Dolly (Part three-Max Mitchell series)

FIVE

The sunlight flickered, warm on my face and shoulders, as I strolled through the rows of corn. Somewhere in the middle of my dad's farm, I was wandering among the swaying tree-like stalks. The crop provided just enough space for me to pass under the archway that the long leaves made. Straight ahead, hundreds of yards of corn and behind? The same.

"Welcome home, Maxine."

What? Who was that?

"You're so fucking special." A sinister voice was all around me.

Who's there?

The wind started blowing hard, and the stalks of corn bent and swayed, their tassels whipping me as I moved faster. The sky got darker and a cold dread filled my body as I tried to find an exit from the field.

"Nice try. You're not going anywhere."

Tears blurred my vision, turning the comfortable security of the field into a swirling and terrifying trap.

"You're gonna stay here forever."

Suddenly, there was a clearing, and there was Paul, pointing a gun right at me. I spun around to run away and slammed into a brick wall, unable to escape him and his weapon. I clawed at the brick, scratching and trying to escape. I could hear his raspy laugh all around me, and I turned to face him.

"Why are you doing this to me?"
"Because I can. You don't get to move on, I won't let you." He continued to laugh at me and my plight.
"Maxine Mitchell, if I can't have you, nobody can."

BANG!

My eyes snapped open, and all I could register was my own screaming. Where was I? After a second, I recognized three frightened, tearful faces at the left side of my bed. I was in a hospital, and my family was there with me.
"Mom? Dad? Tab?" I blinked repeatedly. Was I still dreaming?
"Maxi, baby. We're here, everything is going to be alright." my mom scooted closer, and grabbed my hand.
Aren't they supposed to be in La Paz?
"Mom....Mom? What are you doing here?" I felt so confused.
"We came as soon as Stef called us, Dolly. We were so scared." My dad leaned close and kissed my forehead.
"Tab..." I lifted my shaking hand towards her,and felt my eyes well up with tears.
"How are you doing, Dolly?" She was crying as well.
"This is very confusing, and I feel like I'm...drunk...and freezing. Why is it so cold in here?" my family smiled through their tears and I heard a quiet chuckle to my right. I rolled my head toward the sound, and the tears immediately started spilling from my eyes.
"Oh Sugar." I was bawling, and he teared up too. "I knew I could hear you." I reached a hand toward him, and he came to kneel next to me. I touched my fingertips to his face, just to make sure he was real.
"Hear me? You could hear me?"
"I think so. I'm pretty sure I could hear all of you."

After a little while there was a soft knocking and a nurse came into the room.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, I just want to have a word with Miss Mitchell."
Tom stood up to leave my side, and I grabbed his hand and pulled him back to me.
"Don't go." I whispered.
His eyes went glassy with tears, again and he sat down on the edge of my bed not once letting go of my hand.

"Miss Mitchell, we've just taken you out of a medically induced state of sleep. You are in the ICU of Mount Sinai hospital in New York City. Do you know why you were brought here?"

My memory recalled the last thing I could remember. It was Paul, aiming a gun at me and shooting. Then, of clawing my way to the bed, to the phone and bleeding everywhere.

A slow burning ache began to spread through my body, starting in my belly. My pained expression must have been apparent because my mother chimed in immediately and frantically.
"She's in pain. Do something. She shouldn't be hurting. Maybe some--"
"Mom. Shhhhhh." Tab whispered, and took her hand, verbalizing just what was in my mind.