Blood Iris

Chapter Eleven

I woke up in the dark. There was only the soft, dim, glow of a nearby lamp.

Where was I? This was not that small room at the police station. I panicked as I waited for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. Had they found me again? Was I in a cell waiting for Kara to come get me and resume her torture? I shivered fearfully at the thought.

As my eyes adjusted to the little light, I realized I was in a hospital room. This gave me very little comfort. I knew the cunning and ruthless ways of the Blood Iris. Infiltrating a hospital was not hard, and to get to me, Kara would do nearly anything.

I needed to get out of here, and fast.

I tried to sit up. My stomach screamed in pain, and I dropped back to the mattress, panting from the exertion. This was much easier when I had fear-invoked adrenaline pulsing through my veins at an unhealthy rate. Now I was nearly useless.

I searched my surroundings for an aid. The counters were empty except for a couple items that wouldn't help me. There was the lamp next to me on a stand and medical equipment next to the bed, but nothing that could help me.

I was attempting to sit up, trying to ignore the sharp, agonizing pain, when a nurse walked in the room.

Immediately I dropped to the mattress of the stiff cot. The nurse was looking at a clipboard in her hands. She looked up as she closed the door. Her eyes reflected the surprise in her eyes.

"You're awake!" She exclaimed. She quickly rushed over to my side, scrawling information from the monitor.

When she was finished, she looked at me, "how are you feeling? Is there a lot of pain?"

I could see her fear of me from behind her polite facade.

I needed to get out of here, I needed to. I couldn't let this poor, innocent nurse die, or anyone else here.

I tried to sit up, but the nurse noticed and pushed me down by my good shoulder. "Miss, you need to stay lying down."

When she was close, my hand shot out and grasped the collar of her shirt.

I pulled her face close to mine, "Help me get up. Now."

She tried to say something, but it only came out as a stuttering mess.

"Now!" My urgent voice and intense glare must have convinced her.

She shakily helped me sit up and swing my legs over the side. I leaned on her as I tested my legs and stomach, to see if I could walk.

My legs held me. I tried to walk, but with my sore and battered stomach and legs, it was very difficult. I pushed on, ignoring the pain in my wounds. I reached the door and flung it open.

There were two police officers standing at attention outside the door. When I stepped out, they looked startled.

"Miss Victoria! You have to stay in this room. We will contact Officer Matthews." He gestured to the other officer and then moved to guide me back into the room, where the terrified nurse still stood.

I shoved his arm away from me, "No!"

"Miss, you have to go back in there. It's not safe and you are injured."

The other officer was on the phone still. Good. That would make it easier for me to take this one out. If they were unconscious, they couldn't force me to do anything, and they probably wouldn't be hurt because of me. 

He reached out his hand to steer me back into the room. Fast as lightning, I grabbed his hand and pulled him to the ground. He tried to get up, but a swift kick to the side of his head knocked him out.

By now, the other officer was done with his phone call and gaping at me.

I stared straight into his eyes, "Are you going to let me go? I would rather you not get hurt."

He didn't have a chance to reply before he crumpled to the ground.

I was now staring into the cold, empty eyes of my worst nightmare.

Kara stepped over the fallen body of the officer, coming closer to me. I could sense two others behind me. I was trapped. Trapped with her. 

How did she get there without me noticing?

I could feel my breath quicken. I was no match for her. Not in this state. Not when I could barely walk.

"Hello sunshine." Her smile held the warmth of a tundra. It was the smile a shark gave it's prey before it devoured it. I felt like a small helpless fish only wishing for it to be over quickly.

Yet I knew it would never be over quickly. She would drag me through the water, watching delightfully as my blood trailed behind me.

Her minions closed behind me. They grabbed me and held me in place as Kara slowly approached me.

I could hear the faint cry of police car sirens. Annoyance flashed across Kara's face.

"Looks like you have these cops wrapped around your finger. That just leaves less time for us to have fun together." Kara moved her face so it was inches from mine. I tried to look away, but she grabbed my chin and pulled my face back so I was peering into her dark, soulless eyes. Her hand gripped my shoulder, where my wound was.

I inhaled sharply as she squeezed hard on my sensitive gunshot wound. "Gggahh!" I cried out in pain.

I fell to my knees, trying with all I had not to scream in agony. The police sirens grew louder, but not loud enough. They needed to be here now, to relieve me from this torture.

It was when she pushed her foot into the wound in my leg that a tortuous cry of agony escaped my lips.

I struggled and pleaded and cried until the police arrived. Just before the police burst through the door, Kara pulled me close and whispered in my ear.

"I will find you again. You and everyone you love. I will find you and you will wish you had never crossed me." She leaned back, so I could see her cruel smile as she kicked me in the stomach. Kara shoved me to the ground and she and her minions disappeared into the dark hallways of the hospital.

I lay on the ground, gasping in pain. Tears were streaming down my face, and I couldn't stop myself from bawling like a little child. I couldn't do it. I was too weak. Weakness and mistakes could get you killed and tortured. I hated being weak. I hated myself for being weak, but I couldn't stop myself from crying like a baby when my body and mind hurt too much. Sometimes it felt really good to let myself cry.