Nicki's Point Of View
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
The repetitive noise entered my brain and for a moment I didn't know what it was. Then, I opened my eyes, and saw the white, clean surroundings that could only be the interior of a hospital room.
"Ah, you're awake." A female voice floated across the room and I realised that there was a nurse standing to the side of me. "How are you feeling?"
"Sore." I answered, my voice croaky after a long period of not speaking. The nurse offered me some water, which I took gladly.
"I'm not surprised, you did get some burns in the fire and you appeared to have been badly injured beforehand."
I looked down at myself, expecting to see some terrible damage, but the small amount of skin that wasn't covered by a hospital nightgown or the white bedclothes was only a little pink and shiny. The only bad injuries I could see were the bruises, recent and old, that blossomed over my skin, making it an interesting mix of green and purple.
"What happened?" I asked. "I remember the fire and everything before, but..."
"We won't have you worrying about that quite yet!" The nurse chuckled. "When you've had some time to rest and recover, the police will be wanting statements and I'm sure they'll tell you what happened. For now, you don't need to think about it. All I'm going to say is that you were extremely lucky in that fire. Nothing worse than first and a few minor second degree burns, and no major damage from that rather nasty impact with a wall. The police team got to you just in time."
I sat silently, realising just how close to death I had been. The mere recollection of being trapped in that basement made my heart rate become higher.
"Well, it seems that you're in a good condition, all set to heal nicely." The nurse remarked- she had been checking me over whilst she was speaking. "You don't have any agonising pains or anything else that I can't test for?"
"No, I'm fine, thanks."
"If you do ever want some pain relief, just call. My name's Gladys."
"Thank you."
"Now, do you feel up to having a visitor? I seem to remember that there was a young man waiting anxiously for you to regain consciousness..."
"Tom." I said. Of course. How must he be feeling?
"Yes, that was his name. Do you want me to fetch him?"
"Yes. Please." I said, suddenly feeling nervous at the thought of seeing Tom for the first time in weeks.
When the door re-opened, I turned slowly, and met Tom's eyes. While he looked tired and weary, he also showed obvious signs of relief. He came up to me and wrapped his arms around me, and I leaned into his embrace, breathing in his familiar, comforting smell.
"Never, ever do that to me again." Tom said, once the hug was over and he was sat in the chair by my bed. "I know it's only been a few weeks but it's been the worst few weeks of my life. I know that must sound really selfish because you've been through far more than I have, but it's true."
"It's not selfish. It's nice to know that someone cares." I tried to say this lightly but my voice cracked and Tom reached out to squeeze my hand.
"Of course I care. Everyone else does too. They've missed you, Nicki."
I managed a weak smile. "I've missed everyone too. Even you."
Tom stayed for a while, and soon we were talking and laughing together like we used to. Even though there would be repercussions of my kidnapping, I already felt that life could continue as usual. I would be spending a couple of days, perhaps a week, in hospital, and I wouldn't be returning to school for a few weeks after that, but it gave me a welcome opportunity to rest and recuperate. But I was home, surrounded by the people I loved and was close to. And that was all that mattered to me.