Let them go

Chapter 42

Riley POV

My whole body hurt.

I knew that I was going to wake up, but I dreaded it. I didn’t want to see him again. I didn’t want him to touch me again. I didn’t want him to continue…

I wanted to sob. I wanted to scream and cry.

I just wanted to go home.

I wanted to see Ethan. I wanted to see my mom and dad.

Most of all, I wanted to see Aiden. I missed him so much. I needed him so much.

But would I ever see him again? Would I ever be able to tell him how much I loved him? Would I ever be able to tell him how sorry I was?

I was waking up. I could tell that I wasn’t tied to a chair anymore.

I was lying on a bed.

Did he move me to the bed so he could…?

Oh, God, please no.

I heard a familiar voice to my right.

“Are they close?” the voice mumbled.

“They should be here in a few hours.” another familiar voice answered.

“Will she wake up by then?” the voice to my right asked.

“I hope so.” someone sighed.

I felt a hand on my forehead, and my body froze.

He was here, wasn’t he? He would touch me again, wouldn’t he?

But why did I hear those familiar voices? Did I imagine them?

“Come back to me, Riles.” a voice said.

It was soothing. It was surely speaking to me. Who was it?

“I miss you.” the voice said, and I felt lips on my cheek. “Come back to me, please.”

The voice sounded like…

Aiden?

“Please, Riley.” he cried out. “I need you.”

Aiden needed me?

I fought through the haze and the pain.

I would go to him. Of course I would. He needed me. I would do anything for him.

But why was he there? Did that guy take him too? Did he hurt him?

Oh, God, please no. Not him. Not Aiden.

I felt a hand in mine, and I squeezed it as hard as I could.

I heard a gasp.

“She squeezed my hand!” a voice that sounded like Ethan’s said. “Talk to her, Aiden!”

I felt hands grab my face.

“Riley?!” Aiden cried out. “Wake up, come on. Open those beautiful eyes.”

I felt fingers running through my hair.

“Come on, cutie.” Ethan said. “Come back to us.”

I wanted to, but I couldn’t figure out how to do it.

I felt lips on my cheek again.

“Come on.” Aiden mumbled. “Please wake up, please.”

The pain in Aiden’s voice made me push harder. I forced myself to feel my eyes. I forced myself to open them slightly.

“Riley!” Aiden cried out.

I tried to find him, but I couldn’t see. Something was covering my eyes.

“Oh, my God.” Aiden sobbed. “Oh, my God.”

I couldn’t see. Why couldn’t I see?

I forced myself to speak. It was hard. I couldn’t find my voice.

“Aiden?” I mumbled quietly.

Someone moved, and a bright light blinded me.

I shut my eyes and turned my head to the side.

“Riley.” Aiden said, cupping my cheeks and turning my head back. “Open your eyes, come on.”

I listened to him.

I finally saw him.

It was really him.

It was really Aiden.

“Hey.” he said as tears fell on his cheeks. “I missed you so much.”

I felt lips on my forehead, and I looked to my left.

“Hey, cutie.” Ethan said, wiping his cheeks. “You are safe now.”

Safe?

Where was I?

“Aiden?” I called my twin.

I had something very important to tell him.

“Yes?” he said, turning my head back toward him.

“I love you.” I mumbled, closing my eyes again.

Something heavy was on my chest. It made me feel tired. I couldn’t stand the weight, but I couldn’t move it either. I couldn’t move my hands. Maybe I could ask Ethan or Aiden to move it? What was it anyway? Why did it make me feel so tired?

“No, no, Riley.” he said. “Don’t close your eyes. Stay awake, please.”

I wanted to. But I was so tired. My body was heavy.

“I love you too, Ethan.” I mumbled, trying to turn my head toward him.

“Go get Nate!” Aiden said, and I heard panic in his voice.

Why was he panicking?

“Riley!” Aiden shouted. “Don’t fall asleep! Don’t go! Don’t leave me!”

Go? I wasn’t going anywhere. I was just tired. So tired.

I heard footsteps running toward me.

“She woke up, but she passed out again.” I heard Ethan’s voice. “The monitor is going crazy.”

What monitor?

“Riley!” Aiden screamed.

I wanted to move, but my body wasn’t listening to me.

“Her blood pressure dropped.” I heard a male voice.

“Is she going to die?!” I heard Aiden’s panicked voice.

I couldn’t feel his hands on me anymore. Why did he leave me?

“No.” the male voice said. “She is going to be okay.”

“Oh, God.” Aiden cried out.

“It’s okay.” Ethan told him, his voice trembling. “She is okay.”

Why were they so afraid? I wanted to talk to them, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t focus. Were my eyes even open? I wasn’t sure.

“There we go.” someone said.

I felt that heaviness on top of my chest disappearing slowly. Did they move it away? What was it?

“Riley?” I heard that male voice call my name.

Who was that?

“Riley, can you open your eyes for us?” he asked.

I wanted to, but it was still so hard.

“Why isn’t she waking up?” Aiden sobbed.

“Give her a minute.” the male voice said. “Come on, Riley. Your brothers are waiting for you.”

The male voice was right. Aiden and Ethan were waiting for me. I had to go to them.

I pushed that heavy thing off my chest and opened my eyes.

“There she is.” the male voice said. “Welcome back, Riley.”

I looked up at him. It was Nate. He was smiling at me.

A second later, he was pushed away, and I saw Aiden and Ethan.

“Oh, my God.” Aiden cried out as he cupped my cheeks and looked into my eyes. “Don’t ever do this to me again. I almost died.”

“I won’t.” I said, giving him a small smile.

Aiden leaned his forehead on my cheek and sobbed. I forced my body to move, and I lifted my hand. I ran my fingers through his hair.

“Hey, cutie.” Ethan said as he leaned in and kissed my forehead. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” I said, smiling at him.

“Do you know where you are, Riley?” Nate asked, making me look at him.

I furrowed my eyebrows, and looked around.

I was at a hospital. But how did I get there? How long have I been here? How long have I been with him?

“Hospital.” I mumbled, looking back at Nate.

“Good.” he said, smiling at me. “Do you know what day it is?”

I furrowed my eyebrows and shook my head. I knew that it was Thursday when he took me, but I had no idea how long have I been with him or how long have I been in the hospital.

“Okay, Riley.” Nate said, giving me another small smile. “I will give you a few minutes alone with your brothers, and I will be back soon.”

Nate looked at Ethan and waved him over.

Ethan kissed my forehead and approached Nate.

Aiden lifted his head and kissed my cheek. He looked terrible. He looked like he hadn’t slept for days.

“I will never leave you alone again.” Aiden told me as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to his chest. “Theo will have to learn from me how to be a protective brother. I’m not going through this again. No one will ever touch you while I live and breathe.”

I wrapped my arms around his waist and took a deep breath.

I wasn’t going to fight him on that.