Hey y'all! Here it is! I will be posting a couple of chapters tonight, including this one in celebration of NEW YEARS! WOOOOOO! (And, in response to a question for the last chapter, it isn't that she was out for so long that her wounds healed on their own, it is part of the supernatural bit of this story, along with her connection to others' memories. So her dream, and the chanting, that all really happened. [But it wasn't Nathan] :) Do I need to make that clearer in the previous chapter? Or do you all think that it is fine as it it? I want it to be clear that it is some supernatural force healing her... Does that make sense? Thanks for the feedback! Especially you, Melstrife!:))


Chapter 11

I woke up in the hospital. I couldn't remember how I had gotten there. I had no idea what was going on. I was attached to several different machines and an IV. When I tried to speak, all that came out was a raspy croak. The nurse in my room looked familiar. Becky. From before. She was sitting in a chair next to me, half asleep when I made my attempt to talk. She was suddenly very alert and got up and left my field of vision. I was still too weak to move much, so I lay there, still. She reappeared with a glass of water in one hand. She grabbed the bed's remote control and sat me up. She helped me take a sip of the water and began speaking to me. "You gave us all a scare, my dear. How you manage to end up in all of these crazy situations is beyond me. Stitches a week and a half ago, and now being treated for dehydration, malnutrition, and a nasty concussion. Speaking of which, how's your noggin feeling, dearie?"

I did a quick self-assessment. "Much better, I think." I rasped. Becky helped me to take another drink. "What happened?" I asked. "I don't remember how I got here." She gave me a sharp glance. I clarified. "I know Nathan is the reason I'm here, but-," my voice broke and I coughed, weakly. Another sip, and Becky started explaining. "He drove you here." I gaped at her. "At first we thought he had found you like that, but then he confessed everything. That's how we knew to check for a concussion. He got you here in the nick of time, too. Another half hour and I'm not sure we would be talking, dearie. He's now in custody, you know. So don't worry about anything. Just start recovering." Becky gave me a small smile and helped me finish the glass of water and then left to go update the doctor on my condition. Nathan had given up? After everything? After all of that pain and terror? Maybe there was something more to his obsession than just obsession. I let that thought go before I could really pursue what that might mean. I didn't need to think about it. I was free, safe, and recovering. Nathan had apparently had a stroke of clear judgement and turned himself in. My eyes drifted closed as I wandered down my mind's eye and I dozed off.


I was woken by the doctor gently shaking my shoulder. "Miss Amare. How are you feeling?" I blinked and took a deep breath. I was pain free and only a little sore. "Great. Best I've felt in days." The doctor, Jameson by his nametag, smiled and I noted the relief on his face. "Did I really scare you all that much?" I asked, half joking. His face became grave as the smile left his eyes. "You were reported missing a week ago today, Emily. And from what we were told, you were only conscious for a few hours of that time. You could have been seriously injured. Actually, Emily, it's something of a miracle that we are even talking right now. Your concussion should be totally gone by our evaluations and all you should be feeling right now are the lingering effects of the dehydration and malnutrition." His eyes softened as he looked down at me. "I'm glad you're okay, Emily. You've been through a lot lately. Rest." With that, he touched my shoulder and rose from his seat. He gave me a gentle smile that I returned and he left me alone with my thoughts. I subsequently ignored everything that jumped to the front of my mind, still too tired to really make sense of everything. I closed my eyes and napped until Becky returned to check on me.

After that, it was a quick process of getting me back on my feet and back to school. I might have helped it along by pretending I was feeling better than I was. A couple of police officers came into my hospital room as I was preparing to be checked out. They asked me routine questions and when I had satisfied them, Doctor Jameson came in to give me leave to go. Deputy McMillan and her partner offered to give me a ride back to my house. During the trip, she told me that there wasn't a trial date. That would be set when my parents returned. She had made the call to my school's principal and told him what had happened. He said my teachers wouldn't say anything to anyone and that I had been excused from the days I missed. I laughed, somewhat bitterly. After all that, they were just worried about attendance.

McMillan called my parents right there in my driveway. She gave them a brief summary and assured them that I was okay. She then handed the cell phone to me. I had to hold the phone away from my ear, my parents were both yelling so loudly. They were talking at the same time and told me that if they could, they would change the date of their plane ticket so they could come home early. They said they loved me and that I had to give them the full run down when they got home. My dad yelled that. He sounded like he wanted to kill Nathan. And he probably did. This wasn't something so easily forgotten. I managed to switch the conversation around into asking if I could buy a new phone since mine had been destroyed. They agreed wholeheartedly and I soon said my goodbyes, promising that I was fine and that I would get Abby to stay the night with me. I made the trip to the phone store and purchased a new iPhone on my dad's emergency card he always left me whenever they went out of country. I got my contacts transferred wirelessly and spent the next couple of hours reading through messages that I had been forced to ignore last week. I waited on replying to any of them, though. I wasn't sure how to answer the majority.

Later that day, my parents called me on my new phone. My mom was crying saying that she and my dad couldn't get their tickets switched. I told them again that I was fine. They needed to stay and finish their business there. My mom reluctantly agreed and said she loved me and couldn't wait to see me. We said good-bye and hung up. The rest of the day went by in a blur. I thought about texting Abby to see if she could come stay with me, but decided I needed to be alone with myself for a while. I didn't think I could stand the thought of anyone near me. I had tolerated it at the hospital because it was necessary. But now, the thought of anyone with me, touching me in any way at all, made my skin crawl. I ended up lying in bed with my phone, tediously answering every message, explaining to some extent and stressing the need to be alone and to not be bothered for the rest of the day. I fell asleep clutching my old teddy bear, whose security I hadn't needed in a long time. Tonight, though, I needed something that kept me here, anchored to reality and secure in the fact that where I was, was safe.


The next morning found me driving to Jason's house to pick him up for school.

-Me: Here.-

I waited only a moment before Jason came sprinting out of his home. He slid into the passenger seat and grabbed me in a hug. I tensed up, hating that I hated it. Right as I was about to tell him I couldn't deal with touch right now, when he let go and bombarded me with questions. "Emily, are you okay? Oh man, Em, I was so worried. I called the police right after you didn't show back up for class. Em. What happened? The police called me Sunday and told me you had been found and then I got your message last night and nearly drove over to you, but you said you needed to be alone, and Emily," he stopped speaking and just looked at me with this intensity that made me miss his arms around me, suddenly made me okay. "Emily, I just want to know if you're okay." I looked over at him and burst into tears. Immediately, his arms were cradling me, rocking me. He made soft soothing noises as he pressed his lips against my forehead.

Eventually, I calmed down enough to relate the barest details to him. I ended with, "And Jason, I can barely stand this, right now. You holding me, even though I need it. I can barely deal with it."

Jason became still. "Did he- touch you? Emily? Did he hurt you?"

I had never heard Jason's voice so cold. I swallowed. "Not, not exactly." Jason pulled away a little and stared me directly in the eyes. "Did. He. Hurt. You." There was anger in his eyes, yes, but there was terror, too, and overwhelming sorrow. "Yes." I whispered. Jason pulled me back into his embrace as I broke down again. "He- he said he loved me. And then he kissed me, or tried to. I shoved him away and got to the door. But, I fell and got my breathe knocked out of me. He tied me to the cot, but I got a knife- and- and then when I tried to run away again, I think he hit me. I mean, well, I don't really remember. I was up at the door, and- and then I was tied to the cot." I felt Jason struggling to keep his calm appearance, but I could hear his heart pounding. "After that, one of the ties broke and I got out of the others. That's when I called you. I found my phone but then he came back and it hurt so much when he grabbed my arms I passed out." Jason took one of my hands, gently, and turned it over, looking for evidence. "Em, there's nothing there."

"I dreamed. When I woke up, my arms didn't hurt, but my head did, there was a rose on my arm that I don't remember how- and after that-," I paused to take a deep breath. "I woke up in the hospital." I stared down at the faint rose on my wrist, tracing its outline. For all it reminded me of, I didn't hate it. I thought it was beautiful. It was the beginning of something new, an end to everything before.

"A rose, Em? What do you mean?" I turned my arm toward him to show him. "Just there. The light has to catch it." I showed him. Jason reached over to touch my wrist, but both of us were shocked and jumped apart. Jason rubbed his hand, "Dang."

I looked over at him. The pity in his eyes made me swallow hard and put my car in reverse. I backed out of his driveway and drove the way to school in silence. Honestly, this wasn't how I'd imagined seeing him after all this would be.

When we got to school and started walking to the building, Jason grabbed my hand and was promptly shocked again. "Ow!" I snatched my hand away. "Let's just walk, okay? I'm not sure I'm really up for more physical contact right now. Not when it's this… painful." Jason winced. We didn't speak for the remainder of the walk into the building. Then we went our separate ways.


My first few classes were surprisingly quiet. No one asked me what happened, just how I was, and did I need any help with the assignments, or was I sure I got what we were going over. That all changed when I got to musical rehearsal. I was swarmed by friends all inquiring how I was and asking what had happened. Even Mrs. Radley asked me if I was good to go with rehearsal later today and she offered to let me sit out and watch. "Thanks, but I need to get back into it. I'll go easy." I smiled at her, and she sent me off to get changed. Our costumes had arrived today (talk about lucky timing) and we were going through them all, trying them on and then parading around with them on stage to get Mrs. Radley's approval.

My first thought when trying on my first costume was, well, at least I don't have to worry about losing weight anymore. It stopped me in my tracks. That was incredibly morbid. I shrugged those thoughts off and I walked out on stage and shivered with excitement. It was starting to feel real. Even after being gone, I knew I was ready for this.

Costume after costume got approved and finally, it was time for our next classes. I reluctantly shed my final gown, a white wedding dress that cascaded in tiers, and changed back into my regular clothes. I grabbed my bag from its resting place in the greenroom and exited through the back hallway. I had to stand there for a moment. I looked down the dim expanse of hall and shuddered. The last time I was here was when he took me. I forced myself to turn around and start walking to the doors leading to the traffic flow of students in the main hall. My hands were on the door when music caught my ear. I looked over my shoulder to see who was there. "Christine... my Emily..." I heard, faintly. The words floated around the air and faded into nothingness as if they had never been. They were so low and melancholy. I turned and listened for more. "Soon my love...," the voice sang. "Soon you will be with me." I took a few steps deeper into the hallway, searching for the voice's owner. "Hello? Is someone there?" I called, gently. Silence answered me. As I left, I realized that I hadn't seen Ty in class.

He wasn't there the next day either.

Or the next.


There you go! Next chapter soon! Happy New Year! Welcome 2017!