Chapter 1
There was a frequent beeping noise in the background making me crazy. Refusing to open my eyes I tried to muffle the sound by burying my head under the pillow.
-Beep
-Beep
-Beep
-What the fuck??? -I cursed sitting up as the beeping continued. My body protested against the abrupt new position, my vision blurred and I felt dizzy. I tried to blink the blurriness away but it took me a couple of minutes to finally be able to see clearly.
-Where the hell am I?- came out while I was gazing around the unfamiliar room I was in. Pale blue walls, window, two opposing white doors, chair and a small desk next to the the most uncomfortable bed I ever laid in. Entire room felt cold and faceless.
I am slowly getting consumed by panic. Why can't I remember? Walls are closing in and it is getting harder and harder to breathe. My whole body is trembling as if I was covered in ice but I feel like my skin is on fire. The heart rate increases and the beeping is getting more and more frequent.
I have to calm down. I have to think.
-Think, damn it! Don't think about what you don't know, think about what you do. Observe. Learn.
The stinging smell of antiseptics reached my nose while I was looking at the the wires connecting my hand to the beeping heart monitor and half of bag of IV fluid behind me, and my eyes widened with realisation.
-I am in a hospital... But, why?
I can't remember getting here. I even can't remember what happened to cause me getting checked in to a hospital. The more I tried to remember any detail the less I knew, and the headache grew, soon I was wincing in pain.
-Beep
Why is that God damned thing so loud?
I started examining my body for injuries to try to trigger a memory of the incident that brought me here, or at least check the state I am in. There were several almost healed scratches covering the skin on both hands and knees, several purplish-green bruises that appeared darker on my left side, but what confused me the most when I lifted the ugly hospital gown was the long scar across my belly, right below the belly button. I couldn't remember anything that might have caused it, and it did not look very recent.
The fucking machine from hell kept beeping and it was becoming unbearable. I reached to try massaging my temples but found my head was wrapped in gauze.
What?!
I had to find a mirror. There were two doors in this room... There is one to get in and out of the room, and the other one... The bathroom, this hospital room must have a bathroom! I have to get there, now!
I was so impatient that I grabbed and yanked the wires with all the strength that I mustered, pulled out the IV needle and slid from the bed. The monitor switched to constant beeping and my head ached so much I felt the urge to throw up. Slim line of blood ran down my arm dropping on the floor tiles and creating a dark red puddle next to my bare feet. My legs felt like jell-o, I could barely stand.
Left or right?
-Fuck!- I yelled and turned left.
I took several deep breaths to steady myself and tried hard to force my legs to make a step. Then another one. Another one. Another one.
By the time I reached the doorknob I was panting heavily. While opening the door I am silently praying to God and to the Devil, whom ever answers first, praying that this is the correct door, I don't think I have the energy to travel to the other side of the room. White sink is the first thing I see and I release a breath I didn't even know I was holding.
I lower both hands to the welcoming coldness of the sink and look up.
What looks back from the mirror looks more like a ghost than a human.
Pale, almost white skin, skinny face with dark bags under the eyes and shadow of a bruise on the left cheek. I would be easily described as a dead person if it wasn't for the shiny green orbs looking back at me feverishly. There was a pinkish-reddish stain emerging on the gauze wrap right above the left side of my forehead, so I decided against unwrapping my head to see the injury.
I turned the tap on and washed my hands, then tapped the wet palms on my face and neck. It felt so damn good.
I decided I need to find a doctor, a nurse, anyone who will be able to give me some answers. I had to go to the other door. With this new made decision, I braced myself for the exhausting strain on my body. I was determined to make it, starting to feel... less desperate?
I lingered out of the bathroom and fought the increasing nausea and weakness in my knees, in my entire body, while making progress towards the other door. Dark spots began dancing in my vision.
That same door suddenly opened with a slam, a tall brunette barged in and gasped:
-Tara, you are awake!
As the world arround me dissapeared in darkness, I could only hear her scream:
-Matthew, get the doctor, quickly!
