A Dreamer Caught In The Crossfire

Chapter 26

Jasmine opened her eyes to blinding light. The slow beep of the machine next to her was the only noise breaking the silence. Her limbs felt heavy and the strong scent of antiseptics over powered her senses. She looked at the IV which she was hooked up to, feeling very confused. It felt like she had been asleep for decades.

"Jasmine, thank goodness you're awake!" yelled Brooke as she looked up from the book she was reading.

"Where am I?" asked Jasmine, her voice hoarse from the misuse.

"I'll go get the doctor and some of the others," was all Brooke said before leaving.

Jasmine attempted to sit up but found that she was strapped down to her bed. This made her panic greatly. Soon a doctor came in followed by Brooke, Aaliyah and Gabriel.

"Why am I here?" she asked as the doctor disconnected her from the IV.

"Miss Michaels, you've been here for the past five days," said the doctor, her face almost expressionless as she undid the binding.

"Jasmine, in the arena during the game, somebody had shot you with actual bullets," said Aaliyah.

"Eluard found you after the game unconscious and bleeding behind a shrub just outside the arena," continued Gabriel, all of them were speaking cautiously.

"Where is he? Why was I strapped down to the bed?" asked Jasmine, clearly getting impatient.

"I swear we'll explain everything just don't strain yourself," said Brooke gently.

"Then explain now!" yelled Jasmine.

"Okay, okay I'll explain," said Aaliyah as she looked at the other too for approval.

"Whilst we were playing the game in the arena, Eluard says he had lost sight of you but thought nothing of it. We didn't see you after the game either so we guessed you had left for some reason. But just when we were leaving the arena, Eluard spotted a blood trail and when we followed it we found you unconscious behind a shrub just outside. The doctors reported about two bullet wounds and some serious bruising. They couldn't find who the perpetrator was."

"Long story short you've been out for five days straight. The doctors say the only reason you're alive right now is because of your Chryoskoni blood," finished Gabriel.

"That still doesn't explain why I was strapped to the bed!" yelled Jasmine.

"You were thrashing and screaming in your sleep, it's all we could do!" yelled Brooke, tears now brimming in her eyes.

"What?" asked Jasmine softly.

"You were thrashing and kicking and screaming all these awful things in your sleep. It was so scary to watch, Jasmine. You ripped your stitches open twice on the first night you were here," said Brooke as she blinked the tears away.

"Where's Eluard?" asked Jasmine.

The others looked at each other.

"Where is he?" repeated Jasmine.

Gabriel drew a shaky breath and spoke.

"About two days after the whole you almost dying, Coirwen assembled a troop to help the military evacuate people still living in Freybank. Mustard gas was released on areas in Aeras that were closest to the boarder and it had affected Freybank as well. Eluard was one of the troop leaders," he paused to draw another shaky breath.

"The mission was a success for the most part but... on the day they were supposed to be returning back which was two days ago. Only one soldier returned and he was badly beat. He says Aerinian troops had charged in. Our troops were severely outnumbered and he says it was a massive blood bath."

"Those who weren't killed were taken hostage by the Aerinians," continued Aaliyah, "The soldier says as far as he knew he was the only one that had escaped. We asked him to name as many of those abducted as he could. Eluard was one of them."

Jasmine had no words. To say she was shocked was putting it lightly. She felt her heart physically shatter.

"Do you remember anything? Anything at all?" asked Brooke.

Jasmine shook her head. She was at loss for words.

"Um, the doctor says you can be discharged as soon as you wake up so I say let's get out of here. Cas has been wanting to see you," said Brooke as she handed her a bag with her clothes.

"Castiel's awake?" asked Jasmine, suddenly feeling a bit more hopeful.

"Yeah, weirdly enough he woke a day before you," said Aaliyah now smiling, "He's still discharged but he's well."

"Okay then. Just give me some time to get dressed," said Jasmine, shooing them away so she could get some privacy.

                                                                                                        X

Jasmine ghosted her fingers over the stitched wound on her side. It was almost completely healed but it still looked discolored compared to the rest of her skin. It was strange to her seeing as it was her first time having to get stitched up. The other wound was on her abdomen and slightly higher up.

There was somebody out there that didn't want her breathing.

She shuddered at the thought.

She quickly got dressed and walked out to find Aaliyah, Gabriel and Brooke waiting for her.

"They moved him out of intensive care," stated Aaliyah as they got up and begin walking.

Castiel was seated upright in his room reading a book when they had walked in.

"Cas!" squealed Jasmine as she ran over to him and hugged him.

Castiel chuckled and set his book down so he could properly reciprocate the gesture.

"Good to see you alive and well. I missed you," said Jasmine, her words slightly muffled by his shirt.

"I can say the same about you," he said as they pulled away, "Did you hear the news?"

Jasmine nodded.

"Why hasn't there been a rescue mission for those who were abducted?" asked Jasmine.

"Because Coirwen won't authorize one," sighed Castiel.

"But why-"

"He says it's 'too risky'," scoffed Brooke.

"We want them back as much as you do Jasmine," said Gabriel.

"Then why isn't anyone doing anything?" murmured Jasmine.

"Jasmine we have a plan to get them back but we need to plan it and polish it up before we can go ahead with it," assured Brooke.

"Really?" asked Jasmine.

"Yes but we can't discuss here. Too many ears listening in," said Castiel.

Jasmine hugged him again.

"I'm just happy you're okay. I'd like to think of you as my older brother," she mumbled.

"Well then I've got a pretty reckless younger sister," he laughed.

A/N: Sorry this one is shorter than the rest... and sorry if it sucks