Unexpected reunion

Chapter 15

I must have passed out because I was lying on a stretcher in the back of an ambulance. The fluorescent lights above flicker, casting harsh shadows that dance across the metal walls like ghosts from my recent past. Panic grips me again, a cold hand tightening around my throat as I remember the darkness—the suffocating silence broken only by my own frantic breaths. "Hi Kelsey, my name is Harriet. I'm a paramedic. Don't worry, sweetheart; you're safe now." Her voice is warm and soothing, but it barely penetrates the fog of terror swirling in my mind. "I was so scared—scared that nobody would find me." "It's all over now, Kelsey; you're safe, I promise." "I want to go home," I plead weakly. "I want to see my babies." "You have to go to the hospital first," she replies gently but firmly. "You do however have family waiting there for you to arrive." As we speed through the city streets, sirens wailing like banshees in pursuit of something unseen and terrifying, I take a deep breath and focus on the ceiling inside the ambulance. Each rhythmic beep of the heart monitor serves as both reassurance and torment—a reminder that life goes on outside this metallic tomb. The sounds of a bustling ER fill the air when we arrive: heart monitors beeping rhythmically alongside distant shouts and whispered conversations blending into an unsettling symphony of chaos. A flurry of nurses and doctors moves past me like phantoms weaving through a dreamscape as they prepare for another crisis. "She's just been rescued from a horrifying ordeal," Harriet explains to someone whose face blurs into insignificance against my rising panic. "Her clothes are wrinkled; her hair dishevelled—but she appears physically unhurt." "Once she is in a room you can see her," someone responds—an authoritative tone laced with urgency. "Okay, thank you." That sounds like Papa's voice. "Hello Kelsey," Doctor Taylor greets me with unexpected levity as he approaches—his eyes crinkling with concern behind his glasses framed by tousled hair reminiscent of someone who has seen too many late nights at work. "I didn't plan on seeing you on this side of the hospital. Normally you're helping patients—not being one." "Doctor Taylor?" My voice comes out hoarse yet filled with disbelief.

He laughs lightly but there's an undercurrent of gravity beneath it all: "How many times do I have to tell you? Call me Olly." He gestures toward an empty side room—the very one where I'd spent countless hours stitching up cuts and calming anxious patients' fears before mine erupted into chaos.

A mix of dread and relief washes over me as he helps me off the stretcher—I am both familiar here yet lost amid surging emotions threatening to drown me whole once more. "Kelsey!" A shout echoes across sterile walls—a shrill sound breaking through layers of tension—and instinctively, my head turns slowly toward it just in time to see Sasha rushing towards me, eyes wide with fear glistening under fluorescent lights. "I've never seen so scared in my life! You were going through hell and there wasn't anything I could do..." She hugs me tightly; tears wetting my shoulder while sobs escape her lips unchecked—her anguish palpable enough that even amongst chaos it reverberates within every fibre of our friendship forged over years together battling life's unpredictable storms. "Where's my baby girl? Where is she?"

"I'm right here Dad!" A small voice pierces through despair just then—I turn swiftly only for arms to encircle around me fiercely pushing Sasha aside momentarily until Papa envelops us both together within his embrace strong enough to shield against whatever darkness lurks beyond these walls.  "Kelsey?" He whispers softly against tangled strands clinging stubbornly onto reality amidst everything spinning away from control—his warmth bringing comfort.

"Where are the twins" I ask in a panic.

"They are all fine sweetheart they are with Mrs Marshall" Papa explains.

"Ok you lot, I need to check Kelsey over and my patience needs their favourite nurse back" Olly says giving me a wink.

"I want to keep you in overnight Kelsey, also the police are here they just want to ask you a few questions"

"Ok," I say with a fake smile

*****

Everyone left about an hour ago, doctor Taylor checked me over and said I was all ok just my blood pressure was a little on the high side.
Yeah, I would have never have guessed that one. If you go through what I have told me you wouldn't have high blood pressure either!
Mike stayed for a little longer and told me how he found my
Phone and call the police.
The police came and I told them all that I could they said they would find Debbie, but I'm sure she is long gone by now. Right now I just need some rest. And try and get some sleep.

*******

Sasha
I have been volunteering as much as I can at the club mike gives us information about Mason, but Kelsey hasn't seen or heard from him directly. Their closeness made them seem like a small family, so it's unfortunate how things have ended. My night at the bar is scheduled, but one of the bartenders, Brett, had to call in ill. Fortunately, I was able to get Kelsey to work with me tonight, Kelsey doesn't work as much as she used to. I know she didn't feel as comfortable as she used to because of the kidnapping but we are in desperate need of help and she agreed to come in which is fortunate because the place is quite busy.

As the night was coming to an end, I turned to wash off the sticky countertop when I saw a man coming towards me.
He had beautiful dark brown eyes, short black hair, and a tall, dark brown complexion. I looked up to meet him.

"Hi, can I help you?"

"Allowing me to take you on a he said would be a good place to start."

"Who is the one requesting this date, by the way?"

He laughed so hard and deep that I could not stop laughing. He smiles and says, "My name is Vinny."

His lips were well-formed, and a smile stretched to his eyes. This guy is unlike any I've seen in a long time, at least not one that really drew my attention. Yes, especially if you work at a club, we get approached by both men and women on a daily basis. While half of them are intoxicated, I never would have imagined that I would be enticed, and yet here was this Greek man.

"Well Red, do you say?"

I chuckle. A while back, Kelsey and I decided we needed a makeover. She coloured her hair black, and I did mine fire engine red; it worked out well for both of us.
When's a good time for you to get dinner or a drink? Though I figured I'd give it a go.

"I'm sure you get requests like this from men like me all the time. "

We both chuckle.

"God, as they say, likes a trier, so here's me trying, "

I couldn't help but chuckle at his witty banter. That's one more thing ticked off the list idel man list.

"You give me your number, I'll think it over, and if I decide to go on a date, I'll text you. Deal? "

Extending my hand, I'm going to give it a shake. He leaned slightly, and I could feel his warm lips on top of my hand and his palm beneath it. He gently kisses my hand, looks up, and definitely smiles in response.
I pull out my phone as he relays the phone number off to me. And says his goodbyes.