The Darkest Secret
An Hope Holmes Adventure Book III Chapter I
Faith Robin
I fought against the grogginess of the morphine. The relief eased the pain that was radiating from my wounds. I moved, trying to raise myself up to a sitting up position. When I wiggled my chest I felt the pain shoot thru me again. I ignored it and continued to rise up.
"Don't get up," I heard my father order; his hands were gently holding me down. I gave up my attempt to sit up, and relaxed my weakened body. My eyes began to focus more now as regained control over my foggy mind. He had black circles around his eyes; he looked as if he hadn't slept for weeks on end. His hands trembled as he enclosed his hand around mine. He face was haggard; it was almost terrifying to look at him. I hid my discomfort at his appearance and smiled gently at him. I felt the bruises pain me and I felt the blows of the Colonel all over again.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, apparently my attempt to hide the pain I was feeling now had failed.
"Well enough," I said smiling again, although the whole idea was a painful one. There was movement behind him. I glanced behind him, alarmed. Reverberations were running thru my head again. My grip must have tightened on his hand because he tightened his grip on me.
"It's alright, your safe," he whispered so quietly no one else could hear his words but me. "He can't hurt you anymore. He's gone." I relaxed slightly as Dr. Watson came in. I hid my eyes in embarrassment; I felt my cheeks changing their color. "There's nothing to fear now."
"Is she awake?" I heard Dr. Watson whisper in shock as if he were dreaming and was afraid to wake me if it wasn't a dream.
"Yes I'm awake," I murmured, unsure if this could be true or if it was just another fanciful dream. Watson's face grew paler at my voice and my words.
"Impossible," he muttered to himself. He came over to my bedside and began to evaluating my condition. His trembling fingers found my chin; I nearly winced from his probing fingers. He touched my cheek bone; involuntarily, I winced at the pain that his gentle touch was causing. He noticed my wincing. "How much does my touch hurt?" he asked sharply. I glanced over at my father, beginning to think fast.
'Okay do I tell him the truth and have my father go; murder the Colonel for hurting me this bad or do I tell a little white lie and save the Colonel for the noose?' I wondered. 'White lie!' My head screamed at me.
"Somewhat," I muttered, trying to keep my guilty conscience off of my face. The doctor glanced over at my father and gave him the look. It was one of the looks that if one could put words to it… it would say something like 'leave the room now before I throw you out.' My father let go of my hand, and took the hint; left the room, closing the door behind him.
"Alright Hope I want the truth," He said giving me the look that was reserved for me when I had told a white lie. I gulped mentally and hoped my father was out of earshot. I glanced at the floor near my bedroom door; there was a shadow behind my closed door. My father was standing behind the closed door, eavesdropping.
"A lot," I said quietly to where only the doctor could hear me. He sighed, sitting down next to me where my father had been.
"Hope I need you to tell me what happened in there," He said staring me down. The army surgeon was resurfacing. That valiant soldier that had saved, and lost many lives on the battlefield. He was now sitting in front of me. I breathed in taking a moment to keep myself from breaking down in tears, and trying to remain calm as fear still had his hands on me.
"When the Colonel started questioning me where my father was, I refused to answer him. He tried to beat the answer out of me with his hands." I said shortly my voice was calm, rational and unwavering. My throat however was tightening, I felt as if I were chocking on the words themselves.
"About how hard would he hit you?" he asked gently noticing the tightness of my voice.
"Hard enough to break thru a wall," I muttered, with the only way I could describe what it was like. He whistled underneath his breath.
"Well considering the size of the bruises, and the condition of your face, I would say he hit harder than that," he said, his hands barely touching my cheeks moving my face from left to right evaluating my face again. I winced again at his fingers; they were probing into even more tender areas. "And the way your wincing I would say that you have a some fractures in your skull." He removed his hands seeing my discomfort at his touch and I relaxed. "You're lucky that you survived that young lady," he said sternly, giving me one of his fatherly looks.
"I know," I said quietly. I raised my eyes to meet his disapproving eyes with my own retaliating look "and I would do it all over again; willingly." One of his eyebrows rose up at me; I continued to stare him down with my own determined glare.
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sorry if there more than one intro for some reason the edit part of the uploader is not showing what I already have.