Saving Her Lost Soul

Chapter 23

Ezra manages to catch up with us but Flynn gives him daggers the whole time. As we travel through the next section Ezra's ring hits into mine causing me to fall out. When I resurface I cough whilst wiping my face. Flynn and Tyler laugh hysterically at me. I move in the water and push them both out of their rings.
"Sorry, Riley," Ezra blushes from his ring. "I really am sorry." I roll my eyes, why is he so nice? I try lifting myself back onto my ring but I just can't fucking do it. It feels like that bloody wall all over again. Flynn laughs at me when he's back in his dinghy. I splash water at him but it doesn't stop him. "Riley, do you need me to help you back in?"
Flynn stops laughing immediately and jumps off his dinghy. He walks towards me grabbing the back of my knees and lifting me up onto the dinghy. I shift my weight to get comfy, "thanks." I mumble. He walks back to his floating ring and pulls himself on it. We carry on drifting in the water.
I grab the rope above my head and pull myself over the slight dip. Tyler and Flynn seem to go down the next tunnel together. Ezra holds one of my handles and we fall through the tunnel together too. I smile awkwardly at him, he's lovely but he's just not sure of himself like I need. We spin out when we get out the tunnel and we enter the lagoon that joins all slides.
I jump out the ring and pull it out of the water. I place my ring in the designated area and then join them at the side of the pool. "That one," Tyler points and I roll my eyes. Another rubber dinghy ride. We climb the stairs again and this time I walk in between Flynn and Tyler like they are my bodyguards. I wish that I could just hold Flynn's hand but I don't ever get what I want.
We join the queue and I place my hand over my scar whilst we wait. I wouldn't be so self conscious if Ezra hadn't gawked at it. "You want to go out tonight bro?" Tyler asks Flynn. I frown but keep quiet.
"Sure, you planning to get laid tonight?" Flynn punches Tyler's arm and I step back as he narrowly misses me.
"Hell yeah, if I bring someone home then don't be surprised. It's been a long week, you must feel the same bro. I bet you're keen to get back to Regan." Fucking red-head.
"I've found other ways to scratch the itch so to speak."
"Dirty bugger."
"Stop talking," I groan and throw my hands in the air to shut them up. They both laugh at me.
"You want to go out tonight then Riley? Sounds like these guys are going to be busy." Ezra asks and blushes rubbing the back of his head again. It must be a nervous thing.
"Umm," I shift my weight, "I'm just going to bed early," I mumble and his face falls. I don't like hurting his feelings.
"Way to let him down easy Lee. Come on, he's crazy about you. Just one hour that's all he's asking." I glare at Tyler. I am saved when it's our turn to get in the four-person dinghy. I jump into the dinghy with the assist of the male lifeguard.
I sit opposite Flynn and his eyes burn me. I don't see why I should be forced into this date with Ezra, it's not what I want. We start cruising down the flumes and I hold tighter to the handles. My legs entwine with Flynn's automatically as we get thrown from side to side. When there's a huge drop and a small scream escapes my mouth and I grip tighter with my legs. It's not necessarily that I'm scared it just takes me by surprise especially when its so dark.
"Calm down, Ri. It's just a slide," I roll my eyes when we slow down at the next section. Easy for him to say, he was scared of heights. We are taken on a slight detour outside but we are enclosed in the clear slide. When we get back inside the dinghy tilts back as it pushes up higher. As it nears the top I shut my eyes as we tip over the edge at a fast pace causing the water to splash when we reach the end.
I jump out and walk into the lagoon whilst I wait for them, "Riley!" I groan standing up as Ezra's sister Bella bounds through the water to me. She holds her arms out as if to hug me and I reflectively push her shoulders away from me and she falls back into the water.
When she resurfaces I say, "Sorry, I didn't mean to." I scratch my forehead, I didn't actually mean to but I don't want to be hugged. I notice that bellowing laugh and I glare back at Flynn.
"It's fine, I haven't seen you in so long. You've lost weight," I shrug. Yeah I did, it was all the alcohol and drug abuse I guess. I wasn't eating properly.
"Whoa, what happened to your sister? She suddenly just got hot." Tyler says to Ezra and I roll my eyes.
"Gross," Ezra mutters. I leave the lagoon and head for the rapids. I don't bother looking to see if they are following.
"Now you know how it feels," Tyler laughs but they sound further away. I walk into the rapids, why is it so hard to walk in water? Once I'm deep enough I swim underwater to the strong currents. I let myself drift whilst I float upright. After a few minutes I'm dragged into a little cut off section. I gasp as Flynn pushes me against the edge away from any prying eyes. If you didn't know we were here you wouldn't see us.
His dripping wet lips press against mine and I groan. A mixture of chlorine and mint invades my senses. I pull him closer to me, "Fucking Tyler's friends making me jealous," he mumbles into my mouth. His hands cup my face and I rest my hands on his biceps. "Don't go out with him tonight."
"I won't, I only want you, Flynn." I promised because it's the truth. His tongue claims mine and I surrender myself to him.
"Say it again, Ri," he says breathlessly.
"I only want you, I love you. I am yours," I look into his black burning eyes and they dominate me. His eyes make me their prisoner. It feels so long ago we were in bed together, our little safe haven.
"Fuck. . ." he rests his face in my neck. I feel his breath on my neck and I hold him close to me. He seems more insecure than I am but I don't mind. I like that he needs to hear it from me, just like I need to hear it from him. He pulls away and grabs my hand. Once we are back in the strong current I jump on his back and he holds my knees as I wrap around him. I bite his ear gently and he growls.
We drift and he falls back pushing me under the water. I squeal as he turns around under the water. I plant my feet so that I mostly stay where I am and he continues to drift. When he resurfaces he frowns planting himself too. I lose my balance and the current makes me slam into him but Flynn only laughs at me. He lets us drift again in each others arms.
"Riley! There you are." Ezra calls from behind us. Flynn looks over my shoulder and glares releasing me. "I've been looking for you."
"Fuck sake, he's getting on my nerves. He's literally following you like a love sick puppy." I agree but he's sweet.
"I know, I'll make it up to you later. If you don't end up bringing another girl home too." I screw my face up and turn to see Ezra.
"There's only room for one bed hogger in my bed. Besides, I think it would be a bit odd to bring a girl back with you in my bed."
"I do not hog the bed. You only have to say if you didn't want me in your bed." I mutter.
"You belong naked in my bed every night, Ri," he growls in my ear as Ezra reaches us. I smile a genuine smile from his threat but judging by Ezra's face he thinks it's aimed at him. "Where's Tyler?"
"With my sister. It was making me sick so I thought I'd find Riley." I lift one side of my mouth and push through to another section with seats with jets. I pull myself up on the tiled bench in the water. Flynn sits closely next to me and Ezra sits on my other side. I find it hard to stay sitting with the jets and bubbles. "You seem more yourself now."
"Yeah, I guess."
"You know he was a jackass, I didn't think he was right for you. To post that video of you," Ezra blushes indicate he's recalling the visualisation. I cringe.
"How bad was this video?" Flynn growls but I'm not sure who he's asking. My legs drift to the top of the water and I hold Flynn's arm to push myself back down.
"I er, it was graphic." Ezra says blushing stroking the back of his head again. Bastard, why did he have to watch it?
"What does it matter? I stripped in it and then he fucked me. I sounded like a fucking pathetic kid needing reassurance that he loved me and myself saying I loved him." I shudder thinking that I ever loved him.
"You said it was only the once," Flynn says no more but I knew what he meant and I'm glad he said no more.
"Well, it was. Mostly, I guess. It was probably inexperience." I shrug but I know I haven't convinced him.
"Probably? Did you actually say yes?" I look away from him looking at the people floating by in the current.
"Can you drop it? I wanted to please him so technically I did. What does it matter? I've only said yes specifically to one person before." I don't look at him. He knows I said yes to him. Well, I agreed but I was more than willing, I just didn't want to admit it back then.
"Fuck, Ri." I bring my knees to my chest feeling vulnerable. His hand wraps around my lower calf. "I'm going to kill all those fuckers."
"Calm down," I groan.
"Are you sure he isn't Riley?" Ezra asks. I glance at him and he blushes again! Damn, does he always blush or is just me that makes him blush?
"Yeah, Ez, I told you." We spend another couple of hours at the water park riding all the rides. It was a pretty good day, better than I thought. I'm changed into my clothes again and as I come out of the cubicle they are both leaning against the wall waiting for me. I bite my lip looking at how hot Flynn is. He turns his head and smiles at me and I melt.
"About time," he groans and winks at me. We walk out into the cold air and I moan when I feel the cold rain on my skin. Fucking rain and we have to drive in it.
I drag my feet to the car hating the thought, Mom did say it was forecast to rain. Tyler unlocks the car and I slide in the back. I clutch Rosie to my chest, I sit on the other side so I'm behind Flynn as he's now in the passenger seat.
When we set off Flynn slides his hand back for me and I beam at his hand. I write I love you on his palm. His hand warms me, I'm cold after swimming and the rain. Flynn's scent has been washed off me and I don't like it. Flynn turns the radio up and I try not to panic about the rain.
"Ty," I whimper as the rain gets heavier. I look at the rain pounding on the road. Flynn grips my hand tighter and I hold his hand with both of mine.
"I know Lee, it's fine. If it gets any worse I'll pull over for you," I swallow hard and nod at him. His face is calm but I can see the pain in his eyes. He's worried about me. I stare at Flynn's hand for a while trying to block everything out.
Flynn's hand grips tightly to the point it's painful, "Tyler watch out!" Flynn shouts quickly. My heart leaps and I look up to see a black car slamming into the side of our car. I scream as the car is thrown sideways. The noise is deafening, screaching tyres, glass shattering, metal crushing. My head knocks into the door and I lose consciousness.
When I wake from the darkness I'm being pulled onto a stretcher. Flynn, where's Flynn? My wide eyes try to find him but all I can see is the gloomy rainy sky. I can't move my head as my neck is in a brace. Tyler? Where's Tyler? The scretcher is placed on a gurney and into an ambulance or what looks like it.
"Hi, what's your name sweetheart?" The paramedic asks. She looks in her mid thirties, blonde hair, brown eyes. My name? "It's okay," she assures me when I don't respond. She places a oxygen mask on me and shines a torch in my eyes. Get off me, I can't seem to find my voice.
Where's Flynn? Where's my brother? What happened? I keep my wide panicked eyes open as the paramedic does her checks on me. I hear the sirens, how bad is it? I hear an annoying beeping, "Calm down, everything is okay. You need to calm down your heart rate is too high." I try to feel my limbs testing them out.
My feet move or at least they feel like they do. I'm so cold, I need my body warmer. Flynn! Where is Flynn I want to ask but words don't form. I don't know how much time passes when I'm pushed out the back of the ambulance and into the hospital. "Late teens in car accident, suspected wrist fracture. Unconscious at the scene. Possible head injury. Conscious but not responding."
"Thanks, we have it from here." I'm wheeled down the hall into an examination room. "Hey, I'm Doctor Roberts. Can you tell me your name? Is there any family I need to call?" I don't respond. My name? I look at the young male doctor as he works around me. "Has she got a phone on her?"
"Here," someone says. "Shall I call the parents?"
"Yes please. Her injuries don't look too severe but I'm concerned she could have a head injury if she's not responding." Head injury? The room is too bright and I shut my eyes. "Her heart rate is elevated."
Flynn. . . is he okay? I test my hands unsure where they are. I flex them and pain seers through my arm. My hands are on my stomach like Flynn's hand is still in mine. I miss his touch, I miss him mocking me, I miss his complaining about me. Where is he? "Parents are on their way. Her name is Riley Blake, her Mother told me she has heart disease."
"Heart disease at her age? That would explain the elevated heart rate. Riley? Can you hear me?" I don't respond. I need to see Flynn, I need to see my brother. "I'm going to take you for a CT to rule out a head injury." I hate this sterile smell. I want to thrash and scream at them to stop touching me but my body won't move. "Okay, let's go. She has a fractured wrist that we will fix after."
Fractured wrist? Flynn. . . Where is Flynn? I still feel him, so where is he? Where is my brother? I open my eyes and all I see is flashing lights passing on the ceiling as I'm wheeled down the hallway. I feel my heart beating frantically. Doctor Roberts places his hand on my shoulder and I want to push him off. "You're okay, I'm going to look after you," he smiles down at me. I groggily shut my eyes. I'm lifted into a machine as I open my eyes.
All I can see is bright white lights. Flynn. "You're okay, Riley. Keep still it won't take long." Dr Robert's says through the com systems. My body won't move anyway. I shut my eyes again. I picture Flynn's perfect face. The way his eyes light up when he smiles at me, the cute dimples on his cheeks.
I'm being pulled out the machine and I open my eyes. I'm pushed back down the hallway. "Riley!" I hear my Mother but I can't move. Mommy. I blink lazily and her head appears in my eyesight. "Riley, I'm here baby." Mom. "What's wrong with her." I stop in a quiet room and I shut my eyes.
"Mrs Blake, she's fractured her wrist in the accident. Her heart rate is dangerously high, there was nothing abnormal on her CT scans. I believe she's in shock." The neck brace is removed but I still don't move. The bed is raised into sitting postion. "This can be quite traumatic."
"Yes, I know. She's been in an accident before but she didn't react like this. She's been suffering from PTSD from five months ago."
"Okay, has she been receiving counselling? I'm worried about the strain on her heart. Is she on medication?"
"She won't see anyone, we've tried. She's been damaging herself with alcohol. She's sober now and yes she's on meds."
"What medication is she on?"
"I don't know, she's become a private person. It should be on her file, she was admitted into hospital recently when she was diagnosed. If not I can try find her meds but she hates me in her personal space." I hear the panic in my Mom's voice.
"I will find out but I need to monitor her before I discharge her. I need to get her heart rate down. If you have any ideas to calm her down, now is the time."
"Her brother's friend that she came in with. Flynn Archer, he's the only one that knows how to calm her down. Is there any news on him yet?"
"I'll go find out for you. Your son is here also? Okay, I'll find out for you. I'll get a nurse to sort out her cast. Do you know if she'll have a colour preference?"
"I don't know, she used to like pink but it's all about black these days. I'm not sure," she sounds in such distress.
"Shall I go for black then? It's a neutral colour," I see my Mother nod. She turns to me with tears in her eyes and strokes my forehead.
"It's okay honey, Flynn will fix you." I don't respond. She knows, I don't know how she knows but she does. She touches my wrist and looks at the engraving on my bracelet. "FA," she whispers as if she was talking to herself.
"Mom!" Tyler calls. My brother. He's here, they hug for the longest time. I don't move just continue looking ahead but I can see them from the corner of my eyes. "Mom, the car came out of nowhere. They said he was a drunk driver, it was my right of way."
"It's okay sweetheart, your Dad is going to sort it. Are you hurt?" I blink taking him in. He doesn't look hurt.
"No, the airbag took away most of the impact. Lee? Is she okay?" Tyler grabs my hand but I don't respond. Tyler where is Flynn?
"She's in shock, she has a broken wrist but scans were all clear. They are worried about her heart. It's beating too fast," Mother cries.
"Riley, I'm so sorry." He rests his face on my shoulder. I feel his wet tears on my neck. Flynn. Mom holds him from behind.
"Where is Flynn, Tyler?" Flynn. My body awakens at his name again. Tyler straightens up again, I'm cold. So cold.
"Mom," he cries. "The arsehole hit into his side. He's unresponsive, I wasn't allowed to go with him. They won't tell me anything as I'm not family." Not family? He's my family.
"I'll see if Dad can get around that." Mom hugs him for another long moment. "It's going to be okay."
"Hi, I'm nurse Liza. I've come to do Riley's cast, I'm also going to set up the monitor so we can observe her heart rate." They both move away from me and the nurse places something on my finger and the stupid noise is deafening.
"What is that noise?" Mom asks. It's my broken heart. Flynn.
"It's her elevated heart rate. We need to get it down before we can discharge her. Once her heart rate returns to normal it will silence." The nurse touches my broken wrist and removes my bracelet. No! Flynn.
"Can you put that on her other wrist, it means a lot to her." Mom asks.
"Sure, no problem." I watch as she secures it to my other wrist.
"I haven't seen that before, where did she get it? Was it a birthday present?" Tyler asks. Flynn.
"He bought for her, the one that holds her heart. I think it's a symbol of their love for each other." Mom explains.
"And we don't know who it is?" Flynn. I sigh on the inside but it doesn't reflect on the outside.
"I don't know, honey. I'm going to call your Dad." I watch her get her phone out. "Honey? She's okay just in shock. Look, Flynn was badly hurt. They won't tell us anything. Is there anything you can do? We are all he has."
He's our family. Flynn! I shut my eyes, "Sis, I know you're there. Please, talk to me. I'm sorry, I should have pulled over like you wanted."
"Thanks honey," Is she still on the phone to Dad? "Don't blame yourself son. Don't drown in the guilt like she does."
"Now I know how she feels. I was behind the wheel! She looks lifeless because of me and my best friend is god knows where, he could be dead for all I know." Tyler breaks down in sobbing tears. I hate to hear him in such distress but there is nothing I can do. I need to feel Flynn's burning skin. Look into his burning black eyes. I picture him in my head again. I picture us in a world where we can be together. A world where Tyler accepts us. A world where I don't feel the pain. Only love, his love for me. My love for him.