What Came Down the River

Chapter 3: 89427

A soft wind blows through the window and onto the girl's face. Throwing her hair back in whispful curls. The morning sun now shone happily on her face. Even the dancing shadows of birds outside contribute to the positive atmosphere.

          The nurse from the day before knocks and enters the room. The woman hadn't awakened yet, but the nurse had thoughtfully brought food for her just in case.

        Placing the tray beside the bed she looked down at the woman and whispered quietly, "maybe you're asleep and can't hear me. Or maybe you're afraid to open your eyes and see your back in hell...but I'll be the guiding, friendly, voice to assure you that you are safe. Don't worry about your past life anymore." She looked down to see if there was a reaction. But there was none. The nurse smiled slightly, "either way you're probably lonely. And even if you don't talk back to me, I'll keep you company till you're better." Still no reaction... the nurse only sighed slightly and moved some hair out of the girl's face. "I have to go tend to other patients, but I'll be back in an hour to check on you. Sound good? Okay."

         Leaving the room with a gentle thud from the door, the morning resumed it's singing from the birds and children playing games outside.

      I feel cold...what happened? Did they catch me again? Did they kill me? No...I jumped from that cliff into the river... I probably drowned. This is probably hell. I should open my eyes...but...I'm too scared...wait...if this is hell, then why do I hear children's laughter and birds outside? Maybe it's a trap to make me think I'm safe, then rip it away from me. Just do it. Check. You're going to have to eventually. Slowly I open my eyes. But the burning bright sun is overpowering and makes me shut them again instantly. Was that god? Is he waiting to judge me?   Trying once more I, agonizingly slowly, open my eyes. Letting my eyes dilate and adjust to the brightness.

      "K-Kami-Sama?" I whimper softly. My throat feels hoarsh like I haven't drank water in days. As my eyes finally begin to familiarize themselves with my surroundings, I see I'm in a small, but clean room. It smells like disinfectant and latex...is this a hospital? Did they trade me off to another group of ruffians again? At least they have better medical supplies. I can tell that much.

           Trying to move my legs and hang them over the bed causes me to flinch. A sharp stabbing pain in multiple areas of my back erupts and I groan in pain. But I try to keep it as quiet as possible. I'm going to have to attempt to sneak out again before they come get me. I don't want to be stu- I squeal slightly again as I move myself off the bed and fall to the hard, cold floor. I sink down and turn my back onto it. The fire inside my spine being extinguished by the heartlessness of the tiled floor. I take a deep breath in as I try to relax and push through the pain. But I can hardly move the lower half of my body and have to drag myself, in agony, to the foot of the bed.

          Suddenly I hear the door to the room squeak open after a quick knock. A lady with short brown hair walks in and steps back a few inches when she sees I'm not in bed. She quickly calls out, "dear? Are you still in the room? You shouldn-" her gaze meets me on the floor as her eyes widen slightly.

"You shouldn't be moving around. You've opened some of the stitching. I'm going to have to fix that immediately." She begins to walk towards me, but I scurry under the bed. Trying to hide from her. From the enemy. I don't want to be opened up and traded around anymore. I have to leave! But as I hide underneath the bed the lady slowly kneels down, I begin to feel myself get dizzy. Lifting my hand up slightly I see blood all over... that lady said I opened my stitches? Who would've thought that I'd be losing so much blood so quickly? Or maybe it's just because I've already lost so much from before...I can't spare to lose any more. I feel myself melt onto the floor, my eyes holding contact with the brown haired woman till I pass out again.