Our Saving Grace

Me too - Sang

My entire body felt heavy, including my eye lids. Try as I might I couldn't manage to lift them to see where I was and what was going on around me. Even when I switched all of my effort to moving just my pointer finger, I don't think anything happened. It was like I could somewhat feel my body, but I was no longer control of it. For some reason I wasn't scared by this. It was just a fact. No reason to be bothered by it one way or another. 

With that realization I focused my efforts on hearing what was going on around me. When one sense failed you, move on to the next one. Eventually I was able to make out a rhythmic beeping and a pumping sound that was accompanied by a whooshing sound. I listened for a while, but those two sounds remained the same in both tempo and sound so I decided to try to push past them and see if I could hear anything else. 

"--an't believe that she fucking dove in front of a bullet. Doesn't she know that isn't good for her health?" I was finally able to make out over the beeping and the whooshing. Hearing that harsh Russian voice calmed something deep within my soul and I knew that if I could move at all, I would be smiling at his clear concern over me. My professional Russian brother cared deeply, even if he tried to act like a hardass on the outside. 

"She should have never even been there. This is my fault," Axel's voice responded and I wished that I could smack him. He knew that I hated when he tried to protect me from jobs. I was just as much a part of the Academy as he was. 

"Bullshit. Sang is just as much a part of this family as the rest of us. Stop trying to hide her away from the world. She is a grown adult now, and I can promise you that she'd hate that overbearing shit you are spewing right now." That was either Brandon or Corey. I couldn't tell them apart just by their voices, but my guess would be Brandon. Corey didn't cuss. 

"Oh, so I should just let her join her own team and live through a repeat of what happened with the Kates?" Axel demanded and I winced internally. I hated that he blamed himself for what happened. Yes both him and Dr. Roberts had encouraged me to join the Kates, but ultimately it was my choice. And I had been the one to hide how bad it was for me there. By the time I was in real danger, it was too late to ask for help. 

"That kid is stronger than you give her credit for. I think she just proved that last night," said a low smokey female voice laced with a thick southern accent. Kayli. "What happened knocked her down but didn't take her out of the game, you guys need to...." 

The heavy darkness weighed down on me and I found I could no longer focus to hear what else was said. Maybe I just needed some more rest. 

-------------

This time there was no peaceful contemplation about my surroundings. This time I woke up with a spike of adrenaline to my heart and I bolted up to a sitting position, causing a searing pain to rip through my chest. Something was wrong. I wasn't safe. I had to get away. 

I tried to yell for help but all I accomplished was making a choking coughing sound and I realized that there was something wrong with my throat. I brought a hand up to my mouth to find something was pushed into my mouth that was strapped around my head. I couldn't breath. I couldn't scream for help. I was once again helpless without a way out 

I couldn't breath. His fingers were digging into my neck, and no matter how much I struggled, kicked, or scratched his face, he wouldn't let me go. I just needed a breath of air. I couldn't breath. This was it. This is how I die. 

"Yes, little dove. Fight me! It is only fun when they fight back," he hissed in my ear before licking the entire side of my face. 

I finally got a hand between us and shoved my thumb into his eye socket, causing him to roar in anger. But he still didn't let me go. I couldn't breath.