The Journey 'An Adventurers Novel'

Chapter 7

Eric waits patiently outside the hospital for the officer and the girl that had everyone looking for her. The father had missed his plane in search of her. How he knew something was wrong in the first place was a question for the police Eric thought to himself. He has been known not to trust many people due to his occupation.

He just wonders what the hell happened for this girl to be so stupid that she would trust going to a stranger. Amy May Leverson he knew that name but he could pinpoint how. He wasn't into pediatrics so he couldn't have treated her . . . yet her name was so familiar.

As the ER doctor on call he was forced to take his time away from his other patients for this VIP case; per her fathers orders. At least that was what the chief had told him. He hears the sirens before he sees them. They are distant but grow closer with each passing second. He sees the car rapidity head towards him. It screeches to a halt.

He brings the wheelchair to the side as the cop opens her door. That's when he looks at her for the first time. Her long brown hair is matted, almost to the point of dread locks. She is almost limp but not due to anything other than shock. This girl looks sad and defeated in a way that makes his heart ache. The cop places the doll like girl in to the wheelchair and Eric bends down to talk to her.

"I'm Dr. Furner, Amy. I'm here to take care of you." Eric says as he reaches for the wheelchair. The cop begins to turn to go inside the station but Amy grabs his hand. She looks up for the first time and into the officers eyes. Eric can see the fear in her eyes and the pleading look that ask the officer to stay. He can also see the how safe she feels with him; Eric needs her to feel safe.

"Dr. Furner, I'm staying with her as long as she needs." The officer says to the doctor without looking at him.

"Of course, I will send the nurse next door to let the sheriff and her father know that she is here." Eric states as they walk into the hospital. He tells Nurse Renee to go across to the station and let them know that Amy had made it in. She scurries to the station.

They go in to a room where they get Amy on to a bed so that Eric can look at her feet and check her injuries. He takes a look at her feet and press the button on the gurney to call for nurses. One nurse walks in and leaves quickly returning with another nurse and the supplies need to take out the glass from her feet. Eric puts on his gloves and takes out a needle so that he can give her something to numb her pain.

She looks terrified but allows the staff to examine her. Amy smiles meekly at the officer. Her smile quickly turns to a grimace slightly as Eric numbs her feet. The smile must have given the officer the incentive that he needed to question her about what happened.

"Amy, can you tell me what happened?" the cop asks gently hoping not to scare her into silence.

Amy shakes her head softly.

"Where you going when this happened?" He asks; the officer's questions seem to be as if he is going through the motions.

"Home." Amy croaks out her voice sounds hoarse.

"Was it someone you know that did this to you? Was it a person from school? Was this someone in your neighborhood that you know?" The cop's questions come so fast that Eric almost stops him. The cop stops first.

Amy shakes her head to his questions and looks down and rubs her nails. That's when he remembered. It was raining and they had just left the forest. They were dirty and bloody and no doubt the little one was hungry. She stares down rubbing her nails tears streaming down her face. How had they gotten in to this mess? How would they live their lives now? That thing was gone but they were scarred. He jolts out of his thoughts as the door creaks open a frantic man comes rushing in. Amy's face begins to gain a little more color as he rushes and embraces her. When he let's her go the man turns and extends his hand to the officer.

"Thanks for finding my little girl. Officer?" The man starts.

"Officer Richards, Peter Richards." the officer says as he shakes Amys father's hand.

"Mr. Leverson, your daughter needs a full physical before she can be realized." Eric steps in says to him.

Officer Richards must have taken that as a cue to leave and talk to his superior.

"I will be back for more of your statement later, Amy." Officer Richards states as he gives her hand a little squeeze; before he heads to the door to leave.

Amy speaks.

    "It was a little girl who need help calling her mom.

    Amy takes a breath and a nurse hands her a glass of water. Before she continues.

    "It's the brown bricked house with the bars on the windows halfway down the street you found me on. I was tied in the basement. There is broken glass on the side where I climbed out of the window.

    Amy is sobbing but she goes on through the tears.

    "I stabbed some old woman down there but I was only trying to get away.

Her tears are hysterical

    "I'm so sorry daddy I only wanted to help the little girl."

She thrusts herself into her fathers arms. Mr. Leverson holds his sobbing daughter as he turns to Richards.

"Officer Richards please get these sons of bitches that did this to my little girl."

"Yes, sir." Richards says and heads out the room.

"Sir, The physical." Eric says to the father.

"Of course."He states. He looks at Amy and says "I'll be right outside sweetheart." He kisses her forehead and leaves the room.

Eric quietly starts the exam. He ask short and simple questions that Amy easily answers. She doesn't answer the questions that he holds on to. Was she that little girl? Did she remember what happened? Was it related to what happened now or was that a freak accident?

The nurse leaves to retrieve the father from the hall.

"Well thats all for now Amy, your father will be back and then I'll let you rest okay?" Eric says with a smile to Amy. She looks at him with a deep thought. She says something that surprises him.

"I know your face."

They knew each other.