One of them talks into a radio attached to their chest. “Ambulance ETA; three minutes.”
I sigh in relief and whisper in Keeley’s ear, “Help is coming, Steely. We’re gonna get you fixed up.”
Her eyelids flutter. “Hunter,” she says on a breath, then she goes still.
“Keeley? Can you hear me?”
I drop to the floor trying to see if she’s breathing and hear the deafening sound of gun going off. Jacques roars out my name and I’m confused until I look down and see blood spreading across my chest, leaving a dark patch against my black t-shirt, but all I care about is getting Keeley the help she needs.
“Just get her… help.”
I see her eyelids flutter and hear Jacques shout my name again but it sounds muted, like someone has a pillow over his mouth. I trail a finger down her cheek, then everything goes black.
“I always get my way, sweet girl.”
“No! Get off me!” I thrash and kick out, but immediately regret it as everything in my body screams at me.
Hearing something crash to the floor, my eyes spring open, instantly making me shut them again against the bright light assaulting my vision.
Bright light?
My breathing starts to become erratic. Think, Keeley, think! I hear a door opening and cower against the soft mattress beneath me, not wanting to open my eyes.
“Kee?” A choked voice sobs out.
My eyes spring open, not caring that the light is blinding me. “Sam?”
She flicks off the light and runs over to me, hugging me fiercely. I don’t care that every bit of me hurts, I’ve been dreaming about this for the last few days that I’ve had to put up with his torture.
I must be dead, this isn’t real, so I hold on for as long I can until she finally pulls back and looks at me through tear filled eyes. “I was so worried about you, I thought I’d never see you again.”
I give her a weak smile. “I’ll miss you, I never did tell you how much I love you enough. I hope you know I do though.”
“I love you too, but what are you talking about?” She says looking confused.
Tears drip down my cheeks as I look into her eyes. “This will all be over soon so I want to tell you some home truths.” I try to sit up but it’s a huge strain.
This is my dream, my last moments, it shouldn’t hurt this much! I shake my head and look into her waiting, confused eyes. “I’m sorry I never told you about my past. I was scared you’d see me differently, just like everyone else did. They saw me for who I really am, but you, you looked through all of my bravado and took me in when I needed it the most. I’m so fucking thankful our paths crossed, you’ve made me a better person and I hope you found your happiness, you more than anyone deserves it. I-”
She puts a finger to my lips and chuckles. “Are you giving me a goodbye speech? Are the doctors telling you something they’re not telling me?”
She laughs again and I look around the room, realizing for the first time that I’m in a sterile looking room.
“W… where am I?”
“You’re not dead, Kee. You’re in the hospital. I’m here, I’m real.”
She smiles that dazzling smile at me and I take in her serious face, all humor dropped out of it now.
“Sam?” I struggle to reach for her hand so she helps and extends the rest of the way.
Tears fall down my face, I’m alive, I made it! But why can’t I remember what happened?
“It’s me, Kee. You’ve been through so much but they got the guys that did this to you, you don’t need to worry anymore,” she says weakly.
I squeeze my eyes shut. “Guys? What? It was… it was just the one, my Uncle.”
She frowns. “Kee, I think you’re having trouble remembering. There were three guys-”
She stops talking immediately as I get agitated and shake my head furiously, feeling the bandage at the back of my neck rubbing. “No, there was only one.”
She pats my hand. “Calm down, you’re safe here. Let me go find a doctor and tell them you’re awake, they can explain everything.”
She looks down at me with a worried look on her face as I cling to her hand.
“Sam, I know what happened to me and who was there.”
I shiver as his face lingers in my mind.
She pats my hand. “I believe you. I’ll go get a doctor, they want to talk to you about… your injuries.”
Her eyes widen at me as she says it and it confirms that I don’t even want to see myself in a mirror.
I nod my head as she walks out of the door and I start to feel a panic build up in me. Was there three people holding me captive? Why can’t I remember anything after he forced himself on me? Is my mind blocking everything else out to save me from it all?
I curl up on my side and let the tears fall.
A little shake on my shoulder wakes me up and I flinch until I look up into Sam’s smiling face. I try to sit up.
“Here, let me help,” a deep voice says from beside me and I jump at the sound.
I instantly relax when I look up and see who it is; Connor. I smile and watch Sam as she looks over at him, pure love in her eyes.
“Thank you,” I say sincerely, meaning more than for just helping me sit up.