In The Safety Of A Lie - COMPLETED!

Chapter 18

Joey slammed through the hospital doors, rushing up to the front desk. His heart was racing. He just wanted to see Ev. He didn't want to wait. "What room is Evelina Jones in? I was told that I could see her."

The secretary pulled up the name on her computer. "It looks like there's some paperwork for you to fill out before you see her." She looked up at him, pinning him with a hard, judgmental look behind her orange-rimmed glasses.

"Please, can I just go and see her. I just need to see that she's alright." He begged, the intensity in his eyes radiated from them. "I haven't seen her since they started doing CPR on her when I brought her in. I need to see her."

The woman watched him carefully. She eyed up the blood on his clothes and hands.

"Please." Joey pleaded with her, his voice cracking. He couldn't hide the water filling up his eyes, fearing that they'd deny him of seeing his love. He was already planning how to find her room on his own. They couldn't keep him from her.

She looked back at her computer, then back at him. "She's been sedated, but should be beginning to wake up soon." She said slowly, telling him Evelina's room number and directions to where it was.

"Thank you." Joey rushed passed the desk and down a hallway. He barely saw anything around him as his eyes jumped from room number to room number. He could barely keep his feet at just a walk. He wanted to run. He wanted to free his mind from all of the fear of not finding her. He needed the reassurance of seeing her alive. It was the only thing that could set his caged mind free.

His heart pounded in his ears, drowning out everything around him as the room number appeared in front of him. He couldn't remember a time where he'd been more nervous as he reached to push the door open. He swallowed hard not knowing what awaited him on the other side. Butterflies fluttered around his stomach, making it hard to breathe. With a slowness that would make anyone cringe, he pushed the door open and slipped in.

A tear slid down his face as he saw her small form in the bed. Her hair was lying messily around her shoulders, but even with it flailing in every direction it still couldn't hide the dark colored bruise on her forehead from her fall down the stairs. Her wrists were taped up with white strips of bandages, reminding him of their time on the rooftop. He grabbed a chair in the corner and pulled it up to the bed, keeping his hands to himself, afraid to touch her.

"Ev?" His throat was dry as the words creaked out.

Her eyes slowly opened. She allowed her blurred gaze to focus on him. "I didn't expect to see you again."

He looked down at his hands. "I know, baby. I wasn't sure if I would be able to come back."

"Is it over?" She asked slowly, searching his eyes wearily. "Are we safe?"

Of course that'd be her first question. Joey swallowed hard, he couldn't look up at her. He couldn't let her see the regret in his eyes. "Not yet."

"Joey, what are we going to do?" She couldn't stop the question from sliding off her lips. No matter how bad her condition was, her mind was still going on full force about their future.

"I don't know yet." He admitted, realizing he hadn't thought of more than her present condition. He pulled his gaze up to her, a doubtless intensity radiated from his voice. "I'll protect you though. I won't let them touch you again."

Evelina's wrists ached, but she managed to pick up her hand and reach out to him. She felt his warm embrace as his hand took hers gently. "I was thinking about everything that happened when I woke up. I have an idea. I think I can get us out of this mess."