Prologue: Death?


" Damnit!" She slammed her pen down onto the table. "The bleeding bills can just pay themselves!" / / Why did Greg have to leave me with all these bills / / , she asked herself. "Because he's a bloody jerk and I'm better off without him", she reminded herself for the umpteenth time. "Though his checkbook would come in handy right about now." She heaved a sigh. "Okay, now I'm talking to myself, to boot. I'm just going to take my Zoloft and go to bed and deal with this tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is another day." / / Scarlett O'Hara, I'm not / /, she thought. With that thought, she climbed under her covers and sank into sleep.


/ / I'm awake! Or am I? I can't see. It's so dark. PAIN!!! OH, GOD, IT HURTS!!! / / The pain was excruciating. The worst she'd ever felt. Her chest felt like it was exploding. The thought of a heart attack never crossed her mind. The pain was too bad for her to think. Mercifully, she sank from consciousness.



Chapter One: Awakening


Sounds. Footsteps. A door opening.


"Well, how is she?"

A man's voice. She'd never heard it before.


/ / Where am I? The pain. A hospital, maybe? / /


"I got the shot out and the bleeding stopped. She's lost a lot of blood but I think she'll make it."

Another man.


/ / Where's Mom and Dad? If I'm in a hospital, wouldn't they be here? / /


"That fool of a captain nearly did her in, he did."


"You go get some rest, Gibbs. Good job, man. Annamaria's got the helm. I'll sit with her a bit, then."

"Aye, it's been a long night, Cap'n. Send fer me if ye need me."

"Rest assured, I shall. The girl be no good to us if she's dead."


/ / What's going on here? This is no hospital / / She struggled to open her eyes. They were so heavy. And there was still so much pain. She managed to open them just a crack. She was in a dimly lit room. Wood everywhere. A man sat in a straight backed chair beside her bed. And a strange man he was, too. Long dark hair framed a tanned face. His hair was in braids and dreadlocks with beads and other things tied into it. He wore a dirty red bandana around his head and beads and coins hung from it. He had a mustache and beard and his beard was divided into two braids. And his clothing was just as strange as the rest of him. / / This has to be a dream. / / she thought. / / But dreams don't hurt this bad. So thirsty. Maybe I'd better try to let him know I'm awake. / / She tried to speak but all she could manage was a tiny moan. Barely audible but somehow he must have heard her for his head jerked up and he stood and rushed to her side.


"Hello, luv. Glad t'see yer comin' round", he said


She licked her dry lips, hoping that he would get her meaning.


"You must be thirsty, you been out more than a day."


He poured her some water from a pitcher by the bed.


"Here ye go now. Not too much."


He held a small wooden cup to her mouth and she managed to take a few sips.


"Now, you'd best be getting back t'sleep, luv", he said. "Yer going t'need yer rest if yer to recover."

She closed her eyes. He was right, she was exhausted from the small amount of effort she had put forth to take down the water. She drifted off, this time not into unconsciousness, but into a deep and restful sleep.