Murder in the woods

Chapter 8

Lara joins us at that point and does the right thing- she calls the police then runs back to the campsite for help. At least one of us is able to be calm in this situation. How can she be so relaxed and know just what to do? I almost envy how capable she seems in this situation and pretty much every situation. It's a useful skill.

I think I must have blacked out after that because I wake up alone in the hospital. I can't move my left leg and I feel drowsy, a splitting headache taking over. Monitors beep continuously and I look around the room. I am in a ward, but my bed is separated from the others with a white curtain. At least I get some privacy.

Despite my sore leg and headache, I think I'm ok. I have a few cuts and bruises along my arms, but nothing major. Then everything rushes back to me as to why I'm here, the body- Chloe's mum. Dead. Poor Chloe, I have to see her. Forgetting about my leg, I attempt to get out of bed and crash back down onto the floor. Ouch! I guess I'm not really with it, it must be from the shock. Nurses rush in, coaxing me back to bed and fussing over me.
"Do you need anything sweetie?" they ask, "We can bring you some food, you must be hungry." "You're mum is just coming." At that, I simply break down into tears. It's all too much and I just can't cope. I'm a fifteen year old girl who is scarred for life from seeing her friend's mum's dead body. And I heard her die! How could I possibly have forgotten the scream from that fateful night? The scream that wouldn't fade from my head.

They soothe me as I cry, rubbing my back as I whimper pathetically. My parents burst into the room, my mum crying too. "My poor darling! Are you ok? I can't believe this! You poor, poor girls!" I don't stop crying for what must be hours- my throat is hoarse, my headache a million times worse and I still can't stop.

Eventually, the police come in and ask me questions. I tell them everything, including the scream from the night before which I had foolishly ignored. They nod as I answer, telling me that I'm not in any trouble and that none of this is my fault. When I finish, I ask how she died. "There is an ongoing investigation, but the cause is unclear."
"Thank you." I say weakly as they leave the room. "Wait!" They turn back, looking at me expectantly, "It-it couldn't be an overdose could it? My medicines had gone missing the day I heard the scream."
"What medication was it?"
"They're pills for my insomnia, they're very strong- just one is enough to practically knock me out."
"Thank you, we will look into it."

I sleep on and off throughout the day, not eating any of my meals. All that I can see in my mind is her cold, lifeless body on the forest floor, it makes me want to be sick. At some point, I actually am sick- it reminds me of the pool of vomit from Chloe around her mum's body. Disgusting. "You really should eat something, honey. Get your strength up."
"Just give it a go, Skyla." Dad agrees.

But I can't.

I must be going mad because every time I close my eyes, I see her body and hear that scream. Sometimes, she sits up, smiling at me and whispering things in my ears. Shaking my head vigorously, I yell "No! No! Stop it! Stop that! Please, no!" Squeezing my hands tight over my ears and rocking back and forth, back and forth. The rhythm is soothing and I embrace it. But they clearly don't like it. I'm given some kind of injection, a needle piercing my skin. No! No! Get it out! They want to kill me! They're going to kill me! But I don't get a chance to ask for help before a wave of tiredness washes over me sweeping me into a sea of darkness.