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Beep.
Ugh.
"Eve? Guys!" I groan at the onslaught of pounding the shout brings to my battered brain. "Guys, she's awake!"
It's too bright, and loud...those are the only thoughts I'm capable of at the moment besides the throbbing of my entire body.
"Come on, open your eyes, love." I know that voice, even if it's caked in emotion. His usual broodiness is replaced with barely concealed anxiety. Koko. A shiver rolls down my spine at his rumbly vocals. I don't listen to him, though. If anything, I squeeze my eyes shut even tighter. "Dim the lights."
The burning in my eyes suddenly lessens; the world around me is reasonably lit now. I release a sigh at having one pain taken care of, only for a harsh twinge in my stomach to peel another soft cry from my dry lips.
"Get the nurse!"
Mmm, I know that voice. It wraps around me like a cotton blanket on a rainy day, begging me to soften and drift off into a trance of coziness. Amiri. My scratchy throat constricts at the concept of safety.
I hope this is real.
Soft murmuring filters through my pain-addled brain that's trying to make sense of what life has in store for me now. The beeping and heavy limbs are reminiscent of the first time I escaped. Is this just another memory? No. The guys weren't here the last time I found myself in a hospital bed.
Is this real?
I feel like I've been trapped in my own head for so long, getting ripped from one memory to another nightmare and into a confusing alternate universe. I don't know what's up or down...right or left.
Warmth seeps into my aching bones, bruised organs, and aching muscles; all the pain fades into a dull ache, allowing me to relax into the softness underneath me.
"Fire?"
Just as I begin to drift off into a sea of blissful nothingness, the sound of Noly calling out to me gives me one last burst of strength to open my eyes. Whether it's to reassure myself that this might be real or to soothe my best friend, I don't know.
Peeling my eyes open, I'm met with a rush of shuffling feet and subtle gasps of praise. Brown curls, sparkling eyes framed by dirty glasses, and a bright smile stun my tired eyes. I notice the subtle shake of his shoulders before I flick my eyes to the head of shaggy blonde hair hanging onto him.
Ryan's eyes are rimmed with purple and red, his cheeks a bit too gaunt to be healthy. His parted lips, stained with tears, have me settling further into the bed...he's with me, too.
My vision wavers and blurs enough that I'm sure my words would be slurred if I tried to speak. A gentle caress on the inside of my right wrist draws my attention to the imposing figures on my other side.
Framed by a curtained window, Amiri places a kiss on the back of my hand while dropping into a crouch beside me. Koko hovers above him, protecting his family even as his lip quivers, drinking me in from afar.
"Hi, little fighter..." Kor whispers, his astonished tone making my insides sing with solace at the wonderful scene before me.
I fight the droop my eyelids plead for and muster up one final look at all of my guys. "I love you," my words are barely a croaked whisper, ones that I'm not even sure I could hear as I drift away into the darkness of slumber.
Echoes of I love you’s, and hushed cries tumble down with me into the confines of my mind...I just hope I will see them again.
I hope that if I wake up, they will all be there. I hope I won't wake up in a fresh new kind of hell. I hope I will have the strength to open my eyes again and live the life I've always wanted.
I hope for one more chance at life.
Chapter 21
Evelyn
The murmur of voices rouses me from the recesses of unconsciousness. Ryan's words finally register in my sleepy state before I can even crack open my eyes.
"When we get home, I want to have Christmas. I know we missed it, and Eve might not be up for it, but she deserves a goddamn cheesy holiday with all the gifts and food we can get."
I missed Christmas.
"I agree. Good thing we didn't get a real tree this year. Everything is as we left it, so we can celebrate whenever she wants."
