Between Life or Death (Stark's Daughter 6)

Chapter 24

My eyes flick open and Im stood at the back of a hospital room. In front of me is a body in a bed, the green blanket covers the lifeless body, her brown hair waves down her shoulders and a huge tube snakes out of her open mouth and lots of small transparent tubes carry blood or a white liquid through her body and into bags. She looks like a doll. She's me.

I step towards my body and i hear a small sob behind me. Zeke is sat on the floor at the back of the room, his head in his hands and knees pulled to his chest. I walk towards him and kneel in front of Zeke, my hands cover his but he doesn't feel me.

"Zeke?" I ask, but he doesn't say a word.

Zeke runs his shaking hands through his hair as tears flow like waterfalls down his pain filled face. I stand up again and walk backwards, until my back hits the end of the bed.

What is going on? Why can't i be heard or felt? Why can i see myself in the bed?

Am i dead?

There's a knock at the door and Zeke jumps up, brushing his trembling hands down his jeans. My dad steps in, gently closing the door.

"Oh, no." He breaths, the only noise above the machine beeping.

Dad wipes his fingers over his moustache and stubble. His face is small and exhausted.

"Im so sorry." Dad mumbles.

"There's nothing we can do. I feel so useless." Zeke admits, a single tear landing on his dry lips.

"I have something for you. Skye told me to give this to you when she goes, but i think you should have it now." Dad announces, pulling the folded envelop from his back jean pocket. Dad passes it to Zeke and smiles, then marches out before he starts crying. Zeke scans the envelop and is about to open it.

"Dad!" A small voice shouts and Zeke turns around, pushing the envelop into his pocket.

"Hey kids."

Hope and Lucas walk in, holding hands and they don't look at Zeke, just look at my body in the hospital bed. Lucas starts to sob and Hope doesn't react, she stands frozen to the ground.

"Im here, Im trying." I shout, throwing my arms up in front of them but they see straight through me.

My husband and two children stand at the end of my bed while Im trapped in a coma. But Im trapped as a ghost behind them.

Zeke wanders off to get a drink, leaving Hope and Lucas sat by my comatosed body.

"Can she hear us?" Lucas asks, looking up at Hope.

"I don't know. Maybe." Hope replies, sitting on the blue plastic chair and she pushes a seat towards Lucas. He slowly sits and watches me.

"Mum, its um...its Lucas. Don't leave us, mum. Please. You need to stay here with us, we need you." Lucas mumbles, his sobs echoing in the small room.

I lean my back on the wall and gradually drag myself down the wall until i sit on the floor. I can't do anything but watch my children cry and beg me to carry on living.

"I got you two hot chocolate." Zeke announces as he walks in, holding two hot cups with lids.

"I don't want it." Hope mutters.

"Thanks, dad." Lucas says and takes the cup but holds it in his hands.

"You're going to stay with your Uncle James for a few days."

"I want to stay here." Hope argues.

"Hope, please don't argue with me. Just do as you're told." Zeke scolds.

There's a knock at the door and i stand up, racing in front of James. He walks straight through me and coughs. A shiver travels down my spine and i spin around to see James.

"I am so sorry." He whispers, placing a hand on Zeke's left shoulder.

"Uncle James!" Hope shouts as she races up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and he hugs her back, the sound of sobbing fills the room again.

I scream, trying to drown out the crying. I kick the trolley next to me and the utensils shake but make no noise. Zeke glances over, for a second i thought he could see but he looks straight through me. I sit back down on the floor, pulling my knees to my chest and crossing my arms.

I don't want to die. I want to be with my family.

*

Hope and Lucas are at home with James. Zeke is sat on the blue plastic chair by my bedside and clutches my hand, weirdly i sort of feel it on my skin. I stand in front of him and by my head. My body makes me look like Im asleep and Zeke starts to mumble to himself.

"This is all my fault, i should have looked after you properly and got you the help you needed. I haven't been the best husband, but i promise that when you wake up i will be the best i can." He whispers and kisses each of my bodys fingers. I look down at mine and i can feel the sweet touch on my fingertips.

"I am awake, i can hear you." I mumble, sitting on the tiled floor in front of him.

I place my hands on his knees and look up at him, tears prick at his shimmering emerald eyes and i want to wipe the pain away. My heart cracks inside me and the machine connected to my body quickens.

"Skye?" He questions, leaning forward slightly.

"Im here." I whisper, staring at the floor, knowing he can't hear me.