Finding Her

E P I L O G U E

Paralyzed

V A L E R I U S ' P O V :

My body feels completely paralyzed.

Black surrounds my vision. A soft beeping sound starts deepen in sound. Déjà vu suddenly strikes me. I try to move but I can't tell if I am. Everything feels foggy.

Annoyance picks through me. I think it takes me a solid ten minutes to peel my eyes open and adjust them to the bright light in the room.

I want to groan but I can't for a moment. I know exactly where I am.

"Holy shit!" I hear someone stutter from beside me. "Val!? Val a-are you awake!?" Their voice is frantic.

Suddenly, a figure of my brother is standing above me. Tears bellow in his eyes, his mouth is open wide in shock. Savino. Yet, he looks different.

Oh God. Why is he crying?

I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out at first. Savino mumbles something about water and I can't move to watch him get something from the other side of the room.

My eyes droop and adjust to the empty hospital room with nothing but a black duffel bag on the ground.

My eyes find my legs under the covers then my hands that lay outside of it. My eyes catches the sight of a string bracelet tied around my wrist.

White, purple and pink.

It takes a good second for my brain to register why I recognize it.

Ellie.

Where's Ellie? Nothing comes out of my mouth when I try to ask him. No words. Savino tells me to drink my water.

He helps me sip it much to my displeasure. When I can make words out, I do.

"Where's Ellie?" My voice is raspy, barely audible.

Savino looks stuck on words. His eyes hold a deep sorrow.

"W-What do you remember Val?"

I close my eyes, trying to let everything come back to me. It takes awhile before I can recall anything at all.

"Guns." I take another sip of water. I close my eyes, forcing myself to remember. "Mamma.. she took me and gave..," I'm interrupted by my own coughing. "Ellie— they have Ellie!"

Where is my girl?

"I'm going to go get Carlo. He's should check you out before we talk anymore."

Savino goes to leave but I take his hand so he stays.

I've always been able to read Savino easily. He's not very good at hiding what he's thinking. I can see his worry, it's radiating straight off of him.

"She's scared, Sav." I take heavy breaths to maintain my airflow. "Let me see my baby."

Savino just stares at me like I'm crazy. He opens and closes his mouth before speaking. He's completely hung up on words. Tears flood his eyes.

"Val.. do you know how long it's been? Do you remember anything about being with mamma?"  He stutters out. His stutter gets worse when he's nervous. Why is he nervous?

How long it's been? What is he on about?

I shake my head no. I feel my heart pump all the way to my rib cage, thumping.

"Is she with papà? Bring her here." I demand but Savino doesn't move. He's starting to annoy me.

Something passes through his eyes. He waits a moment before speaking.