Deep Dark Blues

Chapter 15 - The Green Flash

Reed lunged forward, adrenaline surging in her blood. Alex convulsed, shaking like a leaf in the wind, his large hand gripping Isabella's throat dangerously tight. A string of breathy sighs came from his lips, eyes opening and closing, fingers clamped around the poor woman's throat. Reed's hands desperately grasped at his forearm, trying to pry his fingers off, but he wouldn't budge. His muscles spasmed, mumbles and groans spilling from his lips. Isabella's cheeks were tinted with purple, the woman looked like a ripe plum with not enough oxygen passing through her windpipe.

"No! Alex, stop!" Reed called out desperately. She wasn't nearly as strong as Alex, struggling to pull him away from the other scientist. Choked-out croaks left his throat, his hand suddenly losing its grip before he fell back onto the mattress. The second his hands left Isabella's body the woman collapsed to the floor, gripping the tender flesh of her neck, fear palpable in her eyes. She scrambled away from the bed, crawling desperately until her back hit the frame of the bed behind her. Reed found herself by Isabella's side in seconds, her heart pounding in her ears. Isabella was wheezing, the remains of her make-up running down her face, saliva dripping down her chin and between her fingers.

Reed's head was spinning, her mind void of any comprehensive thought.

What do I do? What do I do?

"Shhhhh.... Shhhhhh...." She tried, her hands travelling to Isabella's wrists.

"I...I...A-Alex..." The woman choked out, rattling coughs following her attempt to speak.

"Shhh. Don't speak...Let me see..." Reed murmured, her fingers tracing Isabella's soft skin. With shaking hands and quiet sobs, the other woman finally removed her palms from her throat, Reed wincing at the sight underneath Isabella's palms. Isabella's throat was swelling up, bruises from the burst blood vessels marking the spots where Alex's hands dug into her skin.

Isabella's chest rose and fell rapidly, her breath too short to be possibly getting her enough oxygen. Reed tried calming her down, pushing through her own discomfort. Her hands softly rubbed against Isabella's shoulders, trying to help her regain control over her breathing.

"I-It...H-h-hurts...Breathe..."Isabella managed to rasp out. Reed's thoughts were scattered, trying to come up with a possible solution. Unlike Isabella with her veterinary experience, Reed knew little to nothing about anatomy, especially regarding humans. It didn't look like Isabella's windpipe was crushed, but she might have suffered some damage to the vocal cords.

"Ummm...I...I..." she looked around.

"Ummm...let's get you some cooling cream, maybe?" she stood up, marching right towards the cupboards. She rummaged through the shelves, going over different bottles and vials in search of something that would ease the other woman's suffering. Eventually, just as Reed was about to give up, her fingers bumped into a small tube of cream. Her eyes scanned the label before returning to her companion, tube already uncapped.

"It's a little bit cold..." Reed warned, applying the cream carefully onto the area. A startled "sorry" escaped her lips when Isabella flinched, wincing at the sudden inhale. It didn't take a genius to see she was in genuine pain, eyes glassy and full of anguish every time Reed's fingers passed the bruises.

Her heart was heavy with worry at the sight of her newfound friend, especially since she could not provide the necessary help. She felt guilty remembering how Isabella had set her nose into place with the calmness of a medical professional. Her inner saboteur was at it again, whispering degradations into her ear while she massaged Isa's throat.

You are like a child...

Completely useless...

Not strong enough to join the men...