A little, red-headed girl woke up, startled, to the sound of car engines. Gingerly, she peeled back her duvet and, after much hesitation, leaped out of her bed. She reached out her hand, turning the door handle and stepped out into the hallway. It was plain; angular shadows fell like veins across the white walls and down to the carpeted floor. Where she was, the girl saw that her mother's room was lacking of any form of life and her brow furrowed in confusion. Wandering across to her stairs, she rubbed her eyes and pulled her dressing gown even closer to her shivering body. It was silent, and she boldly looked ahead; soon all she could hear was the blood rushing in her ears and the soft thud thud thud her feet was making as she descended the stairs. Peering around, the girl opened the living room door and glanced inside. No one. She began to panic now, her insides gummed up with fear. Quickly, she ran the length of the house, entering all the rooms as she passed and double checking again as she ran back, searching for any sign of life. Until, eventually, she threw open the front door and searched for the person who had promised to protect her since the day she was born.
"Mum?" Jac Naylor cried as a single tear ran down her face and dropped silently onto the floor. The car was gone. She darted into the night, her long, red hair flowing behind her which could be easily seen by any onlookers, and her eyes wide and fearful. She was so alone. She kept running, searching for answers. Her mind spun around and around but kept focusing on one single thought, one single question… Why? It was everywhere, imprinted on the clouds above her, enclosed in the raindrops that fell, and engraved on the grass she stood on. Why…? Why…?Why…? Jac collapsed onto her knees; tears know leaking heavily from her eyes. "WHY!" she screamed into the silence of the darkness around her, praying to god that she would be heard and the burden of the question would disappear. "Why?" Jac whispered, quieter this time, with an edge of that single-minded determination that she cherished. Angrily, she wiped away her tears and silently vowed that she would never trust anyone again, never love anyone again, and never show any weakness. The distant memories faded and Jac's body jerked in an unconscious spasm as her dreams invaded again. The woman gently smoothed out the creases in her dress, flattening her beautiful auburn hair against the arc of her back. The last weeks before this awaited event had went by in a flash and she hadn't let her self believe it was happening – everyone left her in the end. She shook her head – it wasn't the time or place for resurfaced reminiscences. Sahira Shah turned to her with a reassuring smile from the front of the car, adjusting the small tiara on her head, her silky black hair hanging around her cheeks. The chauffeur took no notice of the woman beside him, but found him self glancing now and again in the rear mirror to look at the stunning red head sitting in the back seat. She was beautiful. Finally, they arrived. Jac Naylor stared at the Church in trepidation. Was this really happening? Jac's head rolled and she blinked, her vision blurry. But, as soon as she had regained consciousness, she could feel her eyelids drooping, the pain taking her back. Blackness conquered again. This time, it was different. She sat on a plastic chair, her toes crushing the grass beneath her feet; the sun was shining in the sky. Two children chased each other across the large garden, the red-headed girl was the quickest, the handsome, green-eyed boy following behind – whilst Harry sat underneath a tree reading. Joseph Byrne, carrying two small cups of coffee, walked over, giving his wife a quick kiss on the cheek and admiring his children run across the grass. Jac Naylor chuckled happily as she carefully sipped her drink, the relaxing warmth transferring onto her skin. She had a husband, a family and a perfect life.
"JAC!" Joseph yelled, rushing through the corridors, accompanied by security. His mind had almost torn apart, apprehension making his limbs feel lifeless and his eyes full with terror. Quickly, he began booting down all the doors he could find, - he couldn't take the overwhelming frustration when Jac wasn't there. Where was she? Jac groaned as her dream changed surroundings, her life force weakening. Blood issued heavily from the wound on her head, her limp body fading into unconsciousness.
Cautiously, she crossed the court yard to the church, glancing at her maid of honour for support and was met with an encouraging smile. Inhaling, she muttered a "Hello" to Sacha and linked arms with her "Dad for the Day." As she walked slowly down the aisle, the music she had so carefully selected faded away; all her attention was focused on her fiancé. Jac glanced around at the few people that were sitting in the chairs: there were some of her colleagues at work, some old friends, and a three year old Harry giggling away at the front, dressed in a cute page boy outfit – the exact replica of his father. Joseph was sweating underneath his suit and he nervously fiddled with his tie – the one he had done and redone at least fifty times that day. As he turned around to face his future wife, his voice was instantly taken away. She looked beautiful. She was beautiful. And she would be his in a matter of minutes. "JAC!" Joseph repeated frantically, he and security alone had covered at least three quarters of the hospital and they still hadn't found her or Pete. Fear for the woman he loved overtook him. He couldn't loose her. Not again. Jac was deteriorating. A lot of blood was in a large pool by her head, too much to loose and live. She had reached the top of the aisle, and Joseph felt his breath intake as he saw her in front of him. Jac's dress was as white as the clouds in the sky and as if made by the God himself. It flaunted her stunning figure perfectly as if it had been made exactly for her and her hair was flawless. The vicar said his opening words, but the couple didn't bother to listen, they were both staring intensely into each others eyes, seeing the love in both. "Do you Jacqueline Elizabeth Naylor take Joseph Charles Mortimer Byrne as your lawfully wedded husband?" The vicar asked, sensing the answer and turning the pages of the book in front of him. Jac hesitated, pressure encircling her head like a boa constrictor. Joseph came to a deserted corridor, and kicked open the only door present. He squinted in the darkness; he could have sworn that he saw a slight movement coming from the corner. Narrowing his eyes, Joseph entered the cupboard, he felt his shoe come in contact with a red, slippery substance and he struggled to keep upright. There was an unmoving figure in the gloom. He edged nearer.
"I… I… d…do." Jac stuttered eventually as immense happiness filled her body.
"And do you Joseph Charles Mortimer Byrne take Jacqueline Elizabeth Naylor as your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I…" Jac looked up at Joseph expectantly, her eyes wide and bright. "I… can't…" Jac froze. What had he just said? She could feel everybody's eyes stare at the back of her head. "I can't… find a pulse!" Joseph frantically checked Jac's heart beat again and again, but it was so faint – he was going to loose her. He wiped the loose strands of hair from her face, promising her silently that he would try anything, and began CPR. "COME ON! Don't do this to me. You're stronger than this!" Joseph shouted, his heart beating so quickly that it made up for the lack of the other in the room. He examined the figure in front of him; she had been striped, her underwear was the only clothes she still had on, and her head was wounded severely. He felt dizzy at the sickness of it all. Suddenly, after many minutes, Jac coughed and regained consciousness. She blinked, everything was still blurry. A figure loomed over her, but she couldn't see their face, so she called out the name of the only man she wanted, the only man she needed, the only man she loved.
"Joseph…" she slurred. Her voice was weak, she made to get up, but overwhelming pain hit her and her arms slumped to the floor. "Joseph…" she repeated as she felt her self being carefully lifted up. Joseph cradled Jac in his arms, stroking her head continuously, and, even though she couldn't hear, told her she was going to be ok.
"I need a bed, NOW!" he cried as Jac leaned her head against his chest, her eyes gradually closing.
Joseph muttered under his breath, aware of the piercing sounds of the machines around him. Creeping through ITU, the dark patches on the walls, like drops of ink on sallow parchment, spoiled the clean, efficiency of the area. The frail body on the centre bed moaned unconsciously, millions of wires attached to what seemed like such a small frame. Jac's head was no longer bleeding, it had been stitched up by a resident doctor in the department that she was in, but, worryingly, she was still lifeless. Her body jerked into a spasm, and her emerald eyes flickered open with nightmares from her past. But then, they closed again. Sahira pressed the button beside the white door, and entered the room after the intercom uttered a disgruntled BEEP. Her gaze turned steadily around the space, eyeing the fragile woman on the bed empathetically. "I just heard." She said, turning to Joseph. He just nodded a faint reply. "What happened?" Sahira asked cautiously, with a slant of her head and real concern for her colleague. Joseph shook his head. Noiselessly, Sahira pondered what was so terrible that Joseph couldn't tell her.
"I don't mean to be discourteous, but who are you precisely?" Joe requested this precious information – he couldn't let just anyone anywhere near Jac.
"I'm a colleague of Jacs. Sahira Shah, registrar on Darwin." Sahira extended a hand and Joseph accepted graciously.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Joseph Byrne, I used to work here."
"Yes, I've heard of your family. Especially your father, he used to work here as well yes?" Joseph nodded yet again to show his answer. Unexpectedly, the machines around Jac began to wail and she let out a moan.
"Joseph…?" Sahira and Joe immediately rushed to Jacs beside. Gently, Sahira took her hand and held it before glancing distraughtly at her colleague. Joseph scanned the screen for any abnormalities. He exhaled in relief.
"It's nothing. Just up her pain relief." He said to a nurse nearby who hurried of at his word.
"What happened to make her like this?" Sahira demanded, fixing a cool stare on Joseph. Softly taking her shoulder in his hand, he pulled Sahira aside to avoid anyone hearing. "Her family did… What sort of a sick person would do such a thing…?" Sahira raised an eyebrow, not fully understanding what he meant. "I have a suspicion that she might have been abused as a child. The very man that did this was here, at this hospital. And Jac walked straight into his path…That leaves the mind to speculate…" Joseph confessed, snarling furiously, after a series of pauses. Sahira's expression transformed almost instantaneously from perplexity to absolute horror and unease, glancing at her colleague.
"God… that's terrible." Sahira uttered at last, before, in a state of utter shock.
"Quite." There was silence as they both gazed at Jac with sorrow. Eventually, Joseph broke the ever-growing stillness. "We need a GS surgeon, page Sacha."
Sacha Levy bounded through the hospital, slightly hurried, his eyes twinkling with evident confusion. Why had Joseph called him to ITU so suddenly? Sacha turned his mind over to speculate what had happened, but he couldn't find a plausible explanation. The corridor near ITU was empty curiously, so there were no screaming patients, no weeping relatives or exhausted doctors, there was only silence, distressing silence. Quickly, Mr. Levy reached the door, his long legs extending the length of his stride. Fumbling in his pocket for his key card, Sacha glanced through the murky window inside, his heart thumping when he saw a tuft of red, glistening hair positioned on the bed. Was it her? Sacha's mind ran circles. Finally, he entered the room and he made his way over to the central bed, withdrawing as he discovered who was on it. No! It can't be! His eyes blazed with one question: Why? He looked over to Joseph who had not yet noticed his presence and placed a hand lightly on his shoulder. "What happened?" Sacha asked. Joseph glanced up in surprise.
"Pete Bulk did." He answered gravely, sighing underneath his words. Sacha closed his eyes for a second, contemplating this information, his mind guilt ridden.
"So, no purple dinosaur then?" Mr Levy replied, sarcasm unsuccessfully hiding his concern.
"No… unless you're talking about Hanssen who is now sticking his prominent proboscis into other peoples business."
"Like usual…" Sacha muttered, his words nearly drowned out by the incessant humming of the machines around him. Then, he paused, suddenly remembering what he had been wondering, sometimes out loud rather that to himself, earlier.
"So, what am I doing here?" Joseph handed him Jac's notes slowly as if reluctant to give them up.
"I want you too look at the head CT when it gets here." He replied simply. Suddenly, Jac's head began to turn rapidly and a soft moan fluttered in between her lips, her arms juddering. Sahira, who was now sitting by her side, jumped up, glancing up at Sacha. "Where's Mum?" she mumbled, her eyes closed. "Pete?" Joseph advanced towards the bed, his expression troubled. "Redrain… Tilburg… Hopeland… Alice…" Jac slurred.
"What's happening?" Joseph asked, frenzied. Sacha merely shook his head. "No, I want you to tell me what's happening with Jac. She's obviously not right, if you can just see that, if you can just contemplate what's…" Sacha cut him of.
"She's been like this for too long… she might have brain damage."
"Joseph... I'm sorry… Lord Byrne… Harry… Penrith… Joseph…"
Jac Naylor stood up, dazed. She wavered for a moment, letting her eyes adjust to the brightness of the light. Looking around, she saw that she was in plain, white room. There was nothing; no windows, no doors, just an empty box. She glanced down at her self and found that she was wearing leather bike gear, similar to hers, but it lacked the worn edges and the escalating marks – in fact, it was new. Jac's mind held so many questions. Where was she? Why these clothes? Can I walk? Am I dead? There were no answers, just silence. Sinister silence. Timidly, she lifted her leg and took a step forward. Well, at least she could move. Different sensations overwhelmed her; the way the floor beneath her feet sank when she travelled, the way the walls seemed like they were moving and the way she couldn't hear her heart.
Hello! :) Hope you enjoyed this chapter because theres more coming! It is a sort of cliff hanger I s'pose! :P