The bright sunlight from an open curtain was what woke Dani up. She stirred in the bed, before realizing her movement was restricted by the IV's and wires she was connected to. Opening her eyes Dani saw that she was not in her room, but in the hospital. Looking to her left, she saw a nurse adjusting the windows curtains to accommodate the sunlight. It was then everything came rushing back to Dani, that she remembered everything that had happened the night before. She tried sitting up, to get up out of the bed. She had to know what happened to her friends, if Hayden was gone, who made it out alive, four, she kept thinking the number four. Her heart rate began rising rapidly, the nurse saw the young girl awake and ran over to try to soothe the girl.
"My friends. Are they ok? Where are they?" She asked, not sure if they were what she should be asking but it was what she wanted to know now.
The nurse looked at her and shook her head. Rubbing her hand through Dani's hair, still trying to soothe the girl.
"You have visitor dear. I'll let them explain." The nurse said before exiting.
Waiting staring at the door in anticipation Dani sobbed audibly as Ashley and Nikki walked through the door to her room. Looking worse for wear but much better than Dani.
The two girls rushed their friend, hugging her as best as they could under the circumstances.
All of the girls were crying as they sat in the room, going over the events, asking how Dani felt, telling her what had happened to her, having the second worst set of injuries. Dani stopped them, trying to calm herself before asking the one question that had been plaguing her mind the whole time.
"Who-who else made it?" She asked, wary of whether she really wanted to know.
Looking at each other, Nikki nodded towards Dani, telling Ashley she should tell her. Sighing and moving closer to Dani, holding the wounded girls hand she told her.
"When…when the ambulance got there they tried to save Sean. They tried but he was already long gone." Dani shuddered, but encouraged her friend to go on as both girls had tears present in their eyes. "But-but when they found Brandon he was breathing, just…just slightly. He's, he's been in surgery for a few hours but…they say he's going to make it." She finished, unsure if the smile she wanted to appear on her face was the right expression for the occasion or not.
Closing her eyes and nodding Dani let the few tears escape her eyes. Trying not to become overwhelmed by all of the feelings she had coursing through her.
Turning back to share a look with Nikki, Ashley brushed the tears from her cheeks before turning back to Dani.
"Were gonna go sweetie. You need to rest, we'll be back I promise." She said, gripping Dani's hand tight before letting her friend go. Both girls walking out slowly, waving at their friend before exiting.
Breathing in a deep breath Dani looked out her window, overlooking the small town. There was a knock at the open door and Dani turned, looking to see who it was this time. Shocked at who was walking into her hospital room her eyes widened and she wasn't sure whether it was a dream or reality. Standing, still in the doorway was the infamous hero of the Stab series and real life Woodsboro murders, Sidney Prescott herself. Dani blinked a few times at Sidney. She was beautiful, her hair up in a bun, wearing a nice pink dress and black jacket, she was currently wringing her hands in front of her as she stood in the room.
"They um told me I could come in for a second. It's kind of against policy but uh well under the circumstance…" She said, stopping herself and looking down at the ground before walking slowly to Dani's side. Sitting in a chair by her bed. She looked up into the surprised eyes of the young battered girl before looking away again, unsure of what to say.
She breathed in a shaky breath before again, meeting Dani's eyes, her hand reaching out to hold Dani's.
"I'm so sorry this happened to you." She said, tears appearing in the corner of her eyes now.
"It's not your fault." Dani croaked out, her voice having given out now.
Shaking her head, Sidney disagreed.
"I'm still so sorry. If it hadn't been for me. Or my family then Stab would never have been made. Then you wouldn't have been hurt. I'm so sorry." Sidney said, trying to keep herself composed, apologizing to the girl.
"Don't be. Please, I can't blame you. You were in just the same situation as me."
"I would never wish anyone to go through what I did. If I could have done anything to stop it-" Dani cut her off quickly.
"You couldn't. No one could. No one person can stop anyone else from doing something but that person. Hayden was insane and nothing would have stopped her. You can't blame yourself." She said the final part slowly.
Sidney looked up again, at the solemn eyes of the seventeen-year-old girl in front of her. It was almost like looking into a mirror; fifteen years ago, this was her. Shaking her head, she put on a tired smile, letting go of the sadness and regret. If this girl could keep as positive as she was then so could she.
"I guess in a way, were connected now." Sidney said, her smile affecting Dani, who let one of her own slip onto her face.
"Yeah, I guess so. Before this I never, I never though about what it would be like to meet you. You're much smaller in person." Dani said, causing Sidney to laugh aloud. Wiping away her tears Sidney stood. Patting Dani's hand.
"I'm sorry I have to go. My-my publicist is going to kill me. I'm supposed to be on some morning show right now but when I saw the reports on the news…I just had to be here. I'm still so sorry, for your loss."
"Me too." Dani said, watching Sidney as she collected herself and walked towards the door of the room.
"Sidney." She called to the older woman.
"Yeah?" She said, looking back at the younger girl.
"Thank you. Your, your kind of my hero." The girl said, smiling.
Sidney chuckled again, tears once again appearing as she said to the young girl.
"Funny. Your mine." She said before exiting. Leaving a smile on Dani's face as she lay now alone in the room.
Dani Edwards. The girl. The survivor. The hero.