Room 207

June 20, 2022 . 1:30am

I woke up in a very uncomfortable bed, although it was more comfortable than my bed, it was still really lumpy. I remember tossing and turning in the night, but every time I moved, there was a sharp pain in my lower abdomen, right next to my liver.

I moved my hand over my aching muscles. But then I felt a soft cloth over it. I lightly pushed, blood making its way through the cloth clearly visible, and I screeched in pain. Yep...definitely not a bruise.

I opened my watery eyes, and looked down. I was sitting in a hospital gown, under their blankets. I tilted my head up to look around the room. My eyes gazed over the couch and chair and bathroom. I looked to my left, where a huge window took up the wall. I stared into the night sky, trying to understand why I was here. But nothing made sense at the moment.

I lifted up my arm and rubbed my eyes. Feeling a tingle in my upper right arm, I looked and found a huge bruise, about the size of a hand. Why can’t I remember?

I hit my head with my fist frustrated. I sighed and looked at the clock on the wall right above the couch.

1:30 am

I tapped my finger on the bed, impatient. I wanted the doctors to come so they could tell me what all happened. They probably wouldn’t know though, but Bry-BRYAN!!

I ripped off the blankets covering me and jumped out of the bed, all of the IV’s and tubes connected to me fell out, and I rushed to the door, but then just one pain in my abdomen and I was down. I fell to the floor instantly, holding my side, biting my lip trying keep myself from making any noises. I was almost at the door.

If I could just….

I slid my body to the door and reached up for the handle, being careful of my wound.

I grabbed it and pulled down, feeling slightly light headed.

“Hey!...” I yelled, suddenly feeling very sleepy.

I laid my head down and shook my head, trying to concentrate, but it didn’t help. Soon I heard a few people running to my door, they pushed it open and like, 50 nurses barged in my room. 3 of them helped me back to the bed. And the other nurses stuck the needles back into my body. Every time someone shoved one into my veins I inched backwards, continuing to bite my lip.

“She’s losing more blood, we need to get the doctor!” One nurse said. They got some new white cloth and pressed it over my now soaked cloth, with blood. A few nurses ran out of the room, and then one was trying to talk to me.

I turned my head and stared at her, everything was happening so fast, I couldn’t hear her there was so much noise. I tried asking her what was happening, but my throat turned dry instantly and it hurt to speak.

“Hey, stay awake. If you fall asleep before the doctor gets here..”

Her voice became more distant as she kept talking. My thoughts were all I could understand.

My eyes started to get heavy. My blinking took 5 seconds instead of 1. Then the doctor that was talking to me, shined a light in my eyes, I shut them, squinting. Then pushed it away with my hand. I put my hand down, but tried moving it again but it wouldn’t budge. Suddenly I had absolutely no strength, I couldn’t even breathe properly.

My heart started to slow as I heard more people enter the room. Then my bed start to move. But then I fell, and I couldn’t stop falling.

§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§

Our lips were just barely brushing against each other before the gunfire. I heard it before I felt the pain. My neck sweat with worry and I opened my eyes right away. Bryan leaned back with wide eyes, he was only staring.

No, you can-

I thought he was the one who got shot, but before I could finish my theory, I felt the bottom of my shirt got wet. I looked down and saw my overshirt start to stick to my skin, as a red liquid spread. My mouth fell open a little, I was shot.

Surprisingly I felt numb, there was no pain from the bullet at all. But I did feel the pain of Bryan squishing my arms right after my body started going limp. I looked up at him and saw him yell for help, then look down at me with worry filling his eyes. I smiled a little back, but he only frowned. Soon people started running away, but running towards me at the same time. I tried to look around to see who shot me, but my head wouldn’t move. I stared at Bryan, as he continued to yell. After some arguing with an older woman, he finally laid me down on the sand over his leg, and cupped his arm around my abdomen. The last thing I remember was him looking at me and telling me everything was going to be okay. Then only darkness.

§

I sat up straight, beads of sweat hanging on my neck and hair, I groaned in pain.

I stared at the floor, and took in everything. Bryan he-Oh my god Bryan!

My eyes darted around the room searching for Bryan, or someone, just anyone who could get Byan, but no one was there. I crossed my arms, squeezing them trying to distract myself. I took a few deep breaths, in an attempt to calm down. My eyes slowly scanned the room, and I saw a necklace lying on the table, right next to my bed. I stared at it for a few minutes, then pushed it a little with my finger.

I examined it for any cameras or tracking device, but there was nothing.

“Remember?” A voice whispered.

My head shot up, my eyes connecting with the man's eyes. I didn’t say anything at first, but then I spoke up.

“I thought it looked familiar….”

The necklace, I gave it to Rickie 15 years ago.

I held onto the necklace staring at the stranger. His face looked familiar too, but I didn’t know why.

“You don’t remember me though huh?” He asked.

I shook my head. He walked over to the couch and sat down, folded his arms and smiled a little.

“Well, I remember you. I missed you Summer.”

I froze. Staring at him, his freshly shaved chin, messy black hair, now in a man bun, with some blue eyes that felt welcoming. Like home. I did know him, it was Rickie.

I moved backwards in my bed, wrapping my left arm around the side, feeling for the emergency button, my fingers brushed over it and I was about to push, but then I locked eyes with his, and it stopped me from moving at all.

“Listen, if I wanted to kill you, I would’ve done it years ago...I wouldn’t have saved you from drowning.”

I closed my eyes, trying not to let the memory come back, I’ve tried so hard to erase it, it’d all be for nothing.

“So, why are you here?” I asked shaking, “You’re not asking me to come ba-”

His eyes widened, “No, God no. If I did they would kill you instantly.”

I nodded, I knew they wanted me gone, but I didn’t think they were gonna kill me on the spot.

“So do you know why I'm here?...” I said.

He opened his eyes a little more, “Us.”

My mouth fell open. Everything clicked. I knew who I was running from, but I didn’t think they really wanted me dead. I thought they would’ve given up by now. Unless they didn’t want me and Blaire dead, and they wanted us for something...that terrified me.

“B-But how did you guys find m-me so fast?”

“Sum, it’s been over 10 years. But it really wasn’t that hard, you only hid a few states over. Besides you always talked about going to Maine one day…”

Rickie stood up and walked over to me and sat at the bottom of my bed, I didn’t move, I just watched him.

“I really missed my friend,” he rubbed circles on my leg, forcing me to relax a little. He always knew how to calm me down, which I hated right now.

I fake smiled, and he frowned. He read me like an open book. I hated that too.

“Yeah, Uh I missed you too.”

He grinned, “I wish you could come with me.”

“What?” I smiled, confused.

“If you come, I’m running away. I’m leaving,” he leaned in whispering, “To Russia.”

You can’t be serious, once you’re in, you’re in.

“They’ll find you.”

He shook his head, “No, no one will be able to find us…”

Us?....

I looked down, I put my hand over his, and stopped. He stilled, but then his face got serious when I took his hand and put it on the bed.

“I can’t go...There’s people here that I need to stay for, protect them from him.”

He stayed silent.

I moved closer and hugged him, he wrapped his arms around me and tightly hugged back.

We stayed there for a minute, then he pulled out of the hug and stared at me.

“You sure?”

“Yes. It’s what’s best.”

He kept a straight face, then kissed me lightly on the lips before I could say anything.

He got up and gathered his stuff, but left the necklace in my hand. He wrote a note on a napkin and folded it twice.

“Here,” he held it out to me, “This is where we're going if you change your mind.”

I reached out and took the note, I opened it. He gave me the exact address of where he was going.

“Only if you come, the flight is in 10 days, if you’re not released by then and want to come, sneak out, it’s probably safer that way..”

I kept my focus on the napkin. I knew I couldn’t go, I wanted to if it meant I would finally be safe, but I couldn’t, Blaire needed me here.

I looked up at him and reached my hand out. He placed his palm on mine and I squeezed it.

“I’ll try Rickie. Thank you, really. You’ve saved me from them so many times…”

He let go of my hand, “Summer….I know Blaire’s alive. They know she’s alive. They’re here for her. Kyle shot you, It was a warning, they know you’re here, and they’re here for you and Blaire. You’re not safe. You have to come with me.”

I sat in silence.

“10 days isn’t enough, I’m leaving tomorrow, with a friend of mine, we’re going by boat instead. Please, take Blaire and come with.”

I looked up, “If she’s safe, then okay. Pick us up before the boat leaves, Cafe Sheri.”

“9:00 am sharp, it leaves at 10:00.”

I smiled back, “Thank you, really.”

“Anything to keep you safe,” he said.

Then he walked out of the room, leaving me with circling thoughts. He was right. It wasn’t safe for me and Blaire here anymore, it never was.

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