A/N: Sequel to "The Loop" This won't make much sense unless you read that one first.
A very special Thank You goes out to LabRatsRule for editing and assisting me with this. Your help and expertise is so greatly appreciated.
He had no idea what day it was. He had no idea where he was. Time had lost all meaning for him. Where this was; this place; held no meaning for him. The only thing he knew was that he was in trouble; and his gut was twisting with the need to find help. He only dimly recalled being tossed out of a car; his tall, frail body jarring painfully with each excruciating contact it had made with the hard ground beneath him as he had rolled and bounced uncontrollably; continuously; the force of momentum not in his favor. Vaguely he remembered being thankful that the car had been stopped when they'd thrown him out of it. At this very moment, it was the last thing he remembered.
With a painfully wry touch of humor; he realized he didn't even remember anything that had happened to him before being treated like unwanted puppy. Trying to force his mind to think; to remember; things he could possibly do to find help; he came up painfully empty; it was the only thing his brain could process at that moment; everything was too much. Once again, his gut twisted with the need to get help; to not stay where he was; despite the agonizing pain he felt with each movement he made.
"Somebody help me! "I can't do this!" he cried out in painful desperation; so tired of it all.
Get up!
"I can't" he answered the voice; as tears of relief ran down his face Thank God! A voice of hope was with him for some unknown reason; he'd take what help he could get! He wasn't alone! He'd been alone for a long time now; somehow he did get that sense. He couldn't tell if his tears were just from the relief surging through him or if they were also from the pain his abused and beaten body was screaming out from.
He hung on to the comfort of that voice; the motivation it provided his less than willing body; to survive for another minute; one after the other.
Come on, already; get up!
His broken hands were painful and damn near useless; he was powerless to help himself do anything at the moment. He found himself crying in sheer frustration and pain now.
What's the problem?
How could he move? His confusion was adding to his feeling of helplessness. He may have the help of that voice; but he couldn't do what it was telling him to do. "I can't move!"
Yes you can! Get up!
"I can't get up the hill; my fingers are broken; I'm hurt too much to move;" Secretly; he was pleased and relieved that the voice wasn't leaving; even when he hadn't moved. Finally, he had hope!
You can do it!
"How?"
You have to find it within yourself to do this. No one else can do this for you.
"Every time I move; it hurts too much"
I know. If you want help; you have to find it.
He planted his arms as firmly on the ground as he could; and painfully raising his torso up over his arms. Bearing his weight down on them; he somehow found the strength to pick them up; first one and then the other; moving them one inch at a time; progressing up the hill; pulling his body up the hill; until crying out in pain; he stopped moving.
Good! Do it again!
Again he repeated the maneuver; again crying out in pain; but forced himself to keep going; inch by painful inch.
Good work, Keep going.
After what seemed like an eternity; he stopped; his body protesting in more pain than he could handle. "I can't go on!" Not even having a clue how far he had or hadn't gone; he no longer cared; it was too painful and much too difficult.
Yes, you can!
"No, I can't do this!" He was breathing hard now; his body over exerted and beyond exhaustion
NO! You don't have permission to give up! You're stronger than this! You can do this!!
He found himself crying in earnest now. "I can't take anymore; just let me lay here and let go!"
NO! You have never been a quitter! You can do this! Let's go; one push at a time!"
He once again; forced himself to painfully use his arms and move them forward; inch by excruciating inch. Soon; even through the haze of pain and exhaustion; he began to hear the sound of the ocean getting closer and closer; like he was almost on top of it. What seemed like centuries later; he'd reached the top of the hill. Giving one last, desperate effort; he pulled himself up over the edge and flopped down on his back in exhaustion; allowing himself to finally relax as the voice congratulated him on his hard and painful journey.
Good job! I'm proud of you!
He couldn't move; he wanted to give into the darkness where he lay. He smiled at the voice in his head. Finally able to relax; albeit; painfully' he closed his eyes.
No! Don't stop now!! You can't stay there!
I can't move!
You have to calm down. Don't give up now.
"Where do I go?"
Use your head. Think.
Using every ounce of strength he had left; he clumsily got to his feet and searched with just his eyes; finally; and thankfully; after stumbling straight ahead; one step after another; he stopped; having located a long pier of rocks below him; in a secluded cove; a small; seemingly untouched stretch of beach. Sanctuary!
Looking around; he spotted what appeared to be steps going down; so he; his steps excruciatingly slow and careful; each one renewing the intense pain shooting through his body; climbed down the stairs. By the time he reached the bottom; Man thought he would pass out from the pain and exhaustion. Every fiber of his being screamed for him to stop and just lay down on the spot. As he started to give in to his body's demands for rest; that voice proved he was still not alone;
Keep going, you hear me? Don't you stop yet!"
"I can't go on!"
SShh. Calm down. Use your head!! Don't give up now!
Painstakingly slow; he searched for a hiding place; thankfully; finding one in a short time. Carefully, tucking himself into the hidden cave-like area; dazed and confused; with his beaten and abused body unable to walk another step; allowed himself to relax; hearing the wonderful voice in his head; still there as it told him: "Good Job! Now, sleep!"
Feeling safely hidden from the world; he quickly did just that. He fell asleep in the surrounding darkness. His last conscience thought was a "thank you" to that life-saving voice; that had pushed him and kept him going until he was safe.