Holden Steele's Ruin [Completed]

Chapter 32

I woke to annoying beeping, my crusty eyes squinting at the blinding white room. Groaning, I clenched my teeth together in hopes of lessening the pounding in my skull. Irritation pricked at my skin as I grew more conscious, the foul smell of antiseptic crawling up my nostril.

Memories of my kidnapping rushed through me head, my back lurching forward in panic as I gripped the soft material beneath me. The weight of a hand on my shoulder had me flinching, fear settled in me as I remembered how rough Xander had been.

"Honey, it okay. Its just me," the familiar voice of my mother encouraged me to loosened my grip on the sheets.

She tentatively reached for my hand, clasping it between her. The fear I had felt quickly disappeared as the warmth of her touch calmed my ragging heart. I clung onto her, digging myself further into her embrace while drinking in her familiar scent.

"Its okay" she soothed, her voice thick with emotion "your safe"

Tears began to flow down my face at the realisation that I was in deed safe, I was back with my mother. She wrapped an arm around me, running her palm up and down my shoulder in a conforming way. I gradually began to calm down, relief washing over me.

"I love you so much sweetheart" she whispered before placing a delicate kiss on my forehead.

My heart clenched at how tired she looked, her frown lines more defined than usual. Her reddened eyes held residual moisture from all the crying I was sure she had done. The large bruise stamped on her forehead had my heart clenching even harder, it reminded me of the state she was in the last time I saw her.

"Sorry" I murmured, my eyes still fixed on the discoloured bruise.

"It doesn't hurt any more" she said as her finger lightly traced the crooked line "It wasn't your fault" she leveled her eyes to mine, willing me to accept it.

"It wasn't your either" I said meaningfully.

"I...I should have been able to protect you" her voice came out hoarse, her fingers tightening around my hand "I'm just glad his in custody." She said while running the pad off her thumb along my knuckles.

"H -how did I get here?" everything from my escape was hazy and I could briefly remember an unfamiliar man talking to me.

"Someone dropped you off at the emergency room" she furrowed her eyebrows, staring distractedly at the white bed sheet "he knew your name but he never stayed. He just left"

I struggled to put a face on him, giving up when the ache in my head increased. I resorted to nodding, pushing the thought to the back of my head.

"I should call the doctor. Your friends are here too" she said while straightening her back, kissing my cheek before disappearing behind the door. I frowned at the mention of my friends, I had assumed they would want to be the furthest place away from me.

I sighed, poking a finger on my covered stomach. It still hurt but it was mostly numb pain, suppressed by the drugs that were flowing from the drip inserted into my vein.

My mother soon came back with the doctor, seating on a cramped chair as she listened intently to whatever he had to say. After multiple questions the friendly doctor left, passing us a brief smile on his way out.

"The...the doctor said Xander didn't hurt you, that the injuries are mostly from the accident" she sounded unsure, her eyes examining my face as if to look for an injury the doctor hadn't noticed.

"H -he was different" I rasped, clearing my throat.

"How?" Her face scrunched up in confusion as she handed me a bottle of water.