Chapter 52: FLASHBACKS

Autumn's POV

Two weeks later

I slowly move around the hospital room limping heavily. Everywhere still hurt. Bones were still healing. The wounds on my back still ached. The burns were still there. My GSWs were still giving me issues.

My mental status… Let's not go there.

I feel Mom watching me as I take off the hospital gown and start to change. She takes in the mass of bandages and how I barely had any weight. I pull on my t-shirt quickly to cover up but it doesn't help. My DANGEROUSLY OVEREDUCATED t-shirt hung on me despite the fact it fitted perfectly when I left Virginia.

I start pulling on the slim fitting sweatpants but I have difficulties bending over. I start to go red. I couldn't even do this by myself. Two weeks of having to be helped to use the bathroom. Help getting washed. I felt weak.

"I… Can you help me please?" I whisper embarrassed.

"Of course," She says.

Mom walks over and quickly helps me. Thankfully she lets me tie the drawstring by myself. I then sit on the bed and pull on the trainer socks and trainers with only minor difficulties but the action winds me and I have to stop and catch my breath.

"Autumn you can stay longer if you need to…" Mom begins.

"No," I say cutting her off. "I need to get home. I need my own apartment…"

"It's okay," She says. "I understand."

I nod and slowly get up. Dad, Mack and Keegan were already gone. They'd gotten a plane back a few days ago. Mom and I were getting the train thinking it would better as there is no turbulence and more room for me to move about. I could also sleep there as she had gotten a cabin area. It was a longer journey but it was more comfortable.

Joan grabs our luggage and smiles.

"Let's go."

It was around 12:30 when we get onto the train. Despite the fact that it wasn't a big journey between the taxi to the train I was majorly out of breath so when we finally get into the cabin I lean against the wall breathing heavily. I feel mom watch me with concern but I ignore her.

"Lie down sweetheart," She says quietly. "We've got a long journey ahead of us."

I nod and make my way over to the sleeping area. I lie down awkwardly as I can no longer lie on my side. Mom sits down beside me and strokes my hair gently. Twenty minutes later I fall into a restless sleep.

Flashback

Everything's dark. I shiver violently and I press my back against the wall. I have no idea how long I've been here for. I lost count after three days. At some point after that I'd been let down from the ceiling restraints. However my shoulders still ached so it mustn't have been that long ago. However I had no idea how long ago the last round of interrogation was.

And this is the bit I hate the most. It wasn't the pain that got me, I could cope with that.

It was the waiting.

I had no idea when they were coming back and my mind was alive. All I could think about was what they would do to be next. What their new tactic was going to be. I felt so lonely. So isolated. The only contact I've had is when they put water through the small hole in the water. And every so often food. I ate the food quickly when it came and kept it down with only minor difficulties. I cherished the water.

I look up when I hear the door opening. It was Zimmerman. No...

"Good morning, Miss Campbell," He says. I push myself into the corner more. "Now that will be enough of that."

He walks over and grabs me. Walking me over to the front of the room her raises my arms up in the air. He quickly reattaches me to the ceiling restraints. I let out a whimper when he pulls me up so my feet don't touch the ground.

"Mr Seyal has told me to use new tactics," He smiles scarily. "So I brought something with me."

I watch as he pulls a long rope like object. Wait is that a…? I start to struggle. No, no, no...

He swings round with it so fast my mind barely catches it. It comes in contact with my back and I let out a whimper but when he pulls back it rips out flesh. I let out a small scream as all my senses are clouded with pain. I close my eyes.

Another hit comes and this time I don't hold back. I let out a sob and another scream.

Please stop. Please stop.

But he doesn't.

Joan's POV

I watch Autumn out of the corner of my eye from my chair. She was becoming restless. Mumbling under her breath. From here I could tell she was shaking despite the blanket around her. Something was wrong.

"Autumn?" I say getting up.

"No, no!" She mumbles. "Please! Stop!"

I small cry escapes her lips and I quickly close the distance. I gently grab her shoulders, shaking her slightly.

"Autumn sweetheart, wake up!"

She startles awake and grabs my wrists. Tears stream down her face and she looks around the room with fear and confusion desperately trying to get her bearings.

"Hey, hey, you're safe," I say pulling her into hug. She clings to me. "Nightmare?"

"Flashback," She says pulling back.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

She drops her head and shakes it. I understood. Some things need to become less painful first.

"It's okay, I understand," I whisper. "Now I'm going to get some coffee. Do you want any…"

"Please don't leave me alone," She whimpers fear lacing her voice.

"Autumn your safe here," I remind her.

"Please," Autumn says. "At least let me go with you."

"What brought this on?" I ask gently. She was okay at the hospital.

"They left me…"

"They left you alone?"

She nods.

"And you're scared of that happening again?"

"It's weird. I know you're not leaving leaving but…" She takes a breath. "It was the worst part"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean the pain was bad. They got more creative with their methods when I didn't give them what they wanted but…" She begins. "But when they left me alone I had no idea when they were coming back. What they were going to do next. I can remember a point where I thought they weren't going to come back and just as I gave up they did."

I look at Autumn in horror. Isolation is a very harsh psychological torture. Being alone with your own pain and thoughts can drive a person crazy. I have no idea how she survived for so long. I pull her into a hug. After few minutes we pull apart and she leans her head on my shoulder.

"I want to get something when we get home," She says after a short silence.

"And what's that?"

"Blonde hair dye," She smiles.

"You really don't like the hair do you?"

"Nope," She says chuckling. "Hate it."

"Of course…" I laugh.

"And one last thing…"

"Yes Autumn?"

"When can I ditch this stupid accent? I know I'm American but this accent is annoying me," She says emphasising the word annoying.

"Now if you want. You are off mission now," I smile.

"Thank you."

And just like that the English accent was back.