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.

a reassuring nod, though her

tone professional but warm. "His vitals are improving rapidly.

catch a breath, letting them work,

has left - just to come back to us, and for the first time since this nightmare began, I

around mine as she held on to me, breathless, her eyes wide with hope as we both stood

She trails off, seeing the doctor inject something up in

"He's fighting hard, Amelia.

her hands over her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked down at Daryl. "Oh, Thank God,"

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

moment now, the injection should help bring him over the last hurdle... it could take minutes or even hours... but just press the button again and the nurses will be with him when he's awake and needs anything. When he wakes up, he will

breathes out, as he nods and heads for the door with the last nurse going out at his

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

the

to the spot

"You're the one who managed to pull him back." She tells me, as I

did this himself. Daryl's always been stronger than me. I just..." I

needed you here, Vincent.

to believe her, but the guilt gnawed at me. Daryl was fighting for his

shallow breaths, the beeping of the machines now a strange sort of comfort knowing that they were helping to bring him in to

was still here, still

It wasn't over.

Not yet.

between Amelia and me as we just took

like we were

twitch of his eyelids, every groan, sent my heart racing with

and get some air, I feel a little 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

nodded, not trusting my voice as she quietly slipped out of the room, leaving me alone

her, but I didn't move from my spot. I stayed by Daryl's side, watching

be still limp in mine, before it twitched again more deliberate

quickened. "C'mon, man," I whispered, leaning closer. "You

once more, his fingers flexing against mine. "That's it! Keep doing what you're

dreaming, he slowly, very

it was enough for me. He was

was barely above a whisper now, my emotions swirling as I felt in

groaned

them, but it was incoherent words that