Black Eyed (Original)

Chapter Ten- Oxygen

A/N: Hello, hello!

I am very proud of this chapter, which honestly started as dead as a doornail. I know the past chapters are not very fulfilling, but this is the first chapter of the rest of the book. It's a cornerstone. I hope you enjoy.

As always, thank you for reading!

        I wake to the bright lights of the bathroom, my arms folded uncomfortably around my torso. I smack my lips, the taste of dried spit overcoming my respective sense. My eyes blink rapidly to rid the blindness created from the bright lights. The tail of my dress is split, revealing my backside to the private bathroom.

        I make to push myself off of the floor, but feel a stabbing in my forearm. My IV has been pulled from the vein, kept in place by the gauze and tape. I rip the adhesive off and the needle falls to the floor, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. Standing, I decide to contact the nurses about my fall. When I open the door, however, I see that the hallway lights are off.

        Hospitals usually do not turn off their hallway's lighting - any area, actually, with exception to private suites - whether night or day, as an emergency may happen at any time and the time wasted to run and flick a switch can be detrimental. Immediately, I am apprehensive of what I might find

        I walk out of my room with a slow stride and peek my head out of the glass door frame. Scattered on the floor with no apparent pattern, are the work personnel.

        Nurses, doctors, and family members of the children admitted lay lifeless on the carpeted floors. With wide eyes and a large gulp, I proceed with my walk towards the nurses' station to find a telephone to call emergency services with unsure steps on the balls of my feet. I walk over arms and torsos, scared at the thought of the possibility that they may suddenly reawaken and grab my heels.

        Numerous individuals are positioned over counters and are leaning against the walls, like everyone had just dropped dead in their positions. In the suites, adults are lopsidedly falling out of chairs positioned near their children's hospital bed, the children peacefully asleep in their beds. A young black woman is folded over with her back leaning against the LITTLE SOLDIERS wall. I hadn't yet considered the possibilty that these people might still be alive, just in a sleeping quietude. I walk over to her, curious but cautious, and place my fingers on her neck to find a pulse. She is cold, as she would be with the air conditioning unit above her like it is, but I do find a faint throbbing near her artery. A relieved sigh escapes my lips without my authorization.

        I continue my walk, checking various pulses and finding that all of which are beating steadily, though faintly. I become assured enough to where I cease my actions. Reaching the nurses' station, I look over the counter and find Lissy and the blond nurse leaning over each other from their seats, supporting each other erect, as if they were in conversation when this occurrence... happened. I arch my back over the counter to look for a phone to dial. I reach for the phone and am able to press the number nine when I am suddenly jerked backwards by my hips.

        I am thrown backwards onto a broad chest by two hands that grip my hip bones like handles, forcing a huff of air from my lungs. Before I can react by any extent, the unseen individual clasps a hand over my mouth, a napkin clasped on my lips. In hindsight, I realize that gasping a breath at this moment was not a splendid idea, but, being as startled as I was, I did not follow the advice I gave myself a few seconds later. As soon I took an intake of air, my head filled with an undeniable lightness. My head seemed as though it would float away if it weren't for the skin and bone attaching it to my shoulders.