Shattered Girl (Emmy)

Chapter

122

My head hurts so much more with loud noises and a bright light in my eyes. Why don't they just leave me alone? The sting of a needle being stuck in my arm. Good, now I will be knocked out again. Everything fades to silence.

A loud, consistent beeping pulls me awake again. Is this some new form of torture my father came up with? I'm too tired to open my eyes, and honestly, I don't want to know if I'm still in the basement or some new hell, I embrace the dark silence when it comes. This is where I feel the safest now.

The beeping wakes me again, but this time, my brain feels less sluggish. Maybe the drug is finally wearing off. Should I open my eyes or pretend to be still unconscious? Do I want to know where I am now? I'm still lying on a mattress, but this one feels slightly different. No, I'm not ready to face whatever new hell my father has left me in. I drift off to sleep again.

and

I shift my legs realize two things: one, I'm covered with a sheet and blanket, and two, I'm no longer chained to a wall. I need to sit up and figure out where I am, but when I move, a sharp pain stabs across my hand, and I gasp. There is a loud sound near my feet, and a shadow suddenly stretches across where 1 lay. My fight-or-flight response decided to come back from its drug-induced slumber, and I panicked; the sheet and blanket seemed to trap me against the mattress, and the beeping

room. My sudden movement catches the attention of the person sitting on a chair by the foot of my bed. The room is still dim so I can't tell who it is until they step forward and I recognize Patrick's mother Shannon. Her face shows a look of pure relief, and

glad you're finally awake. We have all been so worried," she says with a trembling voice as she steps forward and takes my hand. I open my mouth to respond, but all that comes out is a dry

longer feels stuffed with

I croak, sounding more

and I will be right back, Shannon assures me, avoiding answering

they? I croak again before carefully reaching for the cup of

be right back with the doctor." With that, she hurries out of the room. I take several small sips of water while 1 wait for someone to come in and tell me what's happened. I want my guys, and I hope they get here soon. Just as I finish that thought, there is noise outside my door, and my guys pile into the mom,

look up at them, tears still running down my face, I realize Drew and Mike are here, too, and I stare at

steps closer and sits on the edge of my bed, taking

really are here; as soon as we realized you had been taken, we called them, and they were on the first flight back home." I just nod as I try