Twenty

My head throbbed like a drumbeat, and it felt like a ton of bricks was pressing down on my chest. A cacophony of shouts and screams filled my ears, but they sounded muffled, like I was underwater. I tried to open my eyes, but they felt heavy, like lead.

I didn’t know how long I lay there, but the next thing I knew, strong arms were scooping me up. I could feel myself being carried, the rough concrete beneath me jarring my already pounding head.

A face hovered above me, blurry and indistinct. But I could make out the shape of Arthur’s panicked expression, his eyes wide with fear. Then, darkness enveloped me once again.

When I came to, I was bathed in the sterile white glow of a hospital room. The beeping of machines filled the air, a constant reminder of my predicament. My head still throbbed, but the pain was bearable now.

I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my shoulder, making me wince. I looked down and saw a bandage covering my shoulder.

“Easy,” a voice said softly. I