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

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

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 her

she steps forward and takes my hand. I open my mouth to respond, but all that comes out is a dry cough. Shannon quickly reaches for the plastic water pitcher on the table next to my bed. She holds the cup for me and bends the straw to my

that my mouth no longer feels stuffed

I croak, sounding more frog then

be

I croak again before carefully reaching for the cup of water

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

of my bed. As I look up at them, tears still

sits on the edge of my

you are awake and safe," Patrick murmurs to me. When I glance at Drew and Mike again, Patrick continues: "Yes, they really are here; as soon as we