A New Life: Sequel to Amber

Chapter 15

Christy's POV

I drove to the hospital and found Link's room. I opened it and the sight I saw made my heart shatter. Link was covered in all sorts of monitors, Rhett was hunched over, clutching Link's hand tightly as he cried, and Amber was sound asleep at Rhett's side. She looked like she wasn't sleeping peacefully, but at least she was sleeping. I'm sure she hadn't really gotten enough sleep while she was gone. Who could sleep knowing that you were kidnapped? The poor girl. My heart really went out to her. She's had it so rough. Thankfully, Link has made her life much better already, even if some horrible things still have happened when she was with him. He's still saved her from her awful life before and I just hope that things will be good for the two of them very soon.

Amber seemed to be in pain, her face was scrunched up and her eyes were tightly closed. I stepped into the room and sat on the end of the bed. I gently rubbed Rhett's back as he sobbed into his left hand, his right still tightly holding Link's. "Hey, you alright?"

He looked up, his eyes were bloodshot and puffy. It was clear he wasn't, but I needed to talk to him. It'd probably help both of us deal with this. Rhett shook his head and looked back down. "I can't believe how much is happening and so fast. Just these past months, he's gone through so much and so has Amber. She lost a finger. They cut it off and sent it to Link. When he got it this morning, he fainted, hard. It caused head trauma, but it didn't take effect until about an hour ago. They said he's very deep in the coma. It's not certain when he'll wake up, if he ever does. I don't know what I'd ever do without him. He's always been there for as long as I can remember. Sure, I remember a few years before I knew him, but I've known him for almost my whole life. He's my brother, I can't lose him. I called his parents, they're on their way here, as well as his stepfather. They sounded so scared. Christy, I'm terrified. I tried to stay strong while Amber was awake, but it was so hard to. I can't lose him. I just can't. My girlfriend Jessie is coming too. She'll be here soon. Have you ever met her?" Rhett finally seemed a little better at the mention of his girlfriend, yet he was still clearly devastated. I could tell that all was very hard for him to tell me without breaking down. Various sobs had escaped his lips and his breathing was unsteady.

"No, I don't think I have, but I'm sure I'm going to like her. Rhett, I wish I could do something. I can't imagine how hard this must be on you, but you're strong. I know you are. Others wouldn't be able to hold themselves together at all  in your position. I'm terrified for him. I really love Link. He's the best man I've ever known. You are a very close second. Seeing him like this hurts me greatly. I love him so much and I don't even know if I'll ever see him again. I miss him so, so much, Rhett. I really do," I said. Tears started forming in my eyes and slowly trickling down my cheek and falling. Rhett grabbed my hand with his now free left one and gave it a comforting squeeze. I leaned forward and hugged him, crying on his shoulder. I heard the door open, but I didn't let go of Rhett, I needed him right now.

"Rhett? What's going on? Oh my gosh, Link, is he alright?" a woman's voice asked. I let go of Rhett and turned my gaze to the woman. She was short with dark brown, possibly black hair, with side bangs. She was absolutely beautiful. She was most likely Jessie, Rhett's girlfriend.

"Jessie, this is Christy, Link's girlfriend. I really don't know how he is. The doctors don't know if or when he's going to wake up. The head trauma didn't take effect for several hours, that made it even worse somehow. All we can do is pray he'll pull through this." Rhett wiped away his tears and let out a shaky breath.

Jessie wiped away a few tears and walked over to me. She tried to smile, but I could tell it was hard for her, considering the circumstances. "Hey Christy, it's a pleasure to meet you finally. I've heard many good things about you from both Link and  Rhett. Are you alright?" she asked gently and put her hand on my shoulder in a comforting way.

"Not really, but I'll be alright. It's great to meet you too, Jessie. You know Link?" I asked.

"Yeah, I've gotten to know him. He's such a great guy. It's so hard to see him like this. I really, really hope this all ends soon. He's gone through so much. And Amber, is she alright?" Jessie asked and looked to the girl sleeping against Rhett. Amber's eyes opened and she rubbed them. She turned and saw both Christy and I and she smiled.

"Christy! Jessie, you're here. I've missed you guys!" she ran and hugged me, then she did the same to Jessie.

"Amber, you're finger! What happened?" Jessie asked. She sounded horrified.

"Oh right. While I was still held captive, they... they cut it off. I may be able to get a prosthetic one, but I want to ask Link first. I'm going to wait until he wakes up. I'll just deal without it until he does. Rhett, will he wake up soon?" Amber looked hopefully at Rhett's sorrow-filled face. He took a deep breath through his nose and let it out through his mouth.

Rhett sighed once more and hugged Amber. "Freckles, I'm really sorry, but I don't know. We don't know anything  at this point. We just need to wait and stay strong together. We'll all make it through this, that includes Link. He's going to make it. I know he will. I just know it."