I've Got Your Back

Chapter 4

I walked into a war zone-literally. There were cops all over my living room, with computers on the tables. My siblings were pacing back and forth, looking stressed out. A few officers had guns pointed at me and Hunter, but lowered them when they saw my face.

"Oh my God, Ava!" my mom said as she ran towards me, hugging me close to her.

Hunter was taken to the side by an officer, probably to be asked some questions.

"Oh honey, what happened? ." She said while stroking my hair. "You're home now, I'm sorry. Ava you're safe."

I was crying now, finally letting my strong facade fade away. I held on tighter and nodded, even though safe was the last thing I felt at the moment. My mom let go and it was my dads turn to scoop me into his arms. I felt like the little girl I once was. The one who went to her Daddy when she scraped knee, and when he wiped my tears and gave my knee a little kiss it felt all better. I wanted to be that little girl again. I wanted my biggest worry to be whether or not the crayon I would get would be the color I wanted. I missed when the only monsters in the world were fictional ones. I wanted to hide under my covers, and feel like I was safe from everything and anything that could hurt me.

"Excuse me," an officer said from behind us. I let go of my dad and he continued. "I'd like to ask Ava a few questions; to understand everything that happened tonight."

My dad looked at me uncertainly, but I nodded and said, "Sure, anything that will help you catch him."

"We're going to do everything we can to make that happen. Is there somewhere we can talk privately?" He asked me.

"Yeah, let's go to the kitchen." I told him and I started to lead him there.

I took one wobbly step and felt like I was about to pass out. I stopped, and put a hand on the wall, trying to balance myself. My chest felt tight, like somebody was holding on to my heart, and slowly squeezing it. I heard my name being called very faintly, and then stronger.

"Ava, are you okay?" It was the officer.

I took a deep breath, "Yeah, yeah I'm fine, just a little dizzy."

"Somebody call a paramedic!" He yelled as he helped sit down on the floor.

I leaned back against the wall, and closed my eyes. I tried to ignore the pounding headache as I said, "So where should I start?"

"Start with the beginning if you can. If it's too much for you, then stop. I don't want you doing anything that will endanger your health."

I nodded, "Okay, I was walking home from work when I- OW!" A sharp pain pierced through my brain, and I doubled over holding my head.

"Ava!" I heard a shriek-it was my mother. "What's wrong? Were you interrogating her? Can't you see she's in no condition to answer questions?!"

I opened my mouth to tell my mother that it was fine, that I said I was up to it, but another pain came shooting through, and I couldn't talk.

"Ava talk to me, whats wrong?" A voice said to me.

It felt like I was underwater. My vision was blurred and everything I heard was muffled, like my ears were clogged. Scratch that, I was drowning. My lungs were filled with water, and I couldn't breath.

I was vaguely aware of people surrounding me. Their mouths were moving, but no sound was coming out. The last thing I remember before it all went dark, was a mask being put over my head, and being carried towards flashing lights.

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I woke up in a bed that was not my own, wearing clothes that weren't either. I had needles in my arm, and a cannula in my nose. It took me a minute to realize I was in a hospital. My mom was sitting in the chair next to my bed sleeping, her free hand holding on to mine.