Chapter Six

I battle my way deeper into the woods, with every step that I would take further, the thicker the woods seemed to get around me. I suspected the woods would thin out soon and I’d be able to find a main road, from then it would be smooth sailing to finding a town to help me. But with every tree that I would pass, even more would appear ahead of me, it was as though this wood was never ending.

I begin to get lightheaded as I went, my body was begging me to turn around or even try to get some water, but I couldn’t hear any running water which would indicate a stream was somewhere close. My once fast and steady pace had turned into a slow stumbling motion, the tree roots, and the uneven ground below me not aiding my escape.

I had reached a huge oak tree but had to stop, the entire world was spinning so much I couldn’t tell what way I was to go. I place my hand onto the tree and look down at the ground, I hoped if I was able to stop for a few moments I would start to feel normal once again. But when I lifted up my head after a moment, the feeling had only gotten worse and was replaced with me feeling sick to my stomach instead.

Perhaps taking this stance and holding out on drinking wasn’t the best step forward, yes, I wanted to leave and go home so badly but was it worth this? In such a weird turn of events, the place I was running from and starving myself to leave, is all I can think about to help me.

I turn my spinning head in the direction of where the huge building I left stood, it was hard to make out due to the way I felt but also, the many trees that were obstructing my view. I decide I didn’t have any other choice but to head back to get help, once I feel better, I can make this trip again.

But when I went to take my first step, my legs buckled from under me, and I land on the floor in a heap. Due to that fast movement my head began to spin that much more as I lay there, I felt much too ill to even dwell on any type of fear that could erupt from this situation. Why must I always get myself into predicaments such as this?!

I lay on my back to face up at the sky, my body feeling so heavy as I lay there. My mind was doing the opposite and was attempting to produce ways to get me out of this mess, where I would only come back to one person each and every time, Asher. The man which I have been fighting to leave at every corner is the only one I can think about at a time like this. But what if he has found I’ve left and doesn’t have the energy to find me, what if I’ll be stuck out here forever?

“Asher.” I manage to say as though in some way he would be able to hear me, but with how quiet his name had left my lips and how deep I was in this thick would, I knew it was impossible for him or anyone else for that matter to hear me.

A rustling noise from beside me gets my attention, I slowly turn my head to side attempting to get a glance of what may be out there. But my eyes felt heavy and began to close on their own, which meant whatever was looming towards me had the upper hand. The noise continued to get closer and closer with every second which would pass, by the end I had nearly lost consciousness, but one sound did snap me out of that state for a moment.

“Mi amour.” I hear Asher’s worried voice say, my initial thought was I only imagined he’d be here due to how sick I felt and how much I was longing for him to find me.

But I soon feel hands being placed on my face gently, this action causes me to open up my eyes slightly where Asher, stood looking down at me with nothing but concern on his expression.

“Asher, you found me.” I mumble out looking him in the eyes, my own eyes still feeling as though weights were pulling down my eyelids.

Now he had found me, I knew deep down in my body he would protect me. In some sick twist of fate, the man which kidnapped me and caused me to fear for my life, was now the man I was entrusting to save my life. The way in which Asher looked down at me caused me to wonder if he did care, due to the circumstances I was in with my body shutting down, the part of brain which continued to tell me to fight this man at every turn was silent. Now I was watching this moment unfold I was shocked, does my kidnapper actually care?

“Immediately, after I learnt you were not in the room, I began my search for you.” He tells me moving my hair from my eyes so I could see him, as much as I could whilst forcing my eyes to stay open long enough.

“I don’t want to die.” I say snapping my eyes open quickly after they had fully closed, to find Asher shaking his head before picking me up in his arms and beginning to sprint through the woods.

“You’re not going to die mi amour, just stay with me.” He says taking a glance down at me for a spilt second, but as much as I wanted to do what he said, I couldn’t fight my eyes closing for any longer and I dropped unconscious in his arms.

I slowly begun to feel my body once again, it didn’t feel heavy or tired as like it did before I had passed out, but back to normal in a sense. My eyes were still closed as I came around, the slight ringing in my ears dying out allowing me to hear the other sounds around me. It was quiet but I could also hear muffled voices which were distorted enough so I couldn’t hear what was being said, but I knew one of them belonged to Asher.

My eyes finally open up which were blurry internally, but after a few short seconds the blurriness had also faded, and I was finally able to see where I was. I was a little confused at first, I seemed to be alone in the room which had white walls and various kinds of equipment scattered around. I than turn my attention down to myself and find that I was laying in a bed, my hands looked as though fresh bandages had been wrapped tightly to keep my cuts from trying to escape Asher the first time safe. My eyes move further up my arm where I see a kind of IV in my arm, which looked as though liquid was being pumped into my body with every second.

Realisation soon takes over my senses and I finally put it all together, Asher took me to the hospital after finding me. Normally, this factor would calm people down knowing they were somewhere which will enable them to get better. But for me, it only caused frightening memories to engulf my thoughts and panic to spread through my whole being.

I begin to hyperventilate slightly looking around the room for my escape route, but there was only one door leading deeper into the hospital and one closed window. I know if I were to walk though that door and aimlessly wonder around the hospital, someone will question me and most likely, take me right back to this room. The window as another option but with what appears to be a running theme here, I’ll suspect the window is locked! Not forgetting I have no idea what floor I’m on! But there was also one other thing stopping me from jumping out of bed, this tube-like thing hanging from my arm.

I was about to reach up and yank it from my skin, but the door opens and in walks Asher. At first, he looks over at me not registering that I had woken up, but after a second, his face lights up and he begins to walk over to me.

“You’re awake, how are you feeling?” He asks with a smile on his face, but once he got closer, he sensed my panicked expression and how jittery I was while still laying down. “What’s wrong, are you in pain?” He asks now worried that due to me not drinking or eating I’d hurt myself, but I shake my head throwing the blanket from my legs.

“No, I need to leave! I can’t stay in a hospital after last time!” I say attempting to jump out of bed and make a run for it, at this moment I didn’t care if I ran back to the room I had just escaped from, but I just didn’t want to be in this room for a single second longer.

“Mi amour, you have just woken up, you must stay in bed until you’re cleared by a doctor.” Asher tells me preventing me from leaving the bed like I was fully intending; his hands were on my sides pushing me slightly so I couldn’t get up.

“No! I cannot see a doctor, please I want to leave!” I plead with him tears building up in my eyes, I held his arms in attempts to make him release me so I could leave but I was no match for his strength.

I look down at the IV which was still in my arm which was also another factor preventing me from my escape, I was about to pull it out but as though Asher, knew what I was planning he takes my hand and pulls it away.

“A doctor will need to take that out mi amour, it’s much too dangerous for you to do it yourself.” He tells me but I fully shake my head tears rolling down my cheeks at rapid speeds, the thought of any doctor touching me again caused even more fear to pulse through my body.

“Please no doctor! The last time I trusted one- “I begin to say before the door opens and a man walks in, instantly, I knew this was a doctor which only caused even more panic to set in and I frantically, attempt to get further away from him. “Please stay away from me, Asher don’t let him hurt me!” I cry looking at the doctor with fear before staring at Asher, who looked confused but also, worried at what the heck was happening.

“Whats happening?!” Asher asks still having to hold me back from attempting to pull the IV from my arm, he turns his attention to the doctor who I could see was also trying to asses what was happening with me.

“It seems as though the Luna is experiencing some kind of panic attack.” The doctor says getting further into the room, this alone causing me to freak out more which did make the man stop in his tracks. “It may be due to an experience with doctors in the past, I will leave for her to calm down but sir, that IV must stay in until all the solution has been able to get into her body, her body is still dehydrated.” The doctors say turning to look at Asher now, slowly backing up to the door with both of his arms out to show me he wasn’t going to hurt me, but I still couldn’t trust him.

Asher nods his head telling the doctor he understood before turning to me, but I was much too terrified and wanted nothing more than to leave this place.

“You’re safe here mi amour, I will never let anybody harm you I promise.” Asher says still holding both of my arms as the doctor leaves, that action calming me down a little bit I was still terrified.

“I want to go home Asher please; I can’t stay here!” I cry holding so tightly onto his arms while staring in his eyes, where I could see, he was trying to hide how worried he was.

“You can leave as soon as you’re cleared, take some deep breaths in, and calm down. You’re okay.” He tells me placing his hands on either side of my face, the sparks I previously felt making an appearance and in some odd way, was helping me to calm down. “You’re safe with me mi amour, if anybody dare lay their hands on you, they will never get the chance to touch anything else.” He says in a growl sort of tone, but now I was looking into his eyes I was slowly starting to fully calm down.

“Please don’t leave me.” I beg him which was a total switch to how I acted around him before, but in this moment, I never wanted him to ever let me go.

“I’m right here.” He smiles before pulling me in for a hug where my head lay on his chest, the sound of his heartbeat was helping me that much more to calm down.