which sat upon a very fluffy gold rug. In a corner upon an androgynous life-size prop hung a beautiful, flowing blonde wig that was so long it almost reached the floor. The featureless mannequin also wore a dress of flowing silver that glittered in the candle light. These things were very familiar, yet comforting at the same time for I now knew that I must be in the home of R?ven Blacklock. Yet I had no idea that she lived this kind of life style. It made me wonder why she even bothered with her messenger service counter-part. If I were in her position I would be more than happy to live in the lime light.