Riptide

Chapter 2

"It has been said that time heals all wounds. I don't agree. The wounds remain. In time - the mind, protecting its sanity - covers them with some scar tissue and the pain lessens, but it is never gone."

-Rose Kennedy

I was floating; blissfully teetering just on the edge of consciousness. I could taste the sea on my lips and everything shone with a euphoric glow. Peeling open my eyes, I saw nothing but clear blue skies and plush clouds. Everything was blurry and distant like a dream and suddenly, there was an angel with the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen; one blue and one brown. His hair was golden sunlight and shimmering droplets of water clung to his skin. His lips moved but his voice was muffled. His touch was gentle as he took me into his arms and held me close. He was wearing a wetsuit which I thought was odd. What kind of angel wears a wetsuit?

    Did this mean I was dead? Maybe being dead wouldn't be so bad if there were angels like this; even if they were dressed strangely. I felt safe in his arms; like nothing bad could touch me. He whispered quietly and even though I couldn't make out the words, they brought me comfort. I allowed myself to relax, knowing that no matter what happened, this angel would protect me. The last thing I felt before drifting back into the endless abyss of sleep was rough sand scratching against my skin and a burning sensation deep in my chest.

***

    Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. I groaned at the pestering noise, reaching out to hit my snooze button. My hand fell through the air where my nightstand should have been. Confused, I cracked my eyes open and raised my head. I was shocked to see that I was in a hospital room and the persistent beeping noise that I had thought was my  alarm clock was actually a heart monitor. I looked down at myself, taking in the polka-dotted gown, the IV sticking out of my pale skin, and the sensor clasped around my fingertip. It was strange. I didn't feel sick or injured, so why was I in the hospital?

    I heard a groan beside me and looked over to seen my big brother Dean asleep in a uncomfortable looking chair. His arms were crossed, his neck was tilted painfully to the side, and his right leg was hanging over the arm of the chair. I couldn't help but smirk. My brother, the contortionist. I had no idea how long he had been there, but by the look of his ruffled clothes and tousled hair, it had probably been a while. "This is the first time he's slept in days."

    I jumped at the voice and looked up to see Bethany standing in the doorway, a cup of coffee in her hand and dark circles under her eyes. She gave me a tired smile and took a seat on the other side of my bed. "Days? What are you talking about?"

    "Ellie, don't you remember? The yacht? The party?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowing. I thought for a moment, my stomach dropping as everything suddenly came back to me in a crashing wave.

    "Oh God." my voice was hoarse. I grabbed Bethany's hand, desperate to tell her what had happened. "It was Jacob. He attacked me a-and threw me overboard."

    "Shh. Its okay. We know. The police already arrested him." she assured me, brushing my hair out of my face. "When I couldn't find you after the party, I called Dean and he called the police. When they showed up, they found Jacob trying to scrub blood off of the deck. He spilled his guts before they could even slap the cuffs on him. We've been looking for you ever since."

    "How long?" I croaked, unsure if I even wanted to know the answer. Bethany chewed at her bottom lip, something she did when she was nervous or upset.

    "You were missing for nearly three days, El." she told me. My eyes widened.

    "Three days?" How had I survived after being missing at sea for three days?