Chapter 9

It felt like weeks had passed since Raven was admitted to the hospital, Kai hadn't left her side for fear her father might show up. In reality it had only been 3 days but the constant worry and exhaustion had started to take its toll on him, Tyson and the others had been in to visit Raven, and Hillary had offered to sit with her while Kai went to grab something to eat and a shower but he didn't trust anyone else to watch over her. Ravens eyelids flickered a few times and Kai gripped her hand tighter but she didn't wake up… no matter how much he willed it.

Blackness all around, she heard voices every now and again, snippets of conversations, voices of people she didn't know at first. Raven wasn't sure what was happening but as time went by she heard more familiar voices, at first it was just Kai's he was talking with someone she didn't recognise and she couldn't understand what they were saying but he sounded sad, then it was Hillary's voice and Tyson's too they were pleading with someone but she couldn't make out what was happening, she wanted so badly to open her eyes but her mind kept pulling her back into the never-ending darkness where images of her mother's lifeless eyes stared back at her.

It was hard to say how much time had passed, she couldn't tell how long she'd been lost in the horrifying images her mind kept replaying over and over again, but Raven had felt a constant presence next to her, a calming protector, calling her back into the real world like a siren calls the ships to the rocks at sea, she pushed as hard as she could and her eyes began to flicker open, she was going to do it this time, she was going to be free at last from the nightmares. Light blinded her and she slowly started to raise her hand up to shield her eyes so she could tell where she was but a grip on her other arm tightened and Kai was leaning over her, his eyes were full of worry and relief. Raven smiled up at him, no doubt he'd been here the whole time "Where are we?" she asked, her voice was quiet and it hurt to talk but she needed answers. "You're in the hospital, we've been so worried about you, and the doctors say you have minor head injuries". "How long?" she whispered, Kai looked away towards the window before whispering back to her "4 Days", Ravens heart sank, she'd been fighting her own mind for 4 days, she'd thought for sure maybe 2 at most, time inside her head had passed slower than she realised. "I'm sorry I worried you all, what about my mum?" she knew the answer but still she needed to hear it from someone else, Kai sigh and sat back down next to her and held her hand tightly while he stroked her head with his other hand, "I should really call for your doctor first, they want to make sure your ok and that there is no lasting damage that they weren't aware of" she wasn't letting him off that easily "What about my mum?" she asked again "Raven…. I…. I think that you… already know" his shoulders sagged as he confirmed it for her that her mother was indeed dead and the police were still searching for her father. Tears streamed down her cheeks, she wanted to scream, let all her pain and anguish out but she felt too weak to do it. She saw the doctors usher Kai out of the room, and then they began their tests.

The doctors came out of Ravens room and the lead doctor came over to Kai with his clipboard in hand "Good news, there seems to be no lasting damage, she hasn't incurred any brain damage either despite being unconscious for 4 days, it's a miracle considering she has minor head injuries". Kai felt relief flood through him, she was ok, she was going to be ok… "We want to keep her in overnight just for extra observation to make sure we haven't missed anything, but she will be ok to go home in the morning. You can go back in and see her now, visiting hours end at 6" as the doctor walked away Kai walked over to Ravens room, he felt nervous about telling her he couldn't stay and watch over her tonight but the hospital were aware of the situation and if they were keeping a close eye on her then he doubted her father would get in without being noticed. He pushed the door open and was surprised to see her sat up in the chair near the window, she turned and smiled at him but her eyes were dull and he could tell she was putting on a brave front, he walked over and wrapped his arms round her holding her tightly he wanted to let her know he was there for her. "The doctors say you'll be ok" he whispered "I can stay with you until 6… you can come home tomorrow" she gripped his arms tightly "He's going to find me isn't he?" she asked, her voice was quiet and cracked and when he looked down at her face she had tears rolling down her cheeks. He didn't want to lie, but what good would it be if he told her that she was 100% safe, "I don't think he's stupid enough to come here Raven, the police are looking for him and the doctors are all aware of the situation, and when you come out I'll protect you".

The afternoon passed in silence, Raven wasn't sure what to say and she could tell Kai was worried about saying something wrong or upsetting her, when visiting hours were over he stroked her head and kissed her before he left and promised he'd be back in the morning to pick her up. She lay down on her bed and stared up at the ceiling, waves of sadness flooded over her and Raven closed her eyes and pictured her mother and brother with her, she wasn't sure how long she had been thinking about them before sleep took hold but she dreamt of them that night smiling down and watching over her.

It was still dark when Raven woke, the blinds to her window had been closed and the lights were all shut off, the only light was that of the hallway light streaming through the window on her door. She felt a chill run down her spine as she realised it was quiet… too quiet. The hospital had been noisy even when she was unconscious, she knew because she had heard conversations and the daily noises such as trolleys pushed along the corridors, but now there was nothing, no nurses chatting, no trolleys, nothing but the sound of her heart beating loud and fast inside her chest. She sat up and heard someone laughing, she spotted a shadow in the corner, the person stepped closer and as the light hit his face terror struck her…. Not here, he couldn't be, she was still in denial when he lunged and grabbed onto her neck with both hands "I'm ending this Raven" he whispered "Don't bother trying to call for help, those guards weren't much of a challenge" he sneered as his grip tightened. She could feel her air being cut off and Raven kicked frantically as she clawed at her father's hands and face, anything to get him off her, he'd pay for what he'd done she would make sure of it. He leaned closer, so close their faces almost touched "I want to see the life drain from your eyes" he smirked as he said it and she took the chance to push her face up and sink her teeth into his cheek, that was all she needed, the shock caused him to loosen his grip slightly and she clawed his hands off her neck and rolled off the bed. Raven jumped up and ran for the door, she grabbed the handle and pulled 'damn locked' by now her father had regained his composure, he walked over towards her, sensing that she was backed into a corner Raven desperately looked around for something, anything to use as a weapon, out of the corner of her eye she spotted an open draw full of needles and made a sprint for it, as she grabbed one her father grabbed her hair and pulled her backwards, she lost her balance and slammed backwards into him, he slammed her head down onto the desktop in front of her once… twice, her head began to pound and blood trickled down her forehead, it was over she closed her eyes and accepted her fate, three... four times… as he went to slam her down again she heard shots and his grip loosened, she fell to the floor as she heard doctors shouting and before she closed her eyes she saw her father lay in a pool of his own blood 'you deserved this you bastard' she thought before she blacked out for what felt like the hundredth time that week.