Forbidden Love

Chapter Eighteen

Skylar 

Was this how dying felt?

Because if it is, I want to live forever. Consider me a vampire now. 

Pain consumed my entire body, and when I opened my eyes-

Wait what? How am I seeing this? A ceiling? In Heaven? But then again, what makes me think I'm in Heaven, I'm probably in Hell.

So then, why do I hear a very familiar voice. Ryder's to be exact. Was this the Devil's way of torturing me? Well then, where's the heat? I'm dead and in Hell, so why am I not sweating? Why is the air almost cool? And what is that torturous beeping noise? Another form of punishment? I thought the Moon Goddess said she loved me, so why'd she send me to Hell? 

Are those voices? Is the Devil trying to drive me insane? It's going to work if it keeps up.

"Skylar," Ryder says, the word drawn out.

I close my eyes again in annoyance. Does he have to say my name like that? Wait, why is he in Hell with me? Well, he's probably not. This is all an hallucination. Ryder isn't in Hell with me. I know for a fact he didn't die. I remember him in the car, he passed out, but he didn't die.

"Skylar, baby, open your eyes for me."

I groan in annoyance. Can his voice just go away? And that weird feeling of someone holding my hand.

"Please," he begs, actually begs. 

I open my eyes, expecting to see burning flames this time, not a purple ceiling again. I blink furiously, waiting for the Devil to jump out the corner and throw me into someone fire pit or something. Instead, my eyes find Ryder's blue ones. They seem to flood with relief when they find mine, but I was so confused. How in the world did I get here? I thought I told the Moon Goddess I wanted to die? 

"W-" I begin, but Ryder places a finger against my lips, which weren't chapped, surprise surprise. 

"Shh, you'll lose your voice if you start to talk now. Let me get you some water," Ryder says softly. "Your friends are in the hallway. Do you want to see them?"

I don't respond though, I'm still so confused. Friends? The Devil is actually giving me friends. I'm starting to think this isn't a vision. I was really alive. And I was in a very fancy hospital. The ceiling was a very light shade of purple, and there was a white couch, recliner and ottoman to the left of me, To the right was a large Samsung T.V. Where was this? Was this in a rich neighborhood where the hospitals gave everyone separate rooms? Did the Moon Goddess actually send me back? Why would she do that?

"You know what? You must be confused, let me get the nurse," Ryder says softly, and shuts the door behind him. 

But a second later, it reopens and six people enter.

"Hi," Jalie says, smiling. ''I don't know if you remember us, but we're your friends. I'm...I'm Jalie, that's Disa. She's Mina, and then those three guys over there are Joel, my brother, Derik, and Blade. Uh, that's it," she says awkwardly. 

"No...I know who you are," I say, and then start to cough heavily.

"God, Jalie shut up! You're making her talk when she just opened her eyes for the first time in a month," Mina scolds, looking over at Jalie with an annoyed look. Woah. Since when did Mina get so rude and mean?

"No, i-it's fine," I manage to say in another coughing fit. I didn't like the way Mina talked to Jalie. Some friend she is right now.

"What are you doing in here? She's not ready to see you yet. Get out," Ryder growls protectively, pointing to the door.