Naia's POV
I woke up feeling groggy and my throat sore. That and the throbbing pain radiating from my body. I tried to look around where I was because it most certainly wasn't at the Samuals house. It was too bright and it smelled to clean to be their house.
"You're awake!" A voice said and I turned my head. The lights were too bright that even if I did have my eyes open, it didn't do anything besides hurt them, so I closed my eyes shut.
"No, Naia, keep your eyes open. I know the lights are bright but your eyes will adjust if they're open." The same voice said. "Just wait for it."
And so I kept my eyes open and voila, they did adjust. I looked back at where the voice came from and saw that it was April.
"Do you want some water?" She asked kindly, a gentle smile on her face.
I nodded and she left. I tried to remember what had happened, why I was back here.
That's when it all came flooding back.
"Here's your water. Slow sips." April said, returning with a cup that had a straw in it.
I had run to Firehouse 51. They saw my bruises and I tried to run back to the Samuals house. But I didn't look before I ran into the street and a car hit me. I remember Sylvie and Gabby tending to me and then the ambulance ride Gabby telling me that I would be okay.
"Naia?" April asked.
Ellie, Shane and Thomas were still with the Samuals. I wasn't home. They'd blame Ellie and they'd get beaten. I had to get out of here. I had to explain to the Samuals that it wasn't their fault, that they should be punishing me. I had to be there because I had to face my consequences, not Ellie or Shane or Thomas.
I started to move to get out of bed. My stomach hurt so bad but I kept struggling to get out of the sheets. I felt a familiar panic start to rise up to my throat followed by intense nausea.
"Dr. Manning!" April yelled as she held me in my bed. Dr. Manning came running.
"Naia, do you remember me? I'm Dr. Manning. You're okay." Dr. Manning said as she took over April's spot of holding me.
I felt tears sting my eyes as my stomach burned.
"It's okay. Everything's going to be okay." Dr. Manning sounded so confident I almost believed her. I relaxed my body and laid back down. The panic was settling down but it was still bubbling at the bottom of my stomach.
"Everything's going to be okay." Dr. Manning said.
Was it though?
Maybe right now for me, it was okay, but it wouldn't be back at the Samuals house. It wouldn't be okay for Ellie and Shane and Thomas when they got out of bed and went downstairs to find that I wasn't home.
They were getting in trouble for my actions.
I couldn't stay here.
I started fighting Dr. Manning's hold because I couldn't stay here while they were most likely getting hurt. However, I did have to admit, Dr. Manning had a pretty tight hold on me.
"Naia, you have to relax," Dr. Manning told me, "Look at me."
Her last order threw me off a little but I knew what she had asked so I did it.
"You're okay," She said calmly, "So I really need you to just relax."
I nodded slowly and despite my panic, tried my best to follow Dr. Manning's directions. As hard it was, it was helpful and it wasn't long before I calmed down. I was no longer in that panicky and frenzy state but there was still a knot of worry for Ellie, Shane and Thomas' safety.
"You wanna tell me what's bothering you?" Dr. Manning asked kindly, "Maybe I can help?"
I just shook my head.
I doubted she could help.
Dr. Manning nodded, "Alright, well, if you need anything there's going to always be someone nearby."
I nodded again to show that I had heard and Dr. Manning along with April left me alone in the hospital room.
I looked around the room, at the beeping heart monitor, the IV bag that was connected to my hand. I wondered what was going on back at the Samuals. There was no way everyone was still sleeping and there was no way that they didn't notice that I was gone.
Then what would they do?
I tried to imagine what would happen.
Well, for sure they would get angry and scream at each other for a bit, that's what always happened whenever something went wrong. Then they'd turn to us. They'd probably start blaming Ellie first since they knew we were extremely close and if I had any ideas, Ellie would know all of them.
Except for this time.
I had told Ellie that I was going out, but I didn't tell her where or why.
So this time Ellie actually didn't know.
That didn't matter though because they wouldn't believe her, even though she was telling the truth.
Then they'd probably loop the boys into it as well somehow, asking if they knew where I was.
Which they didn't.
Then all of them, all three of them, would be punished in any way the Samuals desire.
I should have never left this morning.