Within the Demon's Grip: Part One

Chapter 14

Natalia awakened with a start. She heard the sound of an engine, and tires rolling over pavement. She paused a moment to catch her breath, and heard Robin say, "We're almost there." She was lying on her back in the backseat, her legs bent at the knee, hanging sideways so that her feet were resting on the floorboard.

"How did I get back here?" she asked, touching her head gingerly, almost as if she expected to feel pain there. Thankfully, there was none. Her shoulders allowed her more mobility than earlier, but there was still a great deal of stiffness there.

"I stopped a while back, and put you there," Robin replied.

"Oh," Natalia said. "Thanks, then."

"You're welcome," Robin said.

Natalia watched as streetlights flashed past the passenger-side window. Relief came in waves, flooding her. Natalia smiled. She was really free!

But the smile slipped away once Natalia tried to sit up. It was too soon. The once subtle ache in her left shoulder exploded in agony, and she gasped, tears stinging her eyes.

She heard Robin sigh. "You need to rest more," he said. "I'll wake you when we're at the hospital."

"No," Natalia said, feeling stubborn. "I just woke up. I don't want to sleep anymore."

"But you need to," Robin insisted. "You said, yourself, that you were in a lot of pain--"

Natalia sighed, "I know what I said, Robin. But it's okay now. I'm fine." She turned slightly, and groaned.

Robin chuckled, "Yeah, Natalia. You really sound like you're not in pain. Totally." He drew in a breath, and blurted, "Just rest, okay? You're just going to be hurting the whole drive ... and honestly, I'm not in the mood for bitching."

So much for the compassion earlier, Natalia thought.

"Real nice, Robin," she snapped. "Very gentlemanly of you."

He only laughed. "Hey, I try."

"Whatever," Natalia said, yawning. She still felt extremely tired, and closing her eyes again didn't sound like a bad idea. But she also didn't want Robin to think that he was right. Unfortunately, Natalia didn't get too long to dwell on that subject before she fell back to sleep.

* * *

"Natalia, we're here," Robin said, gently pushing on her uninjured shoulder.

Slowly, Natalia opened her eyes. "Already?" she asked, stifling a yawn.

"Afraid so," Robin smirked. He extended a hand. "Let me help you out."

As soon as Natalia stepped out of Robin's car, she felt her knees buckle beneath her. Luckily, Robin caught her. "Whoa, there," he said. She knew he was smiling without looking at him.

"Dammit. This is getting old," Natalia groaned.

"What?" Robin laughed as he guided Natalia forward, keeping an arm at her back. "Surely you're not complaining about me helping you."

"What if I am?" she snapped.

"Then I'd say you have better things to be complaining about," he said as they stepped into the emergency room.

Natalia propped her arms on the front desk. She recognized the same overweight, gum-chopping receptionist. This time her lipstick was more of a burnt-orange color. Natalia found it nauseating to look at. The woman gave Natalia a puzzled look. "Not you too!" her eyes seemed to say.

After she had filled out all the necessary paperwork, Robin guided her to a chair. Natalia gave a sigh as she sat down. "This is where I took Candice," she said after a moment. "It was raining so hard that night ... and she came running out of the woods so fast--" Natalia shook her head, "If I hadn't slammed on my brakes I would have hit her."