What If Our Life Threads Bind?

Chapter 37.

It felt like my body had shut down. The motion was as natural to me as breathing.

The glaring white reflection of a nearby open window made me blink, and my vision grew blurry for a moment. I squinted, and a sharp pain made me shut my eyes and open them again.

There were sounds all around me like the drone of bees, constant and static steady. Distantly coming in and out of focus. I squint harder and my vision pictures a window that keeps moving; changing....as if the fabric of world keeps mending and rebuilding.

Again, the room blurs and I blink. The room tilts and spins in circles. A pain surges repeatedly between my eyes. I scream as my ears with a buzzing sound.

My whole body feels stiff, and like I was lying on something hard. The room tilts again and my vision turns red and then blurs out.

"Why did you do that?"

"Its Flumazenil. She was given benzo mixed with some kind of alcohol, I reckon. Without this injection, she might not even make it alive. It can prevent causing seizures."

"I still think we should have called 999, the emergency line would have helped."

"Nope. That would have taken too long."

"She would have been at least receptive to me."

"Oh come on, you think you can just charm the girl? Just because you're dreamy, doesn't mean she'd come back to senses by just you staring at her. The girl was drugged for heaven's sake. This was necessary."

"Do not mock me, Robbie."

I surfaced in and out of my haze. I tried to open my eyes but saw a blurry vision of a young man in front of me, and realized I was sleeping on his lap. I tried to move but couldn't.

Jolts of panic ran through me, making me nauseous and weak as ever, as I realize something pushing my hands and legs down with pressure. Am I tied? Visions of the terrible things I'd heard on the news ran through my head like a horrible slide show.

"Okay, whatever. Let her sleep. The girl is sedated. Don't disturb her." said someone.

"Its not like I am going to go and make her jump on the bed now, am I?" said the second guy crossly. Someone laughed and a door clicked. I heard a murmurs of 'see you'.

I squirmed around on the lap of the guy I was sleeping on, trying to get whatever I was laying on to stop digging into my back.

"Hey there, sleepyhead. That's my toe. Stop fiddling with it." The guy chuckled and I tried to look at him but my vision was nothing but blur.

I wanted to cry now. Every time I step out of my house something or someone knocks me out, gets me to drink and I lose something; be it my life thread, my stuff or God forbid, my organs.

I clenched my eyes shut and tried to fade out again. Wondering if I was going to be sold to some filthy rich playboy or something. Dreaming was still preferable than lying here helplessly. This is really stupid, goddammit. I should have not taken that drink Augury gave me. Can I not trust anyone? Even the Gods?

Realization hit me, I was with Austin before I fainted. "Austin." I tried to murmur but nothing really came out of my mouth other than a muffled cry.

"Its okay, Martha. I am here for you."

Is it really him? Is it Austin?

I can't see anything.

"Austin." I tried again. I think I did say something but it wasn't clear enough. I was practically slurring.

"Martha?" The guy whose lap I was sleeping in, waved a hand at me.

I made a muffled groan on his thigh and he caressed my hair. I desperately wished that I could see what was going on. I zoned out for a few minutes which made breathing evenly almost impossible.

"Austin. Austin." I slurred again.

"Yes, its me." I heard Austin clearly for the first time. I started to wild out of his grip.

"I can't see anything." I felt tears streaming down my eyes, and then felt a hand wiping my wet with tears face.

"It will be okay. Please don't worry." He cooed.

Fingers grasped my blinded face, tugging my chin upwards and a kiss was planted on my forehead. A wave of blur washed through me and then the sudden flood of light made me blink furiously, eyes watering again. Gradually his face came into focus.

I saw a mop of brownish-almost-black hair sliding into his chocolate brown eyes. On cue, he smiled and I noticed he had shaved his beard leaving a bit of stubble on either sides of his cheeks, his chevron mustache twisted upwards.

He looped one arm under my shoulders, guiding me into a sitting position. I felt light headed and woozy, which made me lean to his side.

"Oh yeah. Robbie told me your nerves would not be cooperating much until a few more hours. You better sit like this." He shuffled me towards himself, his hands on my waist and in a few seconds, my back was against his chest.

"Austin." I breathed.

"Hi." He whispered near my neck and all the blood rushed to my face. His hands were still on my waist. "How are you feeling?"

I ignored the question, and blinked several times. My heart fell down and flip flopped almost up my throat. "What happened?" I asked him, as I tried to remember what exactly happened to me.

"You fainted. Robbie, thankfully, is a medical student. So he told me that you were drugged. You need rest, Martha. Maybe then I'll fill in your details. Do you need some water? Something to eat?"

"Water." I said and he got off the bed, his hands leaving my waist. I felt a jolt of weakness wash over me. "Stay." I said immediately.

He smiled at me as he arranged a pillow behind my back, and a tinge of disappointment took over me when I realized he wouldn't be sitting behind me with my back on his chest anymore.

The room is spinning.

"I can't breathe." I tell him and he quickly strides towards me and takes a seat next to me, moving an arm behind my back to prevent me from falling out of balance, and rubs my back.

"Here" he hands me a glass of water and I feel my eyes shutting down. "I think you need some more sleep." He said and I yawned after a sip.

I want to sleep.

I can sleep on the floor, for all I care.

And, Austin here is offering me his comfortable arms to sleep in. What else do I need?

But isn't this.....awkward? I should be home.

He took a few strands of my hair out of my eyes, and I look down- worrying if he has seen the black spot in my eyes already. "I love these green eyes."

I blush as he pulls me closer. I'm practically sitting on his lap.

Maybe I'll sleep now and tomorrow when I'd feel better, I'd say thank you and leave. That would be courteous and less awkward.

He yawns and pulls me closer to him. I hesitate, then put my hands around his neck.

His fingers curl into the back of my sweater top, not clasping it tightly but just enough to ensure me that we were staying together tonight.

Gradually, I could feel myself slipping into sleep, random pictures and words whizzing past, and before I knew it, we were both limp in each others arms.