Chapter 2
TWO
NASH
My eyes peel open unwillingly. They feel as though they’ve been forced open while sand has been poured into them. I’m vaguely aware of a faint light illuminated above my head. A cold, wet feeling engulfs my whole body, and the only thing on repeat in my head is, “Where’s Mi Amor? ”
Then, I’m pulled into the darkness once again.
As I come to again, saliva fills my mouth in the way it does before I’m about to puke. Holding my tongue to the roof of my mouth, I hope the feeling will subside. My head has a steady heartbeat, and my eyelids feel as if they’ve been super glued shut. I fight against the pull this time… I need to know that Ellie is okay.
I turn my head against whatever surface I’m lying on, and all I see filtered through the dim light are walls caked in mud and rock. The ominous light hangs from the ceiling, and my eyes land on another body lying on the floor.
? * “Ellie!” I’m yelling in my head, but my voice is coming out choppy and barely audible.
The body doesn’t even flinch.
Adrenaline takes over my body. I push up on my forearms and move to sit all the way up. It takes me a second to breathe through the nausea… if I’m puking, I’m helping nothing. Finally getting to my hands and knees, I start to crawl over to who I’m hoping is Ellie.
Dragging each of my legs forward, all I can wonder is what the hell they drugged me with to fuck with my body this bad… or how long we’ve been wherever we are to become this weak. I’m hoping it’s the former so we can get the drugs through our system and be able to break out of whatever hell this is.
I get close enough and see that it’s definitely Ellie—a weak-looking Ellie but nonetheless, Mi Amor.
I run my hand down her cheek and bask in the warmth of her skin, taking that as a good sign. My fingers find the pulse point on her neck, and her strong heartbeat meets them. “Ellie, it’s Nash, I’m with you.” I run my hand up her forehead, pushing back her unruly hair. Searching her body for injuries with what little light we have in here, I’m thankful to find I don’t see anything concerning besides mud and dirt caked on her clothes.
Still whispering to her, I ask, “Can you open your eyes for me, Mi Amor? ” I lay beside her, lift her head to rest on my shoulder, and let the darkness take me a little easier this time. Now I know the next time I come to, I’ll have a little more energy once more of the drugs have left my system.
* ? Die For You - The Weeknd, Ariana Grande