Shadows In Durango

Chapter 119

***** Vincent's POV*****

At first, I thought I was fully imagining it...

That my mind, desperate for any slight sign of life, was playing tricks on me...

But no- the faintest twitch of his fingers in mine was real!

My gasp caught up in my throat, and I held still, afraid to move, afraid to break whatever fragile connection had just been sparked.

"Daryl?!" My voice barely escaped as a whisper, my heart thudding loudly in my ears.

For a moment, there was nothing. The machines kept their steady rhythm, the silence closing in on me again. I gripped his hand tighter, willing him to give me another sign, anything to show me that he was still in there, fighting to come back. Then, just as I was about to lose hope, his eyelids fluttered. It was so small, so quick, that I almost missed it, but it was definitely there.

A flicker of life!

My heart sprung up into my throat next, and I stood up so fast that the chair tipped over behind me with a loud clatter.

"Daryl? Daryl, can you hear me? Whatever you're doing, keep doing it! It's working!" I leaned over the bed, my face inches from his, my hand still gripping his tightly.

"C'mon, man, give me something else..." I plead, not wanting the momentous moment to die out.

His brow furrowed ever so slightly, and I watched, holding my breath as his chest hitched, a faint groan escaping his lips next.

He's responding! He's finally waking up!

The machines around him beeped a little faster, reacting to his movements and sudden change in demeanour, and I felt a surge of hope crash through me like a tidal wave.

I reached for the call button beside the bed, smashing it with more force than necessary as I called for a nurse - pressing it again and again as if that would make them move faster outside.

Dropping it, I rush to the room door, opening it and seeing a half asleep Amelia looking up at me - suddenly startled.

"What's going on Vincent?!" Amelia stammers, leaning forward and dreading to hear any more bad news.

The rush of nurses come speeding down the hallway, as I motion for them all to hurry up...

"He's waking up!" I shouted, my voice shaking with a mix of relief and disbelief all at the same time. "He's waking up, come quick!"

Within moments, the room was a flurry of activity. Nurses rushed in, checking his vitals, adjusting the machines before a doctor arrived shortly after.

of them gave me a reassuring

she said, her tone professional but warm. "His vitals

myself to catch a breath, letting them work, but my

and for the first time since this nightmare began, I felt the crushing weight

to me, breathless, her eyes wide with hope as we both stood back to watch the

trails off, seeing the doctor inject something up in to his

out across my face. "He's fighting hard, Amelia. He's coming back to us." I state firmly, believing

hands over her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes as

to leave, seeming satisfied with his progress in the moment, as they offered us gentle smiles on their passing

awake and needs anything. When he wakes up, he will feel exhausted and will probably fall back

nods and heads for the door

up the silent room, but it no longer felt as ominous as it

life in the sound now -

the spot and scared

to pull him back."

Daryl's always been stronger than me. I just..." I swallowed, struggling to find the

with emotion. "He needed you here, Vincent. You're family to

the guilt gnawed at me. Daryl was fighting for his life because of decisions I had

in shallow breaths, the beeping of the machines now a strange sort

was

It wasn't over.

Not yet.

between Amelia and me as we just took the time

like we were holding our collective breath,

his eyelids, every groan, sent

nauseous in here, maybe you can try to talk him round again?" she said, her voice thick with exhaustion. She gave me a gentle pat on the arm. "You stay here. He'll want to see your

quietly slipped out of the room, leaving

but I didn't move from my spot. I stayed by Daryl's side, watching him, silently urging him to fight just a little bit

reached down for his hand, finding it to be still limp in mine, before it

I whispered, leaning closer. "You can do this." I encourage, assuming he could hear

his fingers flexing against mine. "That's it! Keep doing what you're doing!" I state, longing for

was stuck dreaming, he slowly, very painfully, cracked open his eyelids just

it was enough for me. He was in there, coming

above a whisper now, my emotions swirling as I felt in that moment like I could cry

eyes shifted, trying to focus on me as he groaned this time, trying to

parted, the faintest sound escaping them, but it was incoherent words that