Endless

Blink | Aleria

I blinked again. My stinging eyes teared up and the moisture stung its way down my temples.

The buzzing conversation stopped.

My gag reflex kicked in, choking me in a futile attempt to cough out the pipe lodged in my throat. I tried to sit up and get my hands to my mouth. By some miracle, it worked, but whatever they were encased in knocked against plastic covering my mouth and pushed the pipe deeper down. More tears ran down my face.

Someone pushed my shoulders back into my mattress. "You need to calm down," a deep voice commanded.

Calm? Calm? This thing was making me choke! I wanted to rail at him, but my mouth had no free space to push the words out. My eyes rolled up as I fought for air.

"Relax," the voice repeated. "It's just your breathing apparatus. I can see you're able to breathe on your own, but we need to clear the carbon dioxide out of your body first."

Oh. Why didn't he say so? I was plugged into something forcing me to breathe and he acted as if it was a minor technicality. Idiot. My eyes turned back, focusing on a young man in a white jacket. This was my doctor?

Tired green eyes met my gaze. "Blink if you understand."

I blinked despite the fact that my lungs begged to be left alone.

"Good." He turned his mouth into something resembling a reassuring smile. "I can put you under again, if you're uncomfortable. Would you prefer that? Blink once for yes, twice for no."

No. No way was I going to be knocked out. I needed to move. I blinked twice.

"Approximate age: Twenty-five," a woman standing by my hip murmured. "She seems to be in excellent physical condition. Identifiable marks: a scar on right lower abdomen."

The doctor's head rounded towards her. "What?"

Unable to bend my neck, I turned my eyes to the woman. She was broad. Pale. Confused looking, with deep furrows etched between her brows.

"Yes," she said. "Whatever caused it must have gone right through. I'll go see if anyone is asking about a woman with a scar matching this one."

"No. I'll do it," the doctor said, taking the file from her. "You have a lot of work to do and I'm about to go on break."

The woman smiled. "You? Take a break? You'd better. You work too hard. I'll be checking on the other victims on my list."

Victims? She saw me as a victim? The word needled me in ways I couldn't begin to explain. That and her pitying smile before leaving me alone with the doctor. He regarded me again, a deep frown on his face. What? I wanted to scream at him again. What!

"Blink once for yes. Blink twice for no." He moved close, leaning over me. "Do you understand?"

I blinked once.

"Do I know you?"

The question stumped me. My heart rate picked up, increasing the frequency of the irritating beeps. I blinked twice.

He released a little sigh, hanging his head for a moment. "I'm Dr. Ryan."

Ryan... Ryan... Irish by name, but not by accent. In fact, his accent fell strangely on my ear. It was unlike anything I could remember. The beeps picked up speed to match my frantic heart.

"You're one lucky lady." His gaze flicked towards the machine, then back down. "Are you feeling okay?"

I blinked twice, trying not cry. He pulled a penlight from his breast pocket and shone it into both of my eyes. I winced and tried to turn my head.

"Do you remember what happened?" he asked, frowning.

I blinked twice, this time failing to keep the tears back.

The question shook me to the core. I couldn't remember anything. I tried to call up my name, my home, the date, anything. Anything. My memories didn't come. It was as if someone had locked me out of my own mind. My breathing sped up again and I couldn't stop it. The lack of air blurred my sight. I choked for air, stabbing pains through my torso. I was in trouble. Big. Huge trouble.

"Shhh, it's okay." Dr. Ryan moved out of my field of vision. A few seconds later, my soul floated again. He'd killed me. He must have. The deathly serenity trying to pull my soul from my body returned. A shudder raced over me as Ryan helped me lay back. This was what it felt like to die in my killer's arms.

Poor Aleria. I can only imagine how terrifying it is to wake up without remembering anything. 

Just want to say sorry for only updating now. I know I promised to post this weeks ago, but then I lost my internet connection and I'm only starting to catch up now. 

I'll do my best to keep to a weekly posting schedule from now on. 

In the meantime, let me know what you think. :-)