Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Kylie
I came to slowly. It was a bit like diving into a pool and lingering momentarily before you plant your feet on the bottom and push off, aiming for the sky. Everything is quiet and then sounds become distinguishable as you break the surface of the water.
That was what happened. One minute I was in the deep end of the pool, the next, I was aware of a soft beeping sound. It grew louder, as did the shuffling of feet somewhere nearby. I didn’t open my eyes immediately, wasn’t sure where I was.
I became aware of the blanket first. It was a bit scratchy where it rubbed against my arms.
A pungent aroma came next. It was a mix of rubbing alcohol and something metallic. Like one of those abrasive cleaners, maybe. It wasn’t exactly pleasant, but it was tolerable.
The temperature was the next thing I noticed. It was warm. Almost too warm. Probably uncomfortable if I were moving around a lot.
I focused on the sounds around me. As I was listening, trying to identify something familiar, there was a click, a soft hum followed by a hiss.
A second later, the mattress inflated beneath me.
The click-hum-hiss sounded again, and the air moved to another area.
It didn’t make sense. Nor did the beeping sound, the one that was slowly picking up speed.
A soft shuffling drew my attention. I turned my head toward the sound as it got closer.
I could sense movement near me. I tried opening my eyes, but it didn’t help.
The room was dark. So dark I couldn’t make out a single shape or even a light from the machine that was continuing to beep, a rhythm that seemed to be in tune with my rapid heartbeat.
“I can’t see,” I rasped, but the words didn’t make it past my tongue.
That was the moment the panic set in. Was I blind? How did it happen? Where was I?
Who was I?
Something cold brushed the inside of my arm. “You’re okay.”
The voice was female. Kind of thick and raspy, not to mention brusque. It didn’t match the gentle touch.
“Relax.”
“You relax,” I bit out, but the words only sounded in my head. My voice wasn’t working.
Click-hum-hiss.
Beep … beep … beep…
Click-hum-hiss.
Beep beep … beep beep … beep beep…
Another click sounded, this one different, followed by the same terse woman’s voice. “Yes. Tell him she’s awake.”
Tell who?
Another click followed, and the touch was on my arm again. “It’ll be best if we keep you under.”
Keep me under? Under what? Water? The bed? What the hell was she talking about?
“At least until he can get here,” she added.
“Who?” I asked, but again, no sound came out.
The touch was gone, but the beeping was growing faster once more.
It was definitely beeping in time with my heartbeat.
My panic increased once again as I fought to get my bearings, unable to move, unable to see.
The only thing I could do was hear. But the only sounds were the beeps, the clicks and hisses, the shuffling of shoes.
“You’ll be fine,” the woman said.
A few seconds later, the darkness consumed me, and the beeping finally receded.
When I broke the surface the second time, I was still unaware of where I was or who was around me, but at least the panic wasn’t taking over. I was numb. The medicated kind that wrapped your brain in a fog and made thinking nearly impossible.
I listened again.
Click-hum-hiss.
Beep … beep … beep…
Odd that the sounds were now familiar, although I couldn’t place them. The beeping was close by, so I focused on it, trying to identify what was causing it. I’d heard it before. Like in a hospital, maybe.
Was that where I was? A hospital?
Why? What happened?
“She’s awake again,” a voice sounded, but it wasn’t the same as before. This time it was deeper, though still female. At least I thought it was.
“Good,” a man said. “Get Dr. Weaver in here. He wants him to sign off.”
A tiny piece of the puzzle clicked into place. If they were calling a doctor, then was it safe to assume I was in the hospital? But Dr. Weaver? Who was he? Did I know him?
“He’s not answering my calls,” the woman told him in a matter-of-fact tone that held a hint of … frustration? Irritation? I wasn’t sure.
I waited for someone to respond, but a pause settled into the room. A moment later, something was ringing.
“What?” a man barked, his voice sounding through a speaker.
“She said Dr. Weaver’s not answerin’ her calls,” the first man said.
“Doesn’t surprise me. The bastard.”
They were silent for a moment, and I was aware of a tapping sound. Like fingers on a table. I had no idea what they were doing.
“What do you want us to do, boss?” the man in the room asked.
Before the man on the speaker answered, the woman said, “Where do you want to take her?”
“I don’t know yet,” Speaker Man answered, and this time his voice grew louder with what sounded like anger. “I can’t just relocate her until I know what to expect. She’s been in a coma for almost a year.”
A coma? Me? For a year? What the hell?
“Can she breathe on her own?” Speaker Man asked.
Of course I can breathe on my own, you idiot. If I couldn’t, I would be dead.
“She hasn’t yet, so I don’t know. Once we remove the breathing tube, we’ll know more.”
Breathing tube.
I reached toward my face to see what they were talking about, but nothing happened. My brain passed the instruction down to my arm, but it didn’t seem to be reading the signal.
“Find someone,” Speaker Man said, his voice muffled as though the speaker was turned away. “I don’t give a fuck who. Just get a doctor in there. I need to know what I’m dealing with.”
What he’s dealing with? Who are you?
“We’ll get it done, boss,” the man in the room said.
“In the meantime?” the woman prompted. “Do you want me to keep her sedated?”
“Yes,” Speaker Man answered. “The last thing I need is for her to tear that thing out of her throat.”
Again, I tried to reach for my neck, but my arm didn’t move.
“I’ll keep you updated,” the woman said, her voice shifting in the room.
No! Wait! Where am I?
No one answered as the darkness took me once again.