Recovery (Amnesia Sequel)

Bell

When I wake feel all eyes on me.

I don't move my head but I look around with my eyes after they adjust to the bright light of the afternoon sun glaring through the windows of the room.

"She's awake!" someone shouts.

I flinch at the sound and squeeze my eyes shut again.

Someone starts running their fingers through my hair and I flinch at their touch.

They stop.

"Give the girl some room. I want everyone out," a woman says. I can feel her cold hands grab mine as she asks me to squeeze them for her. I do as asked. "Open your eyes, Alice."

I slowly open them. I see a woman standing over me with a concerned look on her face.

"How are you feeling?"

"Who are you?" I ask. I try to sit up so I can get a better look around the room, but pain shoots through my body.

"Stay still, Alice. My names Melissa. I'm a nurse. You're back with your family and friends."

I try to remember how I ended up here, how I got to be in so much pain. But my mind is blank.

"How do you feel?" she asks me.

"Like I got hit by a fucking train."

"Makes sense," she says. "You were in a bad tussle. Do you have any chills? Any mood swings? Sweating?"

"I just woke up," I say, cranky. Why is this woman asking so many questions.

Then I remember.

I was bit.

He attacked me.

James had gone insane. He was turning, his mind was out of control. He didn't know right from wrong. From someone who was already so violent, he came at me like a monster.

I look at my elbow where I was bit. "How long has it been?"

"A few days," she says. "You've been in and out. This is your first time responding for this long of an amount of time. This is good."

"Can I see her?"

I know it's my mothers voice, and I know I should want to see her. But I don't. I don't want to see anyone right now. In all honestly all I want to do is go back to sleep for another few days.

"Give us a minute," Melissa says. She looks back at me. "Are you feeling any different Alice?"

"No," I say. "But I just want to sleep."

"Okay. I'll come back to check on you in an hour. If you need anything ring this bell." She sets a bell on the table beside my bed and walks out.

I close my eyes and try to fall into sleep, expecting it to come easy and fast. But it doesn't. Instead I keep thinking about James over and over again. The beatings, the cruel words, and his crazed eyes.

Suddenly I remember Chris. He was there too. He was with me.

I sit up and look around the room, trying to find him. He's not here.

I remember the last time I saw him. Beat up, broken, his breath so light.

I get myself out of the bed and onto my feet. I'm weak, sore, and can barely move. But I keep him in my mind and that keeps my feet going one in front of another.

"Chris?" I call out weakly.

I begin to feel dizzy and my muscles give out. I drop to the floor within a second. I start panicking. I think about him, where he should be. He should be here! With the nurse, with me! So why isn't he?

My heart pounds and my head spins faster. I feel like I can't breathe. My vision is fuzzy but I can still see enough. I need help. I try calling out but I feel like I can't scream loud enough.

I start crawling towards the table. I need to reach the bell. I need to get to the bell.

Every emotion and physical pain adds together and I feel like I'm suffocating. I can't take a big enough breath. I can't call out for help and I don't have the energy to reach the bell. 

Finally, finally, I'm able to reach the little ball of the bell, and I touch it. I hear the sound of the ding and I let my body hit the floor.

Melissa hurries in and calls for help. I'm too out of it to figure out who runs in the room to grab me and help. Whoever does, doesn't take in consideration of my wounds. I cry out in pain one last time before the darkness finally consumes me entirely.