Chapter 41: Something Is Wrong
Nessie's POV
The elevator had been broken down in my absence from the hotel. So I had to take the stairs up to my room. Luckily it was only on the third floor. I could manage that. However it became abundantly clear that something was wrong when I got to the top of the first flight of stairs.
My head was pounding as I struggled to breathe again. Pain exploded in my chest. I stopped climbing the stairs as I struggled to catch my breath. The pain was making it excruciatingly hard to breathe. There was pain everywhere. My chest. My back. Even walking was a difficult task.
After some time I decided to try climbing up the stairs once again. If I could just make it to my room then I could take some pain medication at least. I didn't want to worry Alec unnecessarily. Yes I was still mad at him. But I still didn't want him to worry.
Eventually I finally did make it up to my room. Alec was still there. Waiting for me I supposed.
"Nessie you're back," It may have been my imagination but he sounded relieved as he said that. "I was so worried that you'd run away and never come back. I was thinking about coming to search for you but I didn't want to upset you more. I didn't know what to do," he rambled on. I had to admit Alec rambling was cute.
"It's not like I have anywhere to go," I pointed out. "We are in a foreign country after all,"
"You could've contacted your family though,"
"I don't know their phone numbers," I admitted. I mean who memorized phone numbers anymore?
"Nessie what's wrong?" he asked when he noticed me getting Advil. "Also why are you wearing different clothes than you did when you left?"
"I found some nice clothes in town that I wanted to wear. I just have a headache," Lying was easier than I thought. Especially right now that I could breathe. Sort of. My breathing still felt a bit labored.
"Nessie you have no idea how sorry I am. If I could change what I did. If I could go back and time and fix things I would do so in a heartbeat. I know that words can't erase the pain that my actions have caused you. I will understand if you never forgive me. Once this is all over I will understand if you never want to see me ever again,"
I didn't say anything. I wanted to believe that he was being sincere. Part of me did believe that he was being sincere. However the other part of me was still cautious. Maybe I could forgive him. Maybe I would forgive him. But not today. Not right now.
"Nessie are you okay? You look like you are in pain. Did something happen out there?" he asked. He looked worried. Very worried. Apparently I wasn't doing as good of a job at hiding the pain as I thought I was doing.
"I'm fine," I said. "I just need to rest,"
I laid my head against the pillow and closed my eyes. I didn't even bothering changing into pajamas. I felt something snuggle up against my body. I opened my eyes ever so slightly and saw that it was just Lucy. I smiled at the little girl. Then I closed my eyes once again.
I woke up in a panic. I couldn't breathe. I started coughing worse then I ever had in my entire life. To my horror I saw blood in the palm of my hand where I coughed. I looked around quickly for Alec and realized that he wasn't there. Good. I didn't want him to see this. However Lucy looked really scared when she saw me hunched over coughing.
All I could do was hope and pray that the coughing would eventually stop. Blood continued to be expelled from my body every time that I coughed. Lucy started crying. I wanted to comfort her but there was nothing that I could do in my current state. Until finally, after what seemed like an eternity. The coughing started to subside and I could breathe a little easier.
"It's okay," I assured the little girl. "I'm fine Lucy. Don't worry," I hugged the small girl. That's when I realized that my shirt was covered in blood. I liked like a horrifying mess even to myself. I went into the bathroom and changed as quickly as I could. I didn't know how I was going to hide the scent of the blood though. No amount of cleaning would earse the smell. Not that it stopped me from trying.
I tried as hard as I could to fall back asleep. It didn't work though. I tossed and turned. Several times I would start coughing again. Eventually though I did fall asleep. Only to wake up two hours later.
Alec still hadn't returned from wherever he had gone. I was starting to worry about him. I shouldn't worry since he was a vampire and could take care of himself. Another round of coughing suddenly erupted from my chest. More blood came out.
Once the coughing stopped I got Lucy and I dressed. We could grab breakfast downstairs in the lobby. Hopefully they had fixed the elevator. I was not in the mood for having to climb back up the stairs again.
As soon as we got downstairs a familiar scent assaulted my nose. Could it be? My heart started racing as I followed the scent. I froze when I spotted my father in the distance. I saw him before he noticed me.
"Dad," I whispered.
He turned around suddenly and saw me.
Suddenly I collapsed onto the floor. My head was pounding and I couldn't breathe. My lungs ached for air that I couldn't draw in. I started to cough and cough. Blood was coming out again. I realized how stupid I'd been to think that being shot three times, one bullet even exiting my chest close to my heart, would have zero affect on me whatsoever. My outside wounds had healed but what about the damage inside?
I wasn't going to make it. The last thing I would ever see was my dad's panic stricken face as he ran toward me.
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