Alex’s POV –
“No! Ariana!” I scream as I watch her being dragged away, her beautiful face crumpled up with fear and confusion. I lunge forward to try and save her but the pain travelling throughout my entire body restricts me to a certain place. I can feel my head throbbing, the sound of the crash echoing inside my mind. I don’t dare close my eyes as I try to catch a glimpse of her captor.
“Ariana!” I scream as she finally disappears from my vision. Frustration, anger and sadness hit me all at once and I lash out, hissing from the sudden movement in my body. Tears fill my eyes and I turn to look at the empty space she was sat in mere moments ago.
“I love you too.” I whisper, squeezing my eyes shut tightly. I block out the noise of the car, I block out Caleb’s panicked cries and the sound of the sirens in the distance because it’s too late.
She’s already gone.
*****
The steady beeps of a hospital machine is the first thing I hear. The ringing inside my head has intensified, feeling like I have a trapped mariachi band playing inside my brain. I let out a small groan, stirring in my semi-conscious state.
“Alejandro?” Papa’s voice calls out, his hand snaking in mine. I let out another groan of confirmation, letting him know I can hear him. The warmth of his hand reminds me of Ariana and I feel my heart swell in love for her.
That’s when I remember. . .
Hands pulling her out of the wrecked car. Her panicked screams and the way her large eyes connected with mine before she was dragged away.
“No! Ariana! Where is she?” I yell out, trying to sit up straight. Multiple wires and drips are hooked up to me and whenev-er I attempt to open my eyes, blurred objects greet me. I make out the faint outline of Papa looking down at me, his face twisting with confusion.
“Ariana? The girl from months ago? No hijo, she isn’t here.” Papa attempts to re-assure me and I shake my head, growing desperate.
“Papa, we were hit on purpose.” I choke out, my throat drying out considerably. I start wheezing, coughing as it becomes difficult to breathe. Papa worriedly hands me a mask and I clutch it, bringing it up to my mouth. I inhale deeply before removing the mask, searching his eyes.
“Ariana, the girl — ” I start before applying the mask back to my face and inhaling again. The oxygen begins to fill my lungs and the invisible hand wrapped around them begins to loosen. I remove the mask.
“She was in the car.” I explain, my vision blurring out again. I’m drifting in and out of consciousness but I need Papa to know this. I need him doing everything he can to find her.
“I love her Papa! They t-took her.” I wheeze, finally slumping back in my pillows and closing my eyes. The beeping sound intensifies until it’s the only sound I can hear and I let out small noises of discomfort.
“They took her,” I whisper, praying that he can hear me. I finally close my eyes, the urge too strong for me to fight against.
*****
A thick black fog engulfs me, drifting me in and out of reality. I don’t hear or see anything despite how much I try to open my eyes and listen out for a sound. Occasionally I feel the slightest touch in my right hand, a small tug on the drips em-bedded into my hand.
Where am I again?
I try to open my mouth and groan out loud in pain but I can’t. Instead, I allow myself to drift away into the grey clouds, speckles of pink sunlight streaming through my closed eyelids. The grey clouds remind me of large innocent eyes. The pink sunlight brings back memories of pressing my lips against soft heavenly clouds, sinking into the sheer beauty.
Ariana.
“No,” I choke out, prying my eyes open. I’m struggling to breathe, a thick pipe lodged down my throat. My eyes widen in fear but quickly shut again as a bright light is shone directly in them. It causes a yellow glow to cover the inside of my eye-lids and I try to reach out with my hand for something, anything.
“It’s okay Alex, you’re in a hospital.” The voice is firm, authoritative. It reminds me of a doctor, someone who’s role is to look after me. I relax slightly and suddenly remember the reason why I forced myself to waken. Ariana.
Again, I try to lift my hand to catch someone’s attention. I need to notify someone that she’s been taken away from me. The frustration of not being able to sit up and look for her myself continues to grow inside of me.
“We’re going to remove the pipe now Alex, just remain relaxed.” The voice says firmly but my unconscious state doesn’t register the words. I can feel the beginnings of myself darkening out completely but I try to fight against it. The pain is in-vading all of my body, burning my muscles and especially my throat. I want to scream at them to stop and leave me alone but I can’t utter a single word.
Eventually, I can breathe again.
It feels so good to be able to feel my lungs inhale and exhale the oxygen circulating around my body. I try to open my eyes again and this time, succeed. Through my blurred vision, I make out a dark mop of hair, a silhouette sat to my right.
“Hey man.” Caleb says quietly, his hand finding mine. I clutch onto him tightly, my hearing slowly coming back to me.
“Y-you okay?” I wheeze, turning my head to try and get a good look of him. The pounding inside my head intensifies and I squeeze my eyes shut firmly, letting out a small groan.
“I’m fine man. A few scratches and a broken arm but other than that, I’m a lucky bastard. Can’t say the same for you though, you’ve seen better days.” He says, his voice hoarse.
“Nikki?” I murmur, my throat drying out the more I try to talk. A silence falls upon us and I push down the lump in my throat, looking back at Caleb. His eyes are drawn in, detached. He suddenly clears his throat, standing up and walking out of my vision. I can still hear him shuffling around the room and the pouring of water fills the air. When he walks back over to me, he’s holding a styrofoam cup.
“Here, have some of this.” He says quietly, tilting the cup towards my mouth. I drink it hungrily, not caring in the slightest when droplets fall down my chin.
“Nikki, is she okay?” I ask with a little more ease. The water was a god-send and I feel slightly more human now. Beside me, Caleb inhales sharply, his eyes darkening.
“She’s in ICU Alex. She has been the past week, just like you have.”
It takes a while for me to process the information.
“A week?” I respond, my features twisted up in confusion. Caleb nods slowly, unable to make eye contact with me. My heart drops to the pit of my stomach and I can feel my hands beginning to tremble by my sides.
“A w-week. I’ve been in there for a week.” I repeat over and over again, my voice a quiet whisper. Caleb nods his head, dark strands falling over into his forehead and eyes.
“Yeah, you were released from there this morning. Nikki’s still in there, it’s a horrible place.”
His voice sounds haunted, pained. I close my eyes, registering the information.
“It’s been a week since the crash?” I comment, noticing the scratches covering his face and the bandage holding up his right arm. Caleb nods again grimly, his mouth set in a straight line. I shake my head, unable to believe him.
“No, no, what about Ari – ”
“Ariana?” Caleb says, cutting me off. He looks up and directly at me, his eyes holding my stare. I nod my head, desperate-ly searching his face for any news regarding her safety or whereabouts. His eyes fill with remorse, jaw clenched tightly as he finally tears his eyes off mine, glancing at the floor.
“I’m sorry man. She’s still missing.”