Anna

4 - Bedsides

Two months, twenty-nine days, and sixteen hours after her disappearance, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Holland was reunited with her family in a hospital emergency room. Tears of joy and sorrow flowed freely, smothering hugs were exchanged, and watchful eyes ensured Lizzie's whereabouts at every moment.

To Joe Holland, it was nothing short of a miracle that his niece was found alive and safe—for the most part. The clothes that fit her three months ago now hung off her shoulders like an oversized sack. But if the manner in which she downed multiple sandwiches was any indication of her condition, she would be okay.

While Lizzie rested peacefully in a hospital bed late at night with a full stomach, her mother lay curled up next to her and her father sat guard in a chair close by. Lizzie's eyelids hid emerald irises from her mother's side, and the dark curly hair from her father concealed her face. Chase looked like he could fall asleep sitting up, but he had not taken his tired eyes off his daughter since they arrived.

Joe turned to his wife, who had dozed off on his shoulder while clutching his arm like a pillow. He politely wiggled free and adjusted Tessa so as not to disturb her sleep, then walked over to Chase and knelt beside him.

Chase sucked in a breath of surprise like Joe had startled him awake, even though his eyes were open. He looked at his brother in panic, then relief.

"I'm going to get Lizzie more water for when she wakes up," Joe said as Chase dug the heels of his palms into his eyes. "You and Robin want anything?"

Chase silently shook his head behind his hands. Joe stood to walk away, but Chase stopped him before he reached the door.

"Joe." He turned around to see his brother's groggy, tear-stained eyes. "Thanks for coming, man."

Joe showed a soft, sympathetic smile, then grabbed an empty water jug before stepping into the sobering hospital hallway. He'd been with his brother almost every day since Lizzie disappeared, helping him and Robin to keep their lives together for the sake of their younger daughter Stella. He and Tessa had just left for the day when Chase called and asked to meet them at the hospital.

At the painfully slow water fountain, Joe's restless foot tapped against the tile floor as a thin stream of water trickled into the oversized cup. He scanned the emergency room's waiting area—which was crawling with cops—until a television nestled in a nearby corner drew his attention.

Two old women graced the screen while flashing red and blue lights illuminated the side of a brick house behind them.

"...I was on my way out when all of a sudden all these emergency vehicles come flying down the street, sirens and all, and stop right outside my house, blocking my car in..."

Joe shook his head at their absurdity, his eyes glazing over the headline.

Breaking News: Kidnapping Victims Rescued From House Of Horrors.

His face turned sheet white at the realization that they were talking about Lizzie. Regardless, he found himself captivated, if not out of sheer spite.

"...I always said that man was trouble. Didn't I, Lindy?" The other woman looked at her silently, presumably in agreement. "Anyway..."

Cold water ran down Joe's hand, pulling him from his stupor.

"Fuck," he muttered, his attention turning back to the overflowing cup in his hand. He stopped the fountain and flicked off the water droplets, then used his pants to dry the rest.

Taking matters into his own hands, Joe ran his fingers along the bottom of the screen until he found the power button while a news anchor initiated their rambling.