Broken

.33.

Unknown Passage of Time

I woke up slowly, like coming from a haze. It felt like fighting through molasses to reach a far shore. Difficult and exhausting but I still tried. When I did reach the far shore it was easier than I thought to push my body to move. I opened my eyes and expected to be standing in front of Dean Hilem's office but I was laying in a bed in a white room that reminded me of the medical clinic. Confusion swamped me and a beeping beside me picked up rapidly.

I looked around, attempting to sit up with trembling arms. Black dots swam in my vision and I slumped backwards, too weak to truly move from the spot. I swallowed convulsively my throat and mouth feeling like cotton, as if I hadn't drank anything for a very long time.

I couldn't grasp what was going on. I didn't remember what had happened after the chain of my medallion snapped. My hand snapped up to my neck and I felt the familiar links underneath my fingertips to my relief. It was a rather calming feeling and the beeping slowed down.

I turned my head slightly and noticed the machine was heart rate monitor. A wireless one that was probably hooked up to the bed rather than the person. They were much more efficient and required less wires. I blinked slowly before I stared up at the ceiling. My throat was really dry and I wanted to know what the fuck had happened.

"Hello, Liviya." Ghilesh's voice was soft and I turned my head to look at him. He looked worn out and tired as he stood in the doorway to the small medical like room. I opened my mouth to reply but the dryness made it impossible. He came forward with a soft smile and with a cup in his hand. I stared at it intently. "I bet you are thirsty." I nodded and he shuffled over before pressing a button on the side of the bed that helped me to sitting.

I wanted to thank him but he said nothing as he pressed the rim of the cup to my lips. I drank greedily and when I had drained half of the glass he pulled it away and then held a strange pan out in front of me. I looked at him and opened my mouth to ask him what it was for when I threw up.

My entire body seized as I heaved again and again. Tears filled my eyes as it felt like it wasn't going to stop. The vomit had a strange taste and came out black and thick almost like tar. It felt like something was pulling it from my body and my muscles clenched tightly as I continued heaving for what seemed like an eternity before it stopped entirely, leaving me feeling limp and exhausted.

"I am sorry, Liviya. That was not nice. I know." He pulled the pan away from me before patting my forehead with a cold damp cloth. I felt too tired to keep my eyes open and he smoothed the cloth down my cheeks. "It is okay. Sleep. I will be here when you wake up." His words faded and I fell backwards into nothingness once again.

~~~~~

Consciousness crept back onto me slowly but unlike the last time I awoke I was aware that time had passed. I slowly cracked my eyes open and winced at the light above my head. It seemed too bright even though I knew it was dimmed.

"Hello again, Liviya." Ghilesh appeared by my side with another cup in his hand, I eyed it warily. The last drink I had sent me into a heaving frenzy. "You have purged your system already. Besides, these are just ice chips." He shook the cup and I could hear the crushed ice moving around. I swallowed, that strange taste was still in my mouth and Ghilesh held me out an ice chip. I opened my mouth and he fed me several more before he moved a chair to right beside the bed.

"Do you remember what happened?" His amber eyes had heavy bags under them and he looked so worn out. I didn't like it.

"Dean Hilem's office. I stepped out." My voice was raspy and raw and my throat burned on every syllable. "Someone grabbed." I patted my medallion and swallowed with a wince. "Yanked it off." I frowned, trying to push through the pain in my head. I needed to remember what happened.