Sleep State

Chapter 13

- Ana -

"Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome." - Issac Asimov

What she witnessed before her eyes erased any mobility from her petite stature. Once again her breath had been knocked out of her by a swift invisible force. The adrenaline that had coursed through her bloodstream aligned with curiosity had come to a standstill. How was this possible? And while the shock of the matter hit her hard, why did she find acceptance underneath the surface of who laid before her?

Christian's confirmation behind her slowly sunk in. Not yet. What did that mean? She didn't need to ask to know the reply she would receive. The tears swelled in her sad eyes concluding what she had sensed from the start. Now, it just took on a whole new meaning.

The fast forward button on the metaphorical remote had been permanently pressed until now. Finally, things were slowing down again, but not in the way she had hoped for.

Distraught and blinded by the darkness that swallowed her only moments prior, she had been projected into her current setting wandering its corridors as if nothing had happened at all. The vision of Christian inside the building on the pier was the last memory she held on to, but somewhere in the depths of her brain she knew it was not. Outlines of others surrounded her and called her name. She struggled to see who they were and what they wanted, but an imaginary wall kept her from ever knowing or seeing more than it would allow and then it was all gone.

When she awoke, she realized she had been pulled back to the makeshift reality she had concocted. Her new surroundings engulfed her in a widespread panic and without hesitation, she bolted. Her wobbly legs carried her off the bed, out of the room and down the hall to where a glowing light attracted her attention. The guidance of the light frightened her, and yet it welcomed her at the same time. The threshold of the glowing source beckoned her and when she entered she knew there was no turning back.

Ana covered her mouth as a high-pitched sob escaped her. What had she done to deserve this?

Lifeless, powerless, and unconscious her body stationed itself in a bed surrounded by tubes, wires, and a constant beeping that displayed a wave of lines. A noticeable cut near her hairline could be seen and she brought her hand to the now bandaged wound upon her head in the same spot. Coincidence? Not likely, she thought.

Black and blue bruises marked her pale skin from head to toe. She shed a tear from each eye at the sight of her mangled and abused body. Like a reflection in a mirror, she did not want to believe what she saw, but could not deny it either. Cruel reality began to sink in and the current that came along with it was violent. Whether she decided to sink or swim against the current was up to her.

"Ana," Christian whispered.

"What the hell is going on?" Her voice cracked with emotion.

The moment she chose to spin around to face him, she immediately regretted her action. The loss of blood from her head injury had left her weak and dizzy. In double time, the room spun and circled out of control. Ana grasped the nearest object to steady herself, but his hands were what saved her from a terrible fall. As the image of the room balanced out and she regained stability, she slowly sank to the cold floor.

"I'm fine." Ana urged with her hand placed on her forehead.

Opposite of her, Christian took a seat on the floor and leaned up against the bed. He placed the palms of his hands flat on the ground and kept his stare locked on the wall behind her. News like this was not for the faint of heart, but something in his expression seemed less than surprised by what they had walked into. Sure, everyone would deal with a situation like this differently, but his way seemed almost prepared as if he knew about it. Then it dawned on her.