Blind Eyes

Chapter 17

I woke up in a haze. I remember feeling this way the last time I woke up from a drug induced sleep. My mind was foggy. Where was I? What had happened? Why the hell was I in so much pain?

I was in a bed. For a moment I thought I must have been back home but the hum of machines that I could hear wasn't normal. Hospital. I must be in a hospital. Why?

I opened my eyes, only to be immediately assaulted by the insanely bright lights above me. I moaned as I instantly shut my eyes. Could someone turn off the fucking lights? Why the hell was it so bright? After what felt like years my eyes slowly adjusted and I could open them properly. I was in a large room, with muted grey walls. There was a large TV and sofa at the other end of the room and a huge window showing a view of towering skyscrapers. Waking up in a room like this, someone might think they were in a hotel, not a hospital. If it weren't for the army of machines surrounding the bed, it would look exactly like a 5 star hotel room. No doubt dad would be paying thousands of dollars a day for this room.

I looked down at the numerous tubes and wires on my body. I had five wires stuck onto my chest which lead to a machine beeping in rhythm to my heartbeat. I had a nasal cannula on my face with those annoying prongs stuck up my nose. I also had no less than 4 tubes coming out of my arms and I prayed one of them was pumping drugs into me because I sure as hell needed them.

Dad was currently asleep in the chair next to my bed. His head was resting near our joined hands on the bed. I took a deep breath and squeezed his hand slightly. That movement was enough to rouse him from sleep. His head shot up instantly and his eyes roamed my face.

"Morgan!" His voice was dripping with relief. "How are you feeling?"

I opened my mouth but all that came out was a harsh croak.

"Here." He reached over and poured a glass of water from the jug sitting beside the bed. He directed the straw into my mouth and allowed me to take a few sips before taking it away. The cold water was soothing as it went down. "How do you feel?"

"Pain," I croaked.

"I'll get a doctor," he said as I stood.

"No." I reached out and grabbed his hand. I didn't want to be alone. "What happened?" My mind was still clearing the haze and I couldn't remember why I was here.

He sat back down and took my hand back into his. "Do you remember Ivan's attack at the expo?" I noticed as he was speaking how terrible he looked. He had dark bags under his eyes and it looked like he'd aged 10 years. His clothes were wrinkled, like he hadn't changed them in a few days, and he smelt like he hadn't showered either.

I closed my eyes and searched my memory. It took a few minutes before the puzzle pieces of the night fell back into place. "The drones," I said as I opened my eyes.

Dad nodded. The sadness was clear in his eyes. "Ivan programmed the drones to explode. You were near one when it went off and I...I was too late to save you." Guilt and despair laced his tone.

"Not your fault," I said croakily. "I thought I could save..." More of the nights events came flooding back. "Daniel and Jacob!" I exclaimed suddenly. "Are they okay?"

"They're both fine," Dad reassured me. "You did save them. You saved that little boy. You also saved a lot of other people I heard."

"Couldn't just stand there...and do nothing," I said in my defence. I knew he was going to be angry after he heard about me running into burning buildings, but what else could I have done? Stand there and watch it burn to ash?

"I know. I would have done the same." I sadness was creeping back into his eyes, mixed with something else. Pity. "I'm so proud of you." With his free hand he reached up and stroked the hair from my face. The action stirred up the remaining missing memories.