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 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 was getting louder and faster. Loud sounds and raised voices come

the room becomes focused. Slowly turning my head, I look around and realize I'm in a hospital 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

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 lips as I

longer feels stuffed with old cotton,

happened? Where am I?" I croak, sounding more frog

and I will be right back, Shannon

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

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.

guys safe and here, I burst into tears, and they all cluster around the head of my bed. As I look up at them, tears still running down my face, I realize Drew and Mike are

on the edge of my bed, taking

Patrick continues: "Yes, they really are here; as soon as we realized you had been taken, we called them, and they were on the first flight