A groan escapes my mouth as my eyes flutter open, their weight making the simple move into an exhausting action. Once my eyelids stay open I drag my hand to my temple and wince, eyes scrunch and mouths set into a stone grimace. My face feels stiff from the traitor tears creeping down my rough, bruised skin. I lie there whilst my memories return to me like an old movie, some bits jumping and discoloured from my limited presence, trapped in my own conscious. It feels like watching another person live all my recent experiences and I involuntarily shudder as I re-live some of my most unpleasant memories. Ice spreads through my body to the surface as my bruised, cut knuckles tense causing a intense sting to add to the sobs that I now choke out, I sound like an animal as I groan and cry trying to drain all the pain from me so I can make my body move. I feel dehydrated from my break down and weak, it scares me to be so far from help like this knowing that only one person knows where to find me. I am still sobbing when a hear a wandering step and I see a faint silhouette; broad and muscular with tousled hair sticking out at odd angles. My brain jumps to the last face in my memory though the figure seems to have a heavier build than that, and his hair seems longer and darker. The figure falters in step, surprising me as my eyes blur, my mouth falling loose and slightly hanging open as my head loll's to the side in his direction. His steps restart into a run in my direction as I croak, "No more, please no" black.
I wake again on a black bed spread in a washed out white room. The room is triangular with three walls rather than four. I moan in pain and hear a deep growl as I pull my eyes open to see Eric staring at me with his black eyes. His mouth is curled down and I feel a weight on my shoulder as I see a pale, large hand placed on. I look to his face again with a canvas of confusion placed on my own as he silently twists to the side to pick up a glass of clear water which he hands to me. I sip tentatively...that is until my thirts becomes like a present ache in the moment, all at once persuading and threatening to overwhelm my already beaten body. I gulp down the remains and he takes the drained glass from my shaking hand and moves towards a green sink with various objects on; deodorant, toothbrush, ordinary items. I cant help but smile at the stack of unclean plates littered with dauntless cake crumbs on the floor next to me and only then see him gazing down at my slight smile with the same one mirrored on his face. He strokes my cheek and I flinch back, regretting the apologetic frown on his face.
"What happened" It was not a question but a cold statement.
"I tripped, knocked my head" I frustrated sigh escapes his lips as his jaw tenses,
Eric looks like he is considering something as I refuse to speak."I need to know"
his voice pleads to me and I am taken a back by this new, unfamiliar side in which ignites a pang in my stomach that yearns for an unrecognisable source. My hands shake and I whimper from the memory of the feeling of Edwards hands on my waist, beneath my shirt.
"his hands touch ine gently as hurt pools into his eyes and he persists,
"Tell me"
"He punched me, that's all, it was an accident"
"Who punched you?" His voice is hard and comes out indistinct from his clenched jaw
I forget about him and gaze off at a crack in one of the faded walls as my own fists clench and tears of fury well up in my own eyes.
My teeth are gritted together and my stance is tensed as my fingernails now puncture my blue skin.
The pressure on my hands increase and I turn to face Eric as my unkempt hair sticks to my face, sticky with sweat. His eyes scare me as I stare deep into them. The phrase I could get lost in your eyes is always looked upon with cheesiness but I realise its true, his eyes are so deep I feel I could fall in and not stop, just keep falling into that cold, black never ending drop. I prop my self up and tighten my grip on him as I wince. He blinks and looks at me but doesn't speak as he picks me up, wrapping his arm just above my knee on my thigh, his other around my shoulders supporting my head. I don't break my stare from his eyes as I rest my head against his chest, hearing his accelerated heart beat and stressed muscles. He takes me into a small metallic-walled room and places me gently on a stiff leather chair. His hands fumble with wires and plugs that he attaches above my heart despite me jerk as his hand brushes the skin of my neck. He attaches one to himself as he clearly whispers a single word,
"Sorry" and the sting of a needle pierces my skin as my eyelids droop and I absorb into the chair.
