Part seven
Erica
'My head' I groaned out loud when I first started to come to. I carefully turned it from side to side, but still didn't open my eyes. "Great work Erica, wake up with a hangover when you haven't even been drinking" I thought to myself and let out a small, unrecognisable laugh.
When I tried to move my arm a searing pain shout through my body, forcing me to open my eyes. Still in shock from the pain and blinded by the harsh light I closed them again and buried my head in the pillows with a loud, pain-filled sigh.
'Erica think, something isn't right here' I mumbled, as if saying it out loud would make more sense of everything 'Why cant I move? And where is that pain coming from?'
After gathering my strength for a couple of seconds I opened my eyes again, and this time I actually managed to keep them open. I looked around the familiar scene of my room, trying to blink away the double-vision and dizziness I was feeling. Having succeeded in focusing again, I looked down towards my hands and it wasn't until now that I realised that I was lying on my side. That must have been where the pain was coming from, I was lying on my arms, no wonder I couldn't move.
I let out a small laugh at my own stupidity before attempting to lift my arms again. What the hell is wrong with me?! I thought as I once again failed to even free my hands.
Ignoring the pain I forced myself to focus and it wasn't long before I realised why I couldn't move, I was tied up.
'What the fuck?' I said out loud, and by now the not knowing was starting to scare me. What was I doing here, tied up in my own bedroom?
All possible scenarios flashed through my mind, before an image appeared more clearly than the others. The dark hair, the high cheek-bones and the dead, grey eyes - Jason.
Tom
I was frozen. Every single part of my body felt like it was made out of iron, I couldn't even lift my hand. As realisation and fear filled me my eyes wandered up to Erica's window, what was she still doing inside? mixed with different curse-words and prayers raced through me until it finally hit me, what if she was hurt? What if she wouldn't be able to get out on her own?
I listened for the fire-trucks again and realised that they were still minutes away. What if they didn't get here in time? They need to save Erica. Somebody needs to save her.
Erica
I let out a quiet sob as I stopped fighting the knots, and for a moment I just wanted to give up. I'll just lay here until someone comes and unties me.
I felt tears starting to well up, but decided that I wasn't going to cry and blinked them away. I kept blinking but the stinging feeling wouldn't go away, not matter what I did.
That's when it hit me, after a surprising amount of time, I wasn't crying. I looked towards the door and could just make out a thin trail of smoke slipping through underneath it.
That son of a b tied me up and set the house on fire?! What the hell did I do to deserve this? I thought angrily before coming to my senses.
As more tears filled my eyes I couldn't hold them back anymore. 'HELP!' I screamed at the top of my lungs. 'Somebody please help me!'
---
'Erica!' I suddenly heard someone scream 'Are you in here!?'
'Help!' I screamed again before couching so hard I felt like my lungs were about to give out. 'I'm in here! Help me…please…'
I broke into another fit of coughs and didn't even register the door being kicked open. I felt someone quickly untie my hands and then pick me up, and when I finally opened my eyes, Toms eyes where the first thing I saw.
'You where right Tom' I sobbed, 'You were right all along. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry'
He didn't even look at me, but yelled 'Cover your mouth!' before walking out the room. As we got out into the hallway the heat was much more intense and I could hear the sparkling noises of wood burning. I didn't even do anything, I just remained where I was, in Toms arms quietly repeating the words over and over again. 'This is all my fault, all my fault…'
After a few minutes we reached the downstairs and the amount of smoke now surrounding us made it harder and harder to breathe. I felt Toms arms wrap tighter around me the more I coughed and after what seemed like an eternity he reached the kitchen window. Before I knew it I was being lifted out by someone else and the second Toms arms left me, I started to shiver.
The fireman carefully lifted me out of the window and walked across the lawn towards the ambulance parked there. I wiped the tears from my stinging eyes and looked around me to try and found Tom.
I found him just outside the window, walking over to some of the paramedics while coughing insanely. Suddenly the fireman put me down and I was surrounded by paramedics.
'Are you alright miss?' one of them asked 'I need to put this one you' he continued referring to the oxygen-mask in his hand 'It will help you breathe'
I shook my head violently before looking back at the house, once again trying to find Tom. When I didn't see him I stood up in panic, shaking free from the blanket the guy put over me. 'I need to know that Tom's ok' I said loudly, searching though all the people for his blond head. 'I need to know…' I began to repeat when something caught my eye. Someone was lying on the ground, in front of the house. Someone who looked strangely familiar.
'TOM!' I screamed as I jumped out of the ambulance and ran towards him. 'TOM!' but before I could reach him someone grabbed me from behind and stopped me from running anymore. 'Let me go! I need to see him'
'Miss' the man said 'You need to let them work on your friend right now' he continued in a calm voice, still holding on to me tightly.
'I just need to…' I cried as I fought to break free from his hold.
'The paramedics need room to work, its better for him if you take care of yourself right now' he said again, loosening his grip a bit, as I stopped fighting him. 'Now, can you tell me if he is on any medication?' he asked me.
'Ehm' I began as tears fell down my face. 'No, I don't.. Oh, he has asthma, Oh my god'
He cant breathe, I thought to myself. Tom is… this is all my fault, if it wasn't for me this wouldn't have happened. 'TOM!'I screamed loudly, as loud sobs overtook my body 'TOM!' I fell to the ground as the realisation hit me, He did this for me, he did all of this for me.
The fireman lifted me up from the ground and carried me over to the ambulance again, but by this point I was hardly aware of anything. I felt a stinging feeling in my arm and then a calm sensation flowed though my body.
I let out a series of loud sobs before I sank back onto the bed, with one last look out the window, and at the other ambulance carrying my best friend.
'Tom…'
---
An hour later the doctor discharged me and I was left, alone in my room, trying to think of what to do next. I hadn't stopped shivering since I got here, but I wasn't crying anymore. I felt like all of my tears were gone, wasted, and it didn't even matter.
I walked out of my room and wandered down the hall, not knowing where I was heading, but at the same time feeling more determined than ever. I needed to find Tom. I needed to know that he was ok.
I turned a corner and found myself standing in front of a door marked ICU. I looked around before carefully pushing it open and slipping inside. I was instantly met by a strange, sterilised smell and a continuous beeping echoed around the room. I took a deep breath before I reached out and pulled the curtain, covering the single bed in the room, aside.
As I laid eyes on Tom I felt one of the tears I thought was gone find its way down my cheek. He looked so fragile, and so pale, and it was heartbreaking to see him like this.
I took a seat on the chair next to his bed and carefully took his hand in mine, gently squeezing is, as if letting him know that I was there.
'Hi Fletcher, its me' I began quietly, mustering a small smile for him. 'That was a really stupid thing you did back there, and I really should be mad at you, but I just cant. You saved my life Tom, and for that I can never thank you enough' I continued, every other word being interrupter by a quiet sob. 'And I know that all of this is my fault, and I've been so unfair towards you. You were right all along Tom. You were right and I was too stubborn and narrow-minded to believe you, and for that I am so sorry'
'You have always been there for me, and you are my best friend in the entire world' I said while gently stroking his cheek. 'But the truth is, there's so much more to us than that. I…' I stammered 'I love you so much Tom, and not just as a friend, but as something so much more. I love you with all or my heart, and I am so sorry it has taken me this long to realise it'
'Honey' I heard a voice say, and as I turned around I found my mum standing in the doorway. She walked up to me and gently put her hand on my shoulder. 'Come on, your dad is in the car, you need to go home and rest'
I ferociously shook my head and returned my focus on Tom 'I cant leave him mum. Its my fault that he is in here, and I'm not leaving until he wakes up'
'Trust me, its better for him if you went home and focused on getting better, so that he can do the same. He needs his rest right now, and so do you'
'But…'
'No buts Erica' she said calmly as she almost lifted me out of the chair. 'He will be ok, you know that, and you shouldn't be here anyway, the doctor told you to stay of your feet'
I gave Toms hand a final squeeze and as I gave him a kiss on the cheek I whispered into his ear, a quiet 'I love you' before allowing my mum lead me out of the room.
---
Tom
I let out a quiet groan as I opened my eyes that night. I blinked several times to help my eyes to adjust to the blinding lights, before looking around the room ad realising where I was. Based on the bed, the cold colours and the needle in my arm, the hospital seemed like a logical guess.
'Ah, I see that we're finally awake' a nurse I hadn't noticed until now said with a smile 'How are you feeling Mr Fletcher'
'Sore' I whispered hoarsely before attempting to clear my aching throat. 'How's Erica? Is she alright?'
'That young girl you came in with?' the nurse asked and I nodded quickly 'She is just fine, she inhaled a lot of smoke but after a mild treatment the doctor sent her home with her parents. She told me that you saved her life, that was a pretty courageous thing to do' she finished with a smile.
'I don't know' I whispered 'I didn't think'
'I can tell' she giggled before taking up my chart from the foot of the bed 'And I bet that you are wondering when you can get out of here?'
'Pretty much' I smiled.
'You had a severe asthma attack due to the smoke, and your throat will probably be quite sore for a couple of days, but other than that, you were really lucky'
'So, when can I go home?' I questioned.
'We need to keep you over night for observation, but first thing in the morning would be my guess' she finished and put the chart back. 'For now, all you can do is get some sleep, and focus on getting better'
Eye-opener, yeah, I guess you could call it that, I thought to myself as the nurse left me alone again. The events of the days were slowly sinking in, and as I yawned three times in a row I realised how tired I was. Tomorrow, I thought, tomorrow I will tell her how I feel. No putting it off anymore, its sink or swim now Tom. Sink or swim.
Let me sleep, for when I sleep I dream that you are here
Your mine and all my fears are left behind
I float on air, the nightingale sings gentle lullabies
So let me close my eyes
And sleep a chance to dream, so I can see the face I long to touch, to kiss
But only dreams can bring me this
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