Darkness falls - English version

Bonus chapter - Good and bad news

This chapter is for everyone who is wondering where the rescueteam went and who didn't want Senny to die - like myself, by the way. Everyone else should stop reading now 😉

>>Daylight by Shinedown + You are the reason by Calum Scott<<

Cardiff hospital, 18 hours later (Penny's POV)

A blinding light blinded me when I opened my eyes. I squinted and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust. I noticed a steady beeping sound, then I noticed that typical hospital smell. I squinted against the brightness as shapes of faces appeared above me, slowly taking on familiar shapes.
"Ellie? Gwendolyn?" I asked, amazed and in a tired voice. I was still in a daze. I looked from my right to my left to see who else was there. "Aunt Moira. Cynthia, you too? What are you doing here?"

"Do you think we'll miss out on welcoming you back to the living?" Ellie teased, grinning, but I could see the tears in her eyes. They immediately shot into my eyes too.

"Man, you've got us all excited. You've been in the news non-stop since last night," Cynthia said excitedly. "You're a sensation, Jenny...I mean Penny...Julie? For God's sake. What's your name?" Cynthia then said frustrated.

"Penny. I am and will always be Penny," I replied with a smile and looked at Ellie, who was opening a folder at the foot of my bed.

"That's right. It says so in your papers too!" said Ellie, grinning, who had quickly pulled out my medical records from the pencil case that was hanging on my bed. I rolled my eyes, smiling at her lack of discretion. At least she immediately put the file away instead of reading it.

"How did the media get wind of this?" I asked the others, noticing that my aunt next to me was holding my hand and clearly not planning on letting go too quickly. I could see how worried she was - still was. So I gave her a reassuring smile as Ellie sat on the bed next to my legs.

"Are you kidding me? Since Sam was kidnapped, Dooley has been hanging around town with her team and nothing is kept secret in Pontypandy, as you know. When the whole pack of police and Scotland Yard expressed themselves last night, they immediately followed them, just like Helen and I did," Ellie explained to me.

"Why you two? You didn't even know what was going on. You could have been in danger," I replied to Ellie, shocked at her rash actions.

"Our team leader had disappeared and it was clear that they had a lead when they started such a large-scale operation," Ellie objected with a shrug. "I intercepted Helen as she followed the convoy and she took me with her. On the way, she let me in on what she knew and that the water corpse couldn't possibly have been you. So it was clear to us that if you were still alive and Sam was in trouble, you couldn't be far either. We thought you might need help. "

"Thanks, Ellie." I couldn't help but feel my heart warm, grateful for the friends I'd made. "What about Snider? Is he really..." I trailed off. The fear still simmered inside me that he might have survived after all. I wouldn't endure having to meet him again - not on the street or even in the courtroom.

"Dead as a mouse. He won't hurt anyone anymore. What he did to you is bad enough," Gwendolyn interjected and I could see that she still looked worried.

The door opened and I saw Helen enter. She smiled as our eyes met.

"So, dear ones, when our patient has finally woken up, I want to give her a quick check and then you should give her some rest. You'll have her back with you soon enough," the nurse interjected as she came into the room and the others quickly said goodbye to us. Aunt Moira told me she had a hotel room in town and would be back tomorrow before following the others out. I watched her go and only now realized that it must be dark outside because the hallway and the room were bathed in artificial light."So Penny, how are you?" Helen tore me out of my thoughts.