Fatal Wounds

44

Valentina

A warmth spreads over my arm. It urges my closed and heavy eyes to try and flutter open. "Vale," I hear a sniffle with a small soft voice, "I miss you." The warmth travels up and down my arm, as if rubbing something warm over it.

"Beautiful," comes from a different more deeper voice, "we should go grab some breakfast then we can come back."

"I'm not leaving." The warmth tightens around my palm. "I'm not leaving her alone here." There's a sniffle and then something warm and wet falls on my arm, it pains me that I don't have the strength to open my eyes.

Brooke. I try to say but the only thing that comes out is a whimper when my throat radiates pain. It makes my eyes squeeze and my face contort in pain. Why does it hurt so much? Brooke gasps and says, "Yes. I'm here Vale. Can you hear me?"

"Is she awake?" My heart lurches when my dad's familiar voice makes its way to my ears.

I try and try to open my eyes but it only results in me struggling to breathe. A machine starts beeping faster making me panic.

Beeping. The sound I so desperately wanted to hear. Why did I want to hear it? I can't remember. I try my best to remember how I got here but nothing surfaces past the fog that is my memory.

I feel my hand move in Brooke's, trying to hold her hand back. "No. But she's trying to wake up. I know it." Brooke says, sounding so sure of her self.

"There's no rush." My dad's large warm hand comes over my head and pushes my hair back. "Take your time Mija."

I feel my breathing even and my mind begin to shut. In dad and Brooke's warm embraces I think I fall asleep.

•••

"-ble condition, same as yesterday." A voice says that I'm familiar with but can't quite place. "How is Valentina?"

"Doctors aren't sure why she's isn't awake." My dad says, "she didn't suffer much physical damage but they think her emotional state is keeping her asleep."

"It's because she doesn't-" Brooke's voice is so close and so sad that my eyes manage to crack open. I try to speak but once again my throat burns beyond imaginable it makes my eyes tear. Her head whips over so quick, blond hair nearly strikes my eyes. "Don't speak." She chokes out. "It'll hurt."

Don't speak please.

Theo. My Theo. He was stabbed. His heart wasn't beating. "Theo." I manage to whisper, the pain is unbearable, though not even close to what he must've felt. I become dizzy, when the heart monitor picks up, my breathing follows.

"Vale please." Brooke whispers, "you're hurting yourself."

"Mija," dad says, sadness looking so bright in his eyes hurting my heart.

My eyes furiously look around the room. Oliver and Camilla are here. Both looking grief stricken which makes my heart break all over again. Even Brian who's usually so happy is brought down with such sadness.

My hand reaches up to my throat and I now remember all my screaming. I must have damaged it.

"Your vocal cords are damaged." Brooke says sadly, "and you have some cuts on your chest that may be a little painful. Your knees are also a little scratched up."