In Between

OLIVIA KING P.O.V

I tried to open my eyes but they were stuck. I couldn't open them. My ears are buzzing with the beeping noise. I can feel slight pain in my head. What the hell is happening? I tried again; this time with success I opened my eyes. Bright rays made my eyes blur. I squinted them a little to adjust to the light. First thing I saw was white ceiling. I started to move my hand but felt pain in my left hand.

Oh God that hurts!

I moved my eyes around from the same position wanting to know where I am right now. All I saw was white in the whole room. My right hand was connected to the IV. My left hand was in a sling. It looked like it's broken because of the pain I am feeling right now. I tried to sit up on the bed but felt immense pain go through my head.

Shit. It hurt like hell.

I groaned in pain which must have indicated the others that I am awake because I heard multiple sets of footstep coming my way. I heard the door opening but I couldn't see because of my position, I can't even move. My mother face came in my vision. She was crying but it looked like happy tears. I was feeling confused. Then a man came into my line of sight. From the appearance he must be doctor. Then next I saw my father who was standing on my left side, he looked relieved. "Whhh" I tried to speak but all came out my mouth was cough. In an instant a glass of water touched my mouth. I gulped down whole glass quenching my thirst. I sighed in relax. Doctor and my father helped me in sitting position. My whole body hurts even with the slight motion. "What happened?" I stuttered to no one in particular. By now Mom has stopped crying but she looked worried. "Ms. King, What do you remembered last?" Doctor, whose name tag is Peter Mathews, asked me calmly. I scrunched up my face trying to remember something, anything. But all I remembered bright light and blue eyes, my head started hurting again. "Damn" I moaned holding my head. "Liv, are you okay dear" I heard my mother worried voice. I shook my head. "My head hurts" I said shutting my eyes tightly in hope of getting the pain away. But it didn't work either. "Mom" I cried when the pain increased. "Nurse gets Thiopental quickly" I heard Doctor shouting and then after minutes I felt the pain reduced and then my eyes became drowsy. I just heard murmured which were hard to understand and then everything became blank.

Next time when I came to consciousness it was slightly easy to adjust my eyes. No one was in the room. I sat up with much effort. I still could feel dull ache in my body. I don't remember how I got here in the first place. Then I heard door opening. Nurse entered with a tray. She noticed me awake. She was an aged women but looked friendly. "How are you feeling dear?" she smiled at me. I tried to smile but all it came was grimace. She had an understanding look on her face. "Take this dear" She said giving me the medicine. I frowned at that but took it. "What happened to me?" I asked her after taking the med. "You were in an accident dear, you are lucky to be alive otherwise people won't make it after this type of incident" she said surprise evident in her voice. My mouth felt open in shock hearing this. I was in the accident that's why my body is in pain. "Oh" I replied not that I have anything better to say. "Can you call my parents please" I asked her politely. "Sure dear" she smiled and went out. I waited patiently for my parents to fill me in. After few minutes my mom came running into the room, dad trailing behind her with Doctor Mathews. She was smiling and hugged me. I winced feeling pain down my shoulders. "I am sorry dear, Are you okay?" she asked worriedly breaking the hug. I smiled a little at her in reassurance 

"I am fine".

"How are you feeling Ms. King?" Doctor asked me while checking my vitals. 

"Alright Doctor, just a little sore" I said watching him working and writing something in his file which he was carrying with him when he entered the room. "Your vitals are normal, your left leg has sprained and your left hand is broken besides that your head split open in the accident but it looks to be healing great" he said checking his file. I sighed, what's normal in that every part is broken. I am feeling sore and there is dull pain in my head but that's because my head took the full impact of the accident I suppose. Mom touched my shoulder in calming gesture. "Well that would be it, I will take my leave now" with that Doctor made his way outside of the room. "What exactly has happened?" I finally asked my parents wanting some answers. This question has been bugging me since I woke up. "You don't remember anything" Dad asked in questioning tone. I just shook my head, last thing I remember getting graduate from my high school after that all is kind of blur. "You went to the graduation party and after that we got a call from hospital staff that you have been in an accident" Dad said sitting in the chair beside my bed while Mom sat on the bed with me. I frowned not remembering anything. "It's okay dear everything will be fine" Mom said patting my head making me relax. "But I don't remember anything" I asked frustrated. "Dear, Doctor said because of the head injury you won't remember things for awhile" Mom said tried to sooth me. "After you will heal fully, maybe you will remember what happened that night" Dad said in encouraging tone. I just nodded my head.

My mind stuck on the 'maybe' word. If I won't remember anything in the future then what, my whole life I will just think that how I got in the accident. "Don't stress Liv" Dad said smiling at me. "We are with you" Mom added making my worry go way. Yeah I have my family with me.

After talking to my parents for a while I felt a bit relaxed and watched T.V. for a while passing the time. It's almost midnight, Dad was sleeping on the coach and Mom went home because she was feeling ill besides she needed rest. The dark circles under her eyes didn't get unnoticed by me. Dad was also the same but him being stubborn to stay with me. It's been 4 days I was unconscious. But now I couldn't sleep maybe I should roam around a little. But with the sprained leg, how am I gonna walk.

This is painful and boring.

Watching T.V too much is making me bored as well. Beside I am feeling uncomfortable on this bed. I took the glass of water to drink but it was empty so was the water bottle. Shit. I am thirsty. I saw Dad sleeping peacefully. I can't wake him up he should get enough sleep. Because of me they already suffered much. I tried to get up on my own. Water cooler is not that far from my room. I can make it there I guess. I stood up from the bed feeling a little pain here and there especially in my leg. I carefully put my right leg down getting accomplished in standing up because it's been awhile since I stood on my legs. I felt my leg shook a little; I hold the bed for support. I can do it. It's not like I am going for a war it just a short walk with my sprained leg. 

Wow odds are in my favor (note the sarcasm).

I walked slowing putting all my weight on my fine leg and with the support of bed. I made it to the door with little pain. I looked behind me to see dad still sleeping that's good. I opened the door slowly and peaked outside. It was dark outside in the corridor with the little lights here and there. Maybe there are not lots of patient on this floor. I slowly walked forward holding the door and then wall for support. I sighed in relief no staff was outside meaning I won't get scolded for roaming at this hour. I can see the water cooler from here it was little far from my room but I can do it. I took baby steps dragging my sprained leg. It's hurt a little but I can manage. I looked around me feeling little nervous with the darkness and silence. I pushed myself a little getting closer to the water cooler.

Just few more steps and I will be there.

This ire silence is getting on my nerves. Finally after dragging myself a little bit I stand in front of the water cooler and took the glass from beside it, filled the glass with water and gulping whole glass in one go. I sighed in relief. After disposing the used glass I turned around to go back to my room when I heard it. A voice whispering in the darkness. A chill ran down my spine.

 I should go back.

I tried to quickly walk away when the whispering increased like it was right behind me. A gust of wind passed around making me freeze on the spot because now I can clearly hear the whispering. "Help me" it said. Getting out of my state, I dragged my feet quickly, as quickly as I can with the sprained leg. Voice coming closer making me afraid. I shouldn't have come outside for water. Then I toppled over on the floor. I groaned in pain at least it's my right hand who took the impact. I tried to sit up on the floor but pause feeling confused. Voice has stopped.

Thank god. But why I am hearing things suddenly. Is it because of the accident?

Then I saw hand in front of me offering me help. I gladly took it and stand up dusting myself. "Thanks" I started to say looking at my savior when suddenly a scream erupt from my lips. Standing in front of me was a man. His one hand was chopped off while his body was burned from all over the place. His eyes were fully white including the iris. What the hell! "Help me" he crooned raising his only hand towards me. I started backing away, adrenaline running in my body not feeling any pain.

"Get away" I stuttered.

"Help me" he crooned again like a broken record coming towards me. I turned around and ran in other direction but my legs gave away and I fell forward. I screamed in pain, this time getting blunt on my injured hand. Sweat running down from my forehead in fear and anxiety. I turn my head to left to see if he was there but he wasn't I turned right "Help me" he said in gloomy voice when I turned my head in right. I screamed seeing him this close, my eyes roll back to my head and all I saw was darkness.

I groaned feeling my head throbbing from the pain as well as my left hand. I opened my eyes and saw I was in the bed in my hospital room. How did I get here? Last time I remembered I passed out in the corridor. A shudder ran down my back remembering the man from last night. Maybe it was just a dream, a very vivid dream. I sighed in relief and lay there on bed taking few long breaths to release the tension. Nobody was in the room besides me. Where is Dad? Door to my room opened and Doctor Mathew came inside "Good you are awake" he smiled at me. I smiled a little. He is a sweet doctor. "How are you feeling?" he asked checking the IV and filling it with an injection. What's that? "It's to reduce the pain" he answered my unasked question. "My head and my left hand hurts" I answered his previous question. "Well, it will because you did fall on your hand" he said looking at me. When did I fell? "What!" I asked confused. "You were passed out in the corridor last night" he asked raising an eye brow. My eye widened in shock I thought it was just a dream. "What were you doing there in the first place?" he asked giving me tablet and a glass of water. I gulped it down without questioning taking as much time. What will I tell him that what I saw last night was real or figment of my imagination? I settled with half truth. "I went to get some water and I tripped over and injured my hand" I asked looking anywhere but him. "I guess I passed out because of the pain" I concluded. My fake story is acceptable I think. I can't tell him that I blacked out because of fear. "Well next time don't do anything like that" he said looking at me disappointed. I lowered my head. "You are lucky you didn't hurt yourself that bad" he said checking my left hand. I hissed in pain when he pressed a little. Then he started writing something in his file. "Can I ask you a question Doctor?" I said little nervous. He nodded his head. "Are there any patient with burned injury" I finally asked wanting to know if it was all too real. He looked at me confused. "Why?" he said in question tone. I shrugged acting nonchalant "Just curious, I thought I heard screams of pain" I added. He looked to be in thoughts. Then looked at me again "Well there was one, when you were in coma " he started, taking the vacant seat beside my bed. "He admitted that day. It was third degree burnt, his arm was dangling from his shoulder only connected with the flesh of thread" he continued. Bile rose in my throat. This was all real last night.

"What happened to him?" I stuttered knowing the answer fully well.

"He died last night at 11 0 clock" he confirmed my theory looking at my face for any reaction. I was sitting there frozen; he was dead when I met him. "Does he has any family?" I asked wanting to know about him as much as possible. He shook his head "This is undisclosed information" he said standing up from his seat. "Why are you asking all of this" he asked me furrowing his brow in confused manner. "Just wanted to know" I said monotone looking at him. He looked at me for a while then nodded his head "Get some rest" he said and made his way outside. I sighed, all this was real. I saw a dead man wanting to talk to me. What the hell is happening in my life? Am I going crazy.