The Rhythm Of Rescue

008 | Intense sensation

A white-hot bolt of pain ripped through my body. It was like someone had shoved a blowtorch right into my bones - I couldn't feel anything else for a moment. Stunned and in a heap on the kitchen floor, the pain started to creep down my lower back, making it hard to even breathe. Tentatively, I reached out to touch the throbbing spot on my hip, but that just stole my breath away again and forced a groan out of my throat. "Ughhh!" My eyes welled up with tears, not just from the pain, but from the impact that left me feeling dazed.

Through blurry vision, I saw Theodore hovering above me, his brow furrowed in a way that made it impossible to tell if he was worried or just annoyed. He stood there with his hands on his hips, then shifted from foot to foot like he couldn't decide what to do. The throbbing in my hip throbbed like a drum solo, drowning out everything else and making it impossible to focus.

"W-what do you want me to do?"

Between gasps for air, I stammered, "What?"

"What do you want? Should I call an ambulance or something?" He sounded like he was trying to be helpful, but laced with annoyance, like he'd rather be anywhere else.

Focusing on my shallow breaths, I rasped, "Ice," then paused, wincing as I tried to shift my weight to ease the throbbing pain. Huge mistake. "Ugh!" I yelped as Theodore's long legs blurred past me on his way to the fridge.

Mr. Purrsley lumbered over, his body low to the ground as he nudged my stomach with his fur.

Theodore reappeared quickly, crouching beside me with the half-empty carton of yogurt from the fridge. "Can you stand up?"

I shook my head, wincing again as I tried even the slightest movement.

Suddenly, Theodore scooped me up in his arms as I let out a yelp that was way louder than I intended, followed by a string of whimpers I couldn't quite stifle.

Cradled in his arms as he carried me out of the kitchen, my ragged breaths slowly calmed as I gazed up at him. His strong jawline and the hint of stubble tickled my cheek. The dim light in the room cast a darker shade on his eyes, a contrast to their usual bright brown in daylight.

To my surprise, he settled me gently onto the scratchy couch.

I winced as something dug into my butt and I painfully shifted.

Theodore tossed me the frozen yogurt, and I mumbled a "thanks."

He averted his gaze and retreated back into the kitchen.

With a soft whimper, I raised the sweater higher, my fingers trembling as I reached the angry red bruise. I whimpered as I applied the icy yogurt, my lip bitten hard to stifle a cry.

The initial stinging pain was almost unbearable, my breathing quickening as the cold seeped into my skin, then, the discomfort merged with the numbness but still a far cry from comfortable.

Theodore emerged from the kitchen, Mr. Purrsley no longer fawning over his legs-clear sign that he'd probably fed the cat.

His gaze darted down to my hand clutching the yogurt. The way his eyes lingered on the exposed skin of my stomach sent a phantom chill, prickling my skin.

Then, he made a beeline for the door without a word.

"Wait," I called out, squirming uncomfortably on the couch. My discomfort had escalated.

Theodore froze in his tracks, but didn't turn around.

"Do you have any balm?" I asked, wincing. "I need to ease the pain before I make it to the hospital to get it checked."