Chapter 7: I'm Not Dead
Archer blinked.
It felt like centuries since he last did that.
He saw white.
Was it heaven?
He was made aware of the presence of his body when it responded to a bloodcurdling scream that rang painfully in his ears.
Alexis appeared above him.
"You woke up! You're awake! Ahhhh you're alive!"
That made him pretty damn sure he was not in heaven.
Archer opened his mouth to speak, but only made as far as "Fuc-" before his throat closed up and violent coughs racked his body. An acute ache in his chest knocked the breath out of him, and in his misty pain he saw Alexis sprint out of the room.
He was sinking into darkness when somebody pushed something onto his face, and soothing voices lulled him to sleep.
"Archer. Are you awake?"
"Warrda."
"What?"
"Wa-water."
"Oh, right." A clink of glass. "Here."
A sigh. "Where am I?"
"Sydney."
Pause. "Australia?"
"Yeah."
"What date is it?"
"26th July, 1999. You've been out for a month and a little more."
"Jesus Christ."
"Yeah."
Alex shifted in her chair.
"Do you remember what happened?"
"Yeah. Some bits."
"Get some sleep. You look tired."
"Yeah, I should."
"'Night."
"'Night."
----------
"The doctor says you're okay to go."
"Okay."
"Where do you want to go?"
"Dunno. Haven't really thought about it."
"Thought not."
"Where are you going?"
"London."
"London?"
"I got a place at St. Martins. It's an art and design school."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"Should suit you, huh?"
"Guess so. It's just that the fucking British weather doesn't sit well with me."
Pause.
"Do you still have your passport?"
"You heard me. I left it in Freetown."
"You were actually telling the truth?"
"No point lying, huh?"
"Hmm, you'll need some help then, yeah?"
"I guess so."
"You wanna come to London with me?"
"You want me to come with you?"
"Don't fuck with me, Archer."
"'Course not, Alex. Never."
"Are you coming then?"
Archer stirred his tea silently.
"Why not? I've got unfinished business in London."
Alex watched him.
"Your diamond."
"My diamond."
"Did you find it in the end?"
"Yes."
"Cool. Does that mean I get my story?"
"No."
"Why not?"
He put his spoon down with a clink.
"It's far from finished yet."
Please don't kill me. I've been through ice and fire these few months it's not even funny… I don't know if I've mentioned my university applications but well in the end Cambridge rejected me but I have a great place to go, so screw them! I know this is a short chapter, but hey, Archer's alive and they're going to London! Thanks for the reviews readers, much appreciated!