Rebirth

by pomegranateflower

Suze is starting her first year at college, still mediating on the side as she's always done, but now thinking about a potential future with Jesse, who seems to have less and less time for her as he starts looking at medical schools to apply to. However, stumbling across something on campus someone tried to hide, she finds herself in a cat and mouse game playing for high stakes...

Prologue

I stood in the doorway, squinting against the strong sunlight filtering in through the open window. The summer sunshine made it difficult after my forays through the darkened hallways and basement, and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust. I squinted, and as my pupils adjusted to the light in the room, I noticed there wasn't much furniture there, aside from a large bed and a dresser by the wall. I hesitantly took a step forward, and as my eyesight adjusted, I realized there was someone on the bed. The moment I recognized his face I made an involuntary gasp. I ran forward, stopping just before the bed.

He looked to be in one piece, and in any other place and time, I would have assumed he was simply taking an afternoon nap.

My heart beat furiously as I leaned forward, and I held my breath until I saw his chest move up and down in shallow movements. Without warning my eyes prickled with tears, and I knelt down on the bed and crawled over, shaking with relief.

"It's me, you need to wake up," I told him, gently shaking his arm. To my profound relief his skin was warm beneath my touch, and I resisted the urge to caress his cheek. There would definitely be time for that later, but right now I wanted to focus on getting him awake and out of this place. He didn't stir save for breathing, but I noticed up close his skin looked a little sallow and there was something bulky beneath the shirt he wore.

I frowned, and after a quick check he didn't wake up, reached over and pulled his shirt down a little for a tantalizing – fear burned in my belly as I saw what the bulk was. I yanked the blanket off of him and pulled his shirt up, for once not distracted by the sight of his washboard abs as I stared, in horror, at the multitude of blood stained bandages wrapped around his chest and waist. Horrified, I dropped his shirt and trembled. I rushed forward and started shaking him, almost violently, telling him urgently, "You need to wake up and we need to get out of here - " A laugh from behind me cut me off partway and I quickly turned with fists at the ready.

Before I could make another move, I felt my head jerk back as a sucker punch knocked me down on top of the bed. I made to roll, but I felt my arms being quickly held down as a rag was rudely pushed in my face. Damn it, I thought drowsily, as I took a nice big inhale of chloroform and quickly lost consciousness. My last thought was of him, hoping that he was alright and that my mediator abilities included fast recovery time from chemically induced sleep.