The Fallen

*Chapter Eleven*

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I groaned. I had just had the strangest dream. I had dreamt that Em had betrayed me and then a psycho tried to kill me. Then I had dreamt that I was flying, or at least that I wanted to but something stopped me. I groaned again, trying to shift in my bed, and go back to sleep. I mean if you have such a terrible dream a good one has to follow right? And right about now a good dream sounded lovely.

I tried to move myself on my side, but stopped. I couldn't bend my elbows or knees, it felt as if something was wrapped around them, restricting them. I groggily opened my eyes, squinting when the sunlight was too bright. I lifted my head up and glanced at my limbs.

My arms!

My forearms were bandaged all the way up to my elbows! I could feel my heart thrumming faster and faster. Did that mean everything I thought was a dream, actually happened. I let out a choked sob.

I tried to lift up my blanket to see my bandaged legs, but I stopped. A soft multicolored fleece blanket lay on top of me. This wasn't mine. I only had a sad gray one. I glanced down at what I was wearing and realized that I wasn't wearing anything I had ever worn before. I was now in a long soft purple dress. I became glad that there were only thin straps on the dress because I was slowly getting really warm. I could feel my body temperature rising. I let out a soft moan as I let my head fall back onto the pillows. I closed my eyes in pain. My breathing became more shallow as the sudden pain from my wounds became increasingly intense.

"Hey ma! She's awake, and I think she needs some more of your medicine." I snapped my head to the side. My eyes were meet by a pair of brilliant blue ones. Before I could open my mouth to say anything, I snapped my mouth shut in pain, grinding my teeth together to try and release some of the pain I was feeling.

"Hey ma you better hurry! She looks like she's in pain." Suddenly I heard small delicate footsteps getting closer and closer.

"Oh dear! Oh dear! God help me! Noah bring me the bowl." I heard a soft soothing voice say. I was trying to pay attention, trying to stay awake but the darkness was crawling all around me. It was calling to me, and I didn't have the energy to fight it.

I suddenly felt the bandages being tugged off of my arms. The pain alone was enough to bring me back to my senses.

"A few ground ginger roots, a small dash of turmeric, valerian leaves, and a bit of honey. Natures the best kind of medicine." I felt her raise my arm slightly and a cold slick paste was applied to the open wounds on my arm. Suddenly the pain increased tenfold! I felt as though there was a fire entering my body. I squeezed my eyes shut and groaned through my clenched teeth. She began applying the paste to the other arm. I let out a small yelp. I tried to push her away. The pain was too great and I couldn't handle it any longer. She placed a soothing hand on my forehead.

"Shh, child. The pain is only temporary. Give it some time and the good lord will help heal your wounds." Just like that I could feel the burning subside and I was able to relax a little bit. Though just as I thought the worst was over, she pulled away the blanket and began to lift my dress.

"Noooo" I slowly breathed out. I knew what was coming next and I didn't want it.

She suddenly stopped when she had the dress up by my knees. I thought that she had heard my plea for her to stop, and pitied me enough to allow a break or to stop, but I was wrong.

"Noah Rivers! Have I taught you nothing. I don't believe I've raised an indecent child, so I would like to know why you are still watching. I will not let this poor injured young lady be displayed for your pleasure." The women tsked and I heard the young man chuckle.

"I'm sorry about that, don't know what's gotten into him lately." She was speaking to me, but I found it hard to form words of my own.

"It's.... It's okay." I swallowed hard. As she continued to talk to me I barely felt as she removed the bandages and then placed the paste onto my wounds. Her small soothing voice was nicely distracting. When she began bandaging my wounds once more, I finally opened my eyes to look at her.

The first thing that I noticed was her wild and curly brown hair. Even though she had it tied in a knot at the nape of her neck, it was coming undone. She had perfectly small lips and laugh lines littered across her face. She definitely had lived for quite a few years, but she radiated more beauty and wisdom than I had seen yet. She turned her head towards me and I caught sight of her lovely hazel eyes.

"You doing okay sweety?" She kneeled closer to my face and once again placed her palm onto my forehead.

"If this fever persists we're going to have to give you some stronger medicine."

"But ma we're running out-"

"Noah I didn't ask how much we had left." Her voice suddenly became sharp, and the young man, who still had his back turned to me, became silent.

"Honey, please go and get a wet towel for her." Her tone became soft again and she turned back towards me. "What's your name child?"

"Ezra, my names Ezra." She smiled down at me and moved a small piece of hair that was sticking to my sweaty forehead.

"My names Linda and that stubborn one over there is Noah, he's my son." She glanced at him from over her shoulder. I stretched my neck just a bit and was able to see the edge of a black t-shirt. I let out a small groan, even stretching my neck brought pain into other parts of my body. Linda snapped her attention back to me.

"Oh you poor thing..." She looked at me with tears in her eyes. "I can't even imagine what happened to you... Noah told me bits and pieces of what he knew but..." She wiped away a few tears that were threatening to escape her eyes.

"Anyways," she said trying to lighten the mood "oh yes! I need to stop by the Reeds house to get more honey." She turned her head back towards the small kitchen and called to Noah.

"Honey do you think you'll be alright here, I won't be more than ten minutes." I heard a small grunt in response. "Okay then dont forget to help Ezra here with anything she needs okay." She turned back to me, looking me straight in my eyes.

"Are you going to be okay here?" She asked waiting for my response.

Even though I didn't want to stay alone with anybody, especially any males, after what happened, I felt as though I could fully trust Linda and knew that neither her nor her son would cause me any harm. I nodded in response. She smiled at me.

"Okay I'll be right back." She said, giving me one more glance before exiting through a door that I assumed led out of the house.

I closed my eyes and tried to breath evenly. I knew I had to relax, even though I was now alone with this guy. Now that Linda was gone, all those relaxed comfortable feelings I had were gone. I clenched my fists. I heard heavy footsteps approach me, and then a crackling noise, as he knelt beside me.

"Hey are you feeling alright?" A deep thick voice asked, chills went up my spine. I tightened my fists and clenched my jaws. After a few silent moments, he spoke up again.

"I'm not going to hurt you." I opened my eyes and turned to look at him. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw him though.

It was him.

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I changed the cover to this book, hope you guys like it! I also made another cover that I really like so I might just switch between the two because I really like both! Hehe!
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Anyways (lol) the song for this chapter is: The Wallflowers Beautiful Side of Somewhere

I'll try and post more regularly, promise! ~ Cosmic_Tears