Trauma of the Forest (Meadema)

~ Chapter 28: Doubts Strike ~

They both looked up in fright. The room had been deathly quiet for the past few minutes, just the slight squeaking of a machine connected to Viv, nothing else. And now they were startled by a loud knock on the door and the squeaking sound of the door opening. Fear immediately shot through Beth. Suddenly it seemed as if she was back in the cottage, where there was always knocking on the door, but it never seemed to be the way out. 

Beth looked Katie straight in the eye, the fear was clear in her eyes, almost tears that wanted to form in Beth's eyes. This wasn't the doctor, he never knocks on the door before he comes in. This wasn't a nurse either, they never knock on the door either. But who was it then? With every step that the person took in this direction, Beth's fear grew bigger and bigger. Was it one of those men? Had one of those men been able to escape? Would it just start all over again?  

Very slowly the footsteps came closer and closer. Beth and Katie had drawn the curtain around Viv's bed, to create a more cozy atmosphere and give her a bit of privacy, as far as that was possible. But now they couldn't see who was walking into the room and Beth suddenly regretted pulling the curtain around Viv's bed.

Then suddenly, a hand appeared, grabbing the curtain. And then they appeared around the corner. Thank God, two familiar faces. Rachel and Ben, still in their police uniforms, a large bag in Rachel's right hand, walked towards them. Not those men, not the same thing would happen again. Not now, not ever. Relief rolled through every fiber of Beth's body, a deep sigh left her mouth.

'Hey girls. We didn't want to scare you by just walking in. But we forgot that knocking isn't the most pleasant sound for you Beth to hear right now. Sorry... Uhm... We brought something for you Beth, but if you want to spend some time with Viv first, that's fine, we'll come back later'. Beth intervened immediately, of course wanting them to show the stuff. 'No, it's okay. You can show it now. But if Viv wakes up now, I want to focus on her first'.

Of course, Rachel and Ben agreed with Beth's opinion, wanting to fulfill her wishes as best as possible. 'We found some stuff in the bunker together with colleagues. We have two phones here and the car keys. The car doesn't seem to have been driven and there is no damage anywhere. We now have the car in the hospital parking garage, so you have it at hand. Your phone and Viv's don't seem to have been used either, but we do advise you to change some passwords'.

Finally, a phone. Finally, the ability to contact others. Finally, she was reachable again, she could reach others and she could inform people. 'We will leave you alone again now. If we don't see you again, we wish you all the best in the coming period with your recovery and processing'.

Rachel and Ben started to leave the room, but Beth stood up abruptly. 'Wait.' Rachel and Ben turned around, both looking surprised. Beth stepped closer to them, and threw her arms around both officers at the same time. 'Thank you for coming to get us. I know for sure that I would have lost Vivi and lost myself if I didn't have you guys. I have no idea how I can ever thank you.' Rachel and Ben both got big smiles on their faces. 'It's our job Beth. We do it with love. Just seeing that smile on your face again is more than enough for us'.

Beth released her grip on the officers, who then left the room. Once again, the room was dead silent, only the beeping and rattling of Viv's machines. Viv was still fast asleep, her breaths still clearly audible, her eyes still tightly closed. Katie was still sitting to one side of Viv, staring at her.

Beth turned and slowly walked back to the chair, her eyes fully focused on Viv again. Her thoughts were racing in all directions. She had a phone now, but was she ready to start informing people? Was she able to call Viv's mother and tell her what had happened to her child? Was she even able to explain what had happened? Through her tears, which would start flowing anyway if she had to bring it up to her mother-in-law.