Bound to Break

Chapter 68

~Nina POV~

Shuffles. Dry, against the floor.

Almost as dry as my mouth. In which the taste of medicine was bitter, and like a dream that you never dreamt.

My entire body hurt. Ached. Throbbed.

Faraway sounds muffled in my ears like I lay in a body of water. I didn't know where I was, or if I was even alive.

Until my eyes shot open. The first thing I realised was that I wasn't dead. I wasn't surrounded by fire either. The room was grey. Oxygen was being pumped into my mouth, and my body was so sore I groaned.

It was like I'd been thrown off of a building. Like every joint was diseased and rotting, or like I was covered in bruises.

I frowned at the blanket on me, and through a drugged, hazy state of mind I kicked it off.

A man jumped in front of me and removed it. "Careful. You'll hurt yourself."

Elmo sat down again, and I turned my eyes towards him as if I'd never seen him before. He ran a palm over his mouth and leaned his elbows on his knees, looking unrecognisable with his red eyes and sunken cheeks.

I lifted my arm up, gasping when I realised I was hooked up to an IV. How irritating. And what was the need for this gas mask?

My lips parted to ask about it, but when I did my throat hurt so much I gave up. And I lay there.

In a confused daze, staring at a dull white ceiling. My eyelids were heavy, but I fought hard to stay awake. Every now and then I'd almost fall asleep again but I'd widen my eyes.

It was only when I gained more consciousness, and the sound around me grew clearer had I realised this wasn't a dream.

This was real, everything was. My toes against the rough, dry blanket. The beeping of the machine next to me. That emptiness in my chest, deep and saddening. I was in a hospital. Alone.

I sat up like lightning. "Luciano." I rasped, holding my throat. I tried talking again but couldn't with this mask so I ripped it off. "Please."

Elmo's voice was hoarse and cold. "Go back to sleep."

"Bring him here." I demanded. When he didn't reply, I grew even more impatient. How could they put Luciano in a separate room from me?

"Get me Luciano!" I burst, squeezing my eyes closed when I realised how much it burned inside my throat. The more Elmo remained silent, the more my alarm grew. "You better bring his ass here right now Elmo!"

I started getting off of the bed, noticing the faded burns on my arms. When I grabbed my IV stand and started walking, Elmo rushed towards me. "Go back to your bed Nina. Please. We're going home in a few hours."

I ignored him and slowly limped towards the door, making him step in front of me. "Nina-"

"I need to see him." I replied, and glanced down at the dark patches on my arms, which made me wonder. "How long have I been asleep for?"

Elmo held my shoulder to stop me from going further. "2 months."

2 months.

Staring at the vinyl flooring, my eyes started to water. "No."

He tightened his hand on my shoulder and I met his eyes. I didn't know what was going on, but I couldn't have been gone for that long.

"You were put in a coma." He clarified.

I started to shake my head, my brows growing heavy with disbelief. "No. No!"

"Hey." He held the both of my shoulders. "You're in shock."