I drifted in and out of consciousness as the helicopter took us to the hospital. Every time I woke up and saw Roan my heart rate would spike just knowing he was alive and there. I kept expecting him to spring up from his gurney and attack me. An EMT stayed by my side and held my hand. She tried to block Roan from my view and assured me I was safe, but she didn't didn't know what I knew. None of them knew the extent of Roan's madness or they wouldn't be trying to save his life. I knew no matter what she said, no matter what anyone said, as long as Roan Attley was alive, I was in danger!
I passed out again and dreamt I woke up and opened the helicopter door. I slid Roan's gurney out and cackled madly as he fell to his death. I woke up to find it was just a dream. No such luck. In another dream I imagined Roan had woken up and thrown everyone out but me. He was flying the helicopter and laughing maniacally.
I gasped, opening my eyes. I heard an EMT shout, "Charge."
I saw they were struggling to keep Roan alive. I wondered if this was another dream but if felt so real. I watched them put paddles on his chest and he'd jerk. They injected him with something but it didn't look good. I watched from the sides of my eyes as they charged again. I saw his eyes come back. They turned to the side, looking at me. He was always looking at me, even when he was dying. I turned away and blacked out again. I woke to rattling, yelling. We were being taken out of the helicopter and onto a rooftop.
"WE LOST THIS ONE TWICE ON THE WAY OVER BUT HE'S STABILIZED!" An EMT yelled.
To my disappointment Roan was still alive when we got to the hospital. I watched them take him out and rushed him into a waiting elevator. When they pulled my gurney off the helicopter the blades were still going. I felt the air rush against my skin and it felt nice. They pulled me into an elevator with Roan and it went down. When it opened, Roan was rushed out followed by me. I hoped it would be the last time I saw him. They pulled me into a room and doctors and nurses rushed around me.
The next few hours were a bit of a blur. I was in so much pain. I wanted to pass out again but they kept me up and talking as much as I could while they examined me. They kept asking questions but it was so hard to speak. My throat felt like it had been crushed. What little I could manage to speak, I just kept asking about Derek. I needed someone to let him know I was alive and that I'd made it out of the forest. I needed them to tell him where I was. I knew Derek would be on his way as soon as he knew where I was.
One of the nurses understood me. She held my hand and said they would contact him. After a while they wanted to take me into surgery. I had an infection, or a clot or something. It was hard to follow them. I was just so tired. They kept touching the leg I'd stepped on something with. I remember the doctor's face when he'd cut away the duct tape and bag. It hadn't looked reassuring. He'd called over a nurse and she'd just nodded.
They needed my permission for surgery and I gave it to them. I was a little worried but determined not to let my injuries take me down. I didn't survive this long just to die from an injury. They took me to surgery and as they put me under, I hoped when I woke up, Derek would be by my side again and this all would just be one long, bad nightmare.
I fell into a deep sleep and all my pains and worries went away. I floated through the night sky. The clouds were breathtaking. I came to a sudden stop over a brightly lit city. I looked down from my height and everything felt like it sparkled and shined. I moved, floating into a large cloud burst. I could feel the moisture and it felt amazing. I watched as lightning streaked through the sky but I wasn't worried. I knew I was safe. It was like watching fireworks. This had to be one of the best dreams I'd ever had. I almost didn't want to wake up but as I started bursting through a rain cloud my alarm went off.
I opened my eyes and found myself in a hospital bed. It was night out and raining. A thunderstorm rolled across the sky. I watched the lights flicker in my room and then go out completely, plunging me into the dark. A second or two later the lights came back on. A bolt of lightning must have hit a generator or something. At least that's what they said in movies. Or was it a bolt had hit a power station and the generator was the thing that came back on? I didn't know my head was a mess. I laughed, finding I didn't care. Whatever they had me on was fucking amazing!
A light flashed in my room and I realized an alarm was going off in the building. "Oh yeah," I said to myself, "That's what woke me up." It sounded like a fire alarm. I expected someone to rush in and tell me something but they didn't, so it must be okay. I slowly closed my eyes and almost fell back asleep when I heard several pops. It sounded like…gunfire. I sat up fully, realizing it WAS gunfire as another few pops went off. I just knew it was Roan! My heart began to race, making my monitor jump.
I needed to get out of here now! Without thinking I pulled an oxygen tube from my nose and an IV from my arm. I threw my legs over the side of the bed and saw one was bandaged. I got to my feet and it felt weird. Not painful, just weird. I realized it was numb. I hobbled over to my door. It had a small window in it. I looked through it and saw a woman running down the hall, she seemed frightened.
I cautiously opened the door and hobbled out and down the hall after her. I saw she was headed to a stairwell door. I heard gun fire again and realized it was down the opposite end of the hall. I moved to the door, thinking I'd follow her cue. Just as I reached the stairwell door, I looked down the hall and saw Roan. I was right! It was him! He was alive! He was slowly wandering the halls. His head, shoulder and side were bandaged and he was brandishing a gun.
He moved slowly pausing just before each hospital room, looking at the numbers. My heart skipped a beat when I realized he was looking for my room. He got to it and I saw the excitement on his face as he opened the door. A second later he popped out and frantically looked around. Our eyes locked and he raised the gun in my direction.
I hobbled into the stairwell, grasped hold of the railing and tried to go down the cement stairs as fast as I could. My foot again felt weird and I noticed some blood now. I felt sick, woozy, but I needed to keep moving. I focused on the stairs, lowering myself down one at a time. I knew any minute he was going to come bursting through the door and get me. I started to rush and slipped with my bandaged foot. I slid down a few steps but managed to catch myself on the hand railing. I pulled myself up and forced myself to keep moving. A few seconds later, I heard the door open and instinctively looked up.
Roan staggered into the stairwell and yelled down at me, "DON'T RUN FROM ME YOU FUCKING BITCH!"
He pointed the gun at me again and I looked up at him like he was crazy, because he was. Seriously! Did he think I was just going to stand here and let him fucking kill me! I looked at the second floor door and went for it. Once I was through, I looked for somewhere I could hide. I knew I didn't have much time.
I saw a nurse's station a few feet away. A nurse was there. She saw me and came rushing over. "We're in lock down," she said, "Why aren't you in your room?"
I wanted to tell her Roan was after me, that he was coming, but when I opened my mouth to speak my voice caught in my throat. I was struck with pain as I tried to speak. I looked at her panicked and then to the stairwell. I made a gun sign with my hand and pointed at the stairs, hoping she'd understand.
She looked at me gravely and took my hand, "Come on!"
With her help we quickly got to the nurse's station. She had me get low and hide under the desk. She picked up her phone and quickly crouched down with me. I wondered why Roan hadn't burst through the door yet as the nurse dialed a number.
A second later she whispered, "Yes, the shooter is coming. Second floor diagnostics and imaging. Yes! It's me and another patient, we're hiding at the nurses' station."
I couldn't see the stairwell door from where we were at. I focused, listening for it to open but as it turned out, I didn't have to listen all that hard. Roan made plenty of noise when he finally came burst through the door. When he didn't see me he screamed."KIRI!
I looked at the nurse and she quickly hung up the phone. We huddled together, staying quiet. I heard him stagger past us but then I heard a walkie-talkie go off. I could just see a security guard come rushing in. He yelled, "Freeze" and then there was gunfire. Two or three shots went off.
Instinctively I closed my eyes I didn't know what happened. Only that there was silence afterwards, save for the security guard's radio. The nurse and I waited in silence and then she looked at me. She put her fingers at her lips and slowly got up to see what had happened. I saw her stand and then put her hands up.
"Please! Don't shoot me!"
A second later there was a gunshot. She fell to the ground, a bullet in her head. My eyes widened and I covered my mouth. I quickly darted out from under the counter and started crawling out of the nurse's station, afraid that Roan was going to come in.
I moved back towards the stairwell and then peeked around the nurse's station. I saw Roan several feet away, crouched over the security guards body. He got his gun and radio. He opened the guns clip and checked to see how many bullets it had then switched out his gun for the security guards.
I heard the radio go off. "Shooter's last whereabouts are second floor, diagnostic and imaging. Swat team has been called and is on its way, over."
Swat team! SWAT TEAM! I closed my eyes and breathed. Someone was coming. There was no way Roan was going to be able to take out a whole swat team. I just had to hold out and keep going until they got here. I looked at the stairwell door wondering if I could make it back. I bit my lip debating it but knew even if I could, it would take me far too long to get down them. I also nearly fell last time and I couldn't take that risk. I looked a bit farther to the elevator. I could make it. I had to try. I watched Roan get up from the security guard. He was coming into the nurse's station now.
I quickly crawled into the hall and stayed close to the wall, hoping he wouldn't see me. I moved as fast as I could and found I was faster crawling then walking. I got to the elevator and tapped the button at least a dozen times before I turned around to see if he was behind me. He wasn't but I'd left a trail of blood which Roan soon followed. I saw him step into the hall and our eyes locked as the elevator arrived and the doors opened.
"DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE!" He yelled, moving stiffly.
I just noticed his feet were bandaged. It must have been what was slowing him down. He must have injured himself, wandering barefoot through the forest. I glared at him defiantly and then began to drag myself backwards into the elevator. When I got in I smashed the first floor button. He fired two shots into the elevator. I screamed, scooting into the corner. I feared he'd get in before the doors closed but he didn't make it. The doors shut and I heard him pound his fists against them. I let out a sigh of relief as the elevator went down. I knew I wasn't out of the woods yet but I'd bought myself some time.
When the doors opened again, I quickly crawled out and looked around. I didn't see anyone. The generator lights were on. The alarm was still going off and I realized everyone must have already been evacuated. I heard thunder crash; it frightened me but drew me out of my thoughts. I realized I needed to keep moving.
I debated getting back on my feet but I knew I was faster crawling. It was also probably better to stay low. I crawled several feet and took in the room more. I realized it was large. I saw a lot of chairs and couches. There were also a lot of vending machines. It must have been a lobby or waiting room, there must be an exit nearby, or at least restrooms. If I couldn't get out then maybe I could hide and wait for the swat team to arrive. I got past the chairs and saw a red exit sign down a long hallway.
My heart leapt and I started heading for it but suddenly I heard a door open. I looked back and saw it was Roan; his face was twisted in pain. He must have run down the stairs. He looked around and madly smiled when he saw me. He looked absolutely crazed. I turned back around and forced myself to crawl faster.
He shot a large vase that was holding a plant just a few feet in front of me. It shattered, exploding dirt everywhere.
I froze as he shouted, "DON'T YOU FUCKING MOVE, KIRI!"
I was too afraid to turn around and look at him. I began shaking and sobbing. I thought I'd gotten away and that I was free of him but I guess one way or another he was going to get me today. I closed my eyes, expecting him to shoot me, but he staggered up to me, mumbling, "You fucking CUNT, make me chase you over the whole DAMN hospital."
When he got to me he roared, "GET UP! GET UP RIGHT NOW! WE'RE LEAVING!"
I guess he'd changed his mind about killing me yet again. I know I should have been relieved that I still might live but the thought of him taking me away again and hurting me. I refused. "No." I rasped. It sounded more like air escaping my lungs.
He kicked me and yelled again, "GET UP NOW OR I WILL SHOOT YOUR DUMB ASS!"
I was so scared but I couldn't... wouldn't go with him. I didn't want to die but... I sniffled and turned to look up at him. I wanted to say I'd rather die than be with you but my voice just squeaked and cut out. I held my throat and barely managed to rasp. "rath...die."
I think he got the gist of it. He laughed and said, "FINE! FINE!"
He stepped up to me and pressed the gun against my forehead. I felt the heat of it against my skin. I held my breath, recalling the nurse who'd just been shot in the head. I trembled and closed my eyes. I felt him slide the top of the gun across my forehead and then he moved it off. I opened my eyes, confused. He held the gun a few inches to my left and fired.
The sound blasted my ear and I cried out as my eardrum shattered. I instinctively clutched it as it surged with pain. I couldn't hear out of it. Roan shot into the air cursing, screaming, and then he roughly grabbed my arm and began dragging me. He was speaking, saying something, but I could barely hear him with my other ear. I leaned into his arm and sunk my teeth into him as hard as I could. I broke the skin and he flung me off him. He back handed me to the ground and started kicking me. I screamed and then, I faintly heard my name. "KIRI!"
Roan stopped kicking me. I turned and saw Derek down the other end of the hall. He looked winded like he'd been running. He looked at me and then Roan. He yelled but I barely heard him. "LEAVE HER ALONE YOU BASTARD!"
To my horror, I watched Roan turn the gun on Derek. "NO!" I rasped barely hearing my own voice.
Everything slowed down, or perhaps I sped up as my heart raced a million miles a second. I scrambled to my knees as he aimed and fired. The bullet left the gun but missed completely. Derek roared at Roan and broke into a run, barreling toward him. Roan cursed and took aim again. I painfully lunged to my feet as the bullet soared passed me. Again, it missed Derek! Roan angrily pulled the trigger again as I threw myself in front of the gun.
I was suddenly reminded of that time with Polly and the old board with the nail in it, all those years ago. I remember back then, I didn't think twice about putting myself in harm's way to protect the ones I loved and nothing had changed since then. Only a bullet hurts a lot more than a rusty nail in an old board. The bullet tore through my elbow, shattering it, before it sunk into my gut.
Roan pulled back, lifting the gun as he realized he'd shot me instead of Derek. I fell to the floor, landing hard on me shoulder. "YOU STUPID BIT-" Roan started to yell but within seconds, Derek collided into him, taking them both to the ground. Derek smashed the gun out of Roan's hand and it slid across the floor, spinning. Then Derek straddled Roan's chest and let loose on him.
He released all his rage and pain, not holding back. He beat down on Roan like a wild animal. I watched it all as I rested my head on the cold hospital linoleum. I watched Derek's raise his bloody fists into the air and then come crashing back down. Suddenly boots hit the ground and less than a minute the entire room filled with a swat team and we were surrounded. Derek almost didn't stop pounding Roan but put his hands up as laser sights honed in on him. They covered Derek and then Roan and me. Flashlights blinded my eyes as pain rippled through me even with all the pain killers still surging through my system.
My ears rang and adrenaline whooshed through my head. I heard muffled sounds in my good ear, Derek's voice quickly explaining. The swat team giving him orders to move. I closed my eyes as blood began filling my mouth.
When I opened my eyes again I was being lifted off the floor and onto a gurney. Derek was at my side holding my good hand tightly. They started moving me and a doctor rushed up. They stopped and he quickly opened my hospital gown, checking to see where the bullet had entered. I heard something about no exit wound.
I felt the cool air on my skin and began to cry. I didn't want Derek to look at me, to see what Roan had done, but he didn't take his off mine for a second. He just squeezed my hand and I did my best to squeeze it back. We started moving again and I was taken into the elevator I'd come down on.
Derek stayed with me. He leaned close to me and just kept telling me, "I love you. I love you. I love you so much." Tears escaped my eyes. I couldn't really hear him, he was talking into my bad ear but I could read his lips. Even then, even if I couldn't, I knew oh how I knew. I wanted to tell him. I wanted to tell him I will always love him and that I had always loved him but instead I remembered the dream. The sunlight on my face, the sand at my feet and the laughter of children...our children. I knew this wasn't goodbye.
"We have kids." I said breathlessly.
"What?" he said not hearing me.
The elevator stopped and we were moving into a hallway now. I watched the light on the ceiling travel fast. Derek was still by my side running along with me. I squeezed his hands, trying to say it louder. "A boy and a girl. We...we have kids."
He nodded and squeezed my hand. I noticed his eyes were filling with tears as he said, "We...we will. We will."
"The beach." I said, "The kids...the beach."
He looked at me, I could see the fear in his eyes but I was trying to reassure him. I'd seen it. I knew I did, now. I'd seen our future. We were going to be happy! We were going to walk in the sun on the beach with our babies. His hand slipped from mine and I realized they were pulling us apart. I watched several nurses hold him back. He struggled against them but they held him in place. There was so much blood on his clothes and hands Had he been hot? No… no… I had.
He cried out, "I LOVE YOU KIRI!"
I smiled and he disappeared from my line of sight as I was taken behind double doors. I felt myself being lifted, transferred over onto another gurney and then they were hooking wires up to me, poking me with all sorts of things. A nurse brought a mask over to my face.
I looked at her and said, "I'm loved."
"Yes, yes you are," she said, smiling down at me. She put the mask on me and everything went black as I was put under once again. |
