Pentatonix and the Search

Chapter 9

About a week later, I woke up in the hospital and Kirstin refused to leave my side. My brown eyes finally opened, but were glazed with pain. They instinctively went to Kirstin, who had her hand gently resting on my arm. I noticed that she was the only one in the room with me as I rested. I could feel the warmth from her soft hand. My voice was weak from pain.

Me: K-Kirstin?

At the sound of my voice, Kirstin's brown eyes flew open and she wrapped her arms gently around me. Tears of joy flowed from her brown eyes, which were filled with love.

Kirstin: Kailyn! You're awake!

I inhaled her sweet scent as I held onto her shirt. She sensed that I was still a little fearful from my traumatic experience, so she released me and sat back down. She looked into my fear-filled brown eyes and smiled softly. Kirstin understood what I felt. She rubbed the top of my arm with her thumb as she helped to calm me down.

Kirstin: It's okay, sweetie. You're okay, sweetheart. You're safe.

Her voice was gentle as she smiled warmly at me. I allowed her to mother me and slowly calm me down. She knew that I was terrified from what I had to endure. Scott walked into the room and smiled as he saw that I was awake. He came and gently wrapped his arms around me before sitting down on the other side of the bed opposite from Kirstin. His blue eyes showed his relief that I was awake.

Scott: I'm glad that you're awake.

He gently placed his hand on my leg, but I winced even at his gentle touch. His hand instantly shot back to his body.

Scott: I am so sorry, sweetie.

Me: It's okay, Scott.

Suddenly I realized that Mitch wasn't in the room and neither one of them had said where he was or if he was okay. The last thing that I remembered was that he was beside me. Now I was confused as to where my other friend was.

Me: Where's Mitch?

Kirstin and Scott looked at each other with slight grief in their eyes. In an instant, I knew where he was; dead. No!

Me: Please, no. He can't be.

I couldn't get any other words out as the grief weighed me down. They may have been able to save me, but it was at a cost that I didn't want to pay: Mitch's life. My body started to tremble as the grief overtook my body. Tears flowed from my eyes, leaving Kirstin and Scott alarmed. But then Kirstin understood what was wrong. She smiled at Scott, who was still alarmed.

Kirstin: Kailyn, he's not dead. He was just shot and they had to rush him into surgery because it started to get infected. But he will be okay, sweetie. He's alive.

I calmed down and grabbed onto Kirstin's arm. She smiled warmly at me as I yawned. Feeling safer and better with Kirstin at my bedside, I relaxed considerably. The nurse walked in and smiled as she saw that I was awake.

Chloe Johnson: Good, you're awake! How do you feel?

Me: Sore.

Kirstin looked away, but kept her arm where it was. Part of that reason was because she didn't want to disturb me and make me have more pain. Scott gently placed his hand on her knee after he moved to sit beside her. He sighed before meeting the nurse's eyes.

Scott: Ma'am, I would like to speak to the doctor.

Chloe: Alright, sir.

She left the room, allowing Kirstin and Scott time to console theirselves. Kirstin sighed knowing what Scott was going to ask. They shared the same fear: What would the doctor say about my injuries? The nurse returned and motioned for Scott to step outside the room because the doctor was there waiting for him. Scott stood up and reluncatnly left Kirstin's side, stepping outside while the nurse checked my vitals.

Scott: How bad is she?

Dr. Andrews: I'm sorry to tell you this, but she's pretty bad.

Scott's heart dropped when he heard those words spoken to him by the doctor. He knew that she had been injured terribly, but had no idea to what extent. His mind raced as he opened his mouth to speak.

Scott: To what extent? Do you know?

Dr. Andrews: She's been beaten beyond imaginable and...

The doctor's voice trailed off, which made Scott shift uncomfortably. His blue eyes immediately filling with terror.

Dr. Andrews: I can tell she is going to have a long recovery. I will tell you this: She will not make a full recovery. She has been wounded to the extent that her body won't be able to heal itself. There's a few cuts that will heal, but other than that nothing will heal completely or without extreme pain. Her right shoulder has been pulled out of socket and honestly, it seems that someone pulled it. I can tell that she had been kicked around, because of the bruises that came from a foot not a whip or pole. She's going to scar. Excuse me, sir. I must go see a patient.

He walked away leaving Scott feeling like he wanted to scream. He had just found out that I would never heal completely and could do nothing about it. Scott dreaded telling Kirstin and Mitch because of how close they are, plus Mitch's injury. He solemly returned to Kirstin's side, where I was asleep against her arm, but my breathing was labored. Chloe was still in the room.

Scott: Why is her breathing labored?

Chloe: She's in pain, sir.

Scott sighed as Kirstin leaned the best she could against him. He pressed his body against hers to help her. She didn't want to wake me when she moved. She fell asleep, but took a while to relax as if she was worried about Kailyn. Scott couldn't help a smile spreading across his face as he watched Kirstin and me resting peacefully, apart from my labored breathing.