The Island is Gone

1

I don't know what happens next. I'm still underwater. Slowly sinking. A sharp pain is in my side. But I'm peaceful. Away from all the fire, and murderers. Then I feel a pair of strong arms grab me around my waist and pull me out of the water. And just like that the peacefulness is ripped away.

"Paisley, it's ok. You're ok." Reeve assures me. I am in shock. I reach down to touch my side and feel Robert's sword sticking into me. I start hyperventilating in shock.

"Shhhh everything will be ok. We're on our way back to the mainland. There's an ambulance waiting for us when we arrive." Reeve is a mess too. He has a bloody nose and it looks slightly crooked. And his lips are cracked and bleeding.

"Are you ok?" I ask him. My voice slightly slurred. I'm just trying to distract myself from my own injuries.

He laughs sadly, "I've been better. But it's nothing compared to what you must be feeling." I feel a tear slip down my face.

"I'm scared." I manage to whisper.

"I know you are. But you'll be ok. Just keep holding on. I meant what I said, Paisley. You are getting out of this alive. No matter what."

"I hope so."

Once we arrive at the shore everything is a blur. I remember Reeve begging to go with me in the ambulance and the doctors reluctantly agreeing since they had no time to lose. I also remember the officers saying once I've been treated I will need to spend a week in jail for killing Harper . . . it's not my proudest moment.

"Ok Paisley I need you to look in my eyes ok? Focus on nothing but my eyes." one of the doctors instructed me. I do as he says but I can still feel myself slowly falling into darkness. I groan as the sword shifts.

"Why aren't you sedating her? Can't you see she's in pain?!" I hear Reeve yell at the doctor.

"Of course I can see but I'm afraid if we sedate her . . . she may not wake up."

"Oh . . ." is all Reeve says. He intertwined his fingers with mine as I started crying. But I wince as soon as I start. Crying with a sword in your side is not a good idea.

We arrive at the hospital shortly and they can finally sedate me. They put a mask over my mouth and nose and the last thing I remember is Reeve telling me that I'll be ok.

"Wake up Paisley. The surgery is done. Wake up." I want to respond but I can't. It's like I'm wrapped up in heavy chains. I can't move.

"Paisley, it's Blaine." As soon as I hear his name I jerk my eyes open, and wince as the light hits my cornea.

"B-Blaine?" He doesn't respond. Instead he jumps out of his chair and wraps his arms around me, careful to avoid the spot I got stabbed.

"H-how am I ok?" I whisper.

"I . . . I don't know, but that is the last time I'm ever convincing mom to ever let you do anything." I have to laugh at that. That's the first time I've laughed in . . . I don't even know how long. I ignore the pain as I laugh. I laughed for a while. It wasn't even that funny. What is wrong with me?

"I see the anesthesia is still wearing off." he tells me. Now it makes more sense. Just like that my joy is gone. Replaced with fear, shame, and sadness.

"W-what happened to Liam—er— Robert?" I ask as I start panicking again.

"Um . . . we . . . we don't know."

"YOU DON'T KNOW?" I shoot straight up and almost pass out. Blaine helps me to lay back down. I curl my legs to my chest and start sobbing. The person who murdered all those people . . . who caused so much trauma . . . is still out there.

"He's gonna come after me." I realize while clutching my head. "Holly hell he's totally gonna come after me."

"No he's not Paisley. You're safe now."

"N-nooo I'm not. I killed his girlfriend. I killed Harper. I killed the person who I thought was my friend. He's gonna want revenge."

"I'm not gonna let anything happen to you." he assures me. Something clicked as he said that.

"Where's Reeve?" I panic.

"He's waiting outside. Do you wanna see him?"

"Yea." I tell him. He walks to the door and opens it. Reeve rushes up to me and wraps me up in a hug.

"I'm so glad you're ok. I thought we lost you."

"I do have more lives than a cat." I admit. "What happened while I was in surgery?" I wonder.

He clears his throat. Uh oh. "Y-you're heart stopped three times during the surgery. Robert got away, along with Harper. He took her with him."
"Ok." I say proud of my voice for not shaking, "And what happened to the island?"

He clears his throat again. "T-the island is gone." The world starts spinning, and I clutch my head harder this time.

"W-what do you mean gone?" my voice shook this time. I pretty much guessed the answer.

"Paisley . . . we burned down the entire island."