Taken

[30] Guilt, Pain And Sadness

Justine

"J... can you hear me?" I hear Stoke's voice, but it sounds like I'm underwater. I try to move, but it's difficult.

"Justine?" I feel soft fingers on my skin and I twitch from it.

What the hell happened? Oh right, last time my eyes were open, I was being brutally choked by Guy.

I groan and soon voices around me start to sound more clearer.

"She's responding, she's about to wake up in a few seconds. Just be patient sir." An unfamiliar voice reassures Stoke and I hear him sigh lightly. When I finally do get the strength to open my eyes, everything's too bright. I close my eyes again and a deep voice chuckles.

"I got you." I feel darkness cast over me and open my eyes again to see a doctor standing by me with a clipboard and the lights off and curtains down. I groan and rub my neck.

"Stoke... where are we?" My voice sounds hoarse and he smiles weakly.

"The hospital." He glances at the doctor and I frown.

They're risking what they do to bring me to professionals?

Suddenly I look around the almost empty room and I blink rapidly as questions hit me.

Where's the other guys? X? Ool? Robb?

"Alright Ms. Justine, we don't have a last name for you. He said he found you beaten and raped brutally?" He looks away from his clipboard and I nod slowly, playing along. The doctor writes things down and he puts his pen down.

"Well, you lost a lot of blood and was starving and dehydrated. We had you on a feeding tube last night, but took you off this morning after your body was replenished. You had a cut on your arm, it was fairly sewed up, so we just put on a scar healing cream and a bandage over it. You also have a nasty bruise around your neck, must have been from your attacker. So I'll leave you two to talk, other than that, if you have any questions, just press the button for the nurse and she'll get me." He smiles and goes to walk out, but I sit up a bit.

"Wait! Uh, when can I leave?" I bite my lip and he smiles.

"We'd like to keep you for a couple of more hours, have you sign some release papers then you're free to go." He nods and leaves the room. I automatically glance at Stoke and pat the spot on the bed next to me. He grins and sits, throwing his arm around me.

"I'm glad you're okay, J. You're a tough ass girl." He kiss my head and I giggle.

"Thanks, I'm surprised I'm not dead." I shake my head a little and Stoke sighs.

"Yeah, me too." His brows furrow together and my heart throbs as he looks sad.

"What's wrong?" I look up at him and he shrugs.

"It's my fault that you and X got hurt in the first place. I fucked up." He runs a hand through his hair and I grab the one around me, rubbing it softly with my thumb.

"No Stoke, you thought Guy was going to kill someone and he probably would've if you hadn't acted so fast." I smile genuinely and he sighs.

"I guess." I breathe in deeply, preparing myself for the answer to the question I'm dying to know.

"Is X okay?" I bite my lip and feel Stoke stiffen beside me.

Oh no...

He sighs wearily and I look up at his face, wishing I didn't. His eyes look hurt and his face looks tense.

"We don't know..." His voice is low and pained. I push his arm off me and scoot back to see him fully.

"What the hell do you mean you don't know? Isn't he here in another room??" I frown, annoyed at his lack of information. He groans and rubs his face.