AUTHORS NOTE:
THIS BOOK IS UNDER MAJOR EDITING AT THE MOMENT. YOU MIGHT GET SLIGHTLY CONFUSED BUT I HOPE TO BE DONE SOON. FINALS ARE COMING UP,SO IT MIGHT TAKE LONGER THAN I HOPE.
THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING
-ROBIN
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My parents came in a few minutes later with the two doctors from before. My brothers had left the room so they would be able to tell me what exactly was going on. Nothing really made any sense. I felt great, and while I'm not at all complaining, I know that it wasn't natural. Nobody in the real world wakes up from being in a coma for three days, feeling as great as I was. In fact, I felt better than I ever did before, ready to jump out of bed and do something, like run a marathon.
The doctors used some very fancy medical terms that I didn't really understand, so they simplified it for me.
"We're going to have to monitor you for a few days before you go home. Just to make sure no complications come up.''
Considering, well, everything it sounded pretty fair.
"So I'll be able to go home soon?"
He laughed, "Ava, this is a hospital, not a prison. As soon as you're cleared you'll be able to go home."
I leaned back on the pillows, "Thanks." I said, and they left.
My mom squeezed my hand, "You're going to be just fine."
"I know," I said.
There was a knock on the glass and a man dressed in a suit walked in.
It was the detective from the night I was attacked. I tensed up, the memories flooding back. The horrible feeling of being shoved to the ground and kicked in the gut repeatedly came back. My heart started beating faster and suddenly I wasn't in the hospital anymore.
I was back on 7th Avenue, running for my life. I could feel myself trying to fight back as I kicked him. I could feel his icy cold fingers on my mouth,muffling my cries for help. I could also sense things clearer now. Like the smell of sewage, or his panting as he punched me. Also One more thing that seemed weird, and worth mentioning to the police.
"Ava I'm detective Russel, do you remember me?" He said knocking me out of my thoughts.
I nodded "Yeah. Sorry I passed out on you before."
He smiled and said, "Don't worry about it. I came to ask you a few questions, do you think you'll be able to answer them?"
"Yeah sure. Anything you need to catch this guy."
"And we will." He looked at my parents,"Would it be okay if I spoke to Ava alone? I promise it won't be long."
"No," My mom said quickly."She's been through too much alone already. I won't leave her."
He nodded his understanding and started to ask me questions.
"Can you tell me where you were coming from the night of the attack?"
"I was on my way to the train after work."
"At 11:30?" He asked suspiciously.
"Yes," I said not fazed by his tone. "My co-worker couldn't come in that day so my boss asked if I could stay later."
"You worked at a music store didn't you?"
"Yeah, The Soundtrack of Our Lives."
"Catchy name. What was your relationship with Nick?"
"Nick? Why are you asking me about him? We work together, he's a nice guy."
"Nick is the only person we interviewed that didn't have a reliable alibi."
I felt my mom tense up behind me, "I knew I shouldn't have let you work there. Such a terrible neighborhood, and that boy. With all those tattoos and piercings.. This is all my fault." She buried her head in my dads shoulder.
"Shh Karen, no it's not."
"Mom, it's not your fault. And Detective Russel, I don't know why his alibi didn't check out, but it couldn't have been him."
"And why is that?" He asked
"Because the man who attacked me was tall, well over 6 ft. Nick is short, you met him, you saw."
"Can you tell me anything else about him?"
"The person who came after me? He was wearing all black clothing, and a black hood over his face. He was white, and really fast."
"Fast? Can you explain?"
I nodded and swallowed the knot that formed, "He chased me down 4 blocks after I kicked him in the face. And strong, he pushed me down to the ground as if I weighed nothing, after he started beating me like I was a boxing bag. I tried to fight back, I really did."
A small crying sound came out of my mom and my dad took her outside of the room.
"I know you did, is there anything else you remember? Every detail is important, no matter how seemingly small."
I took a deep breath and told him everything I remembered from that night.
I told him the way his hands wouldn't leave my body. The way he wasn't looking for anything other than a good toy to beat until it's broken. I told him how he bit my neck like I was a piece of a meat.
He sat in the chair speechless, "I'm so sorry, nobody deserves to go through that. The boy who brought you home, Hunter I think, other than being extremely worried, he gave us a name for the attacker."
"Yeah, he gave it to me too."
"Have you ever met Mike before?''
I remembered the party a few weeks ago and how he looked at me like I was his pray.
"I did. I remember thinking he was a little creepy and pervy. Could it be him?"
"So far he's our best lead. We will do everything in our power to get this scumbag, I promise." He said and got up to leave.
"Wait, I remember one more thing." I said
"What is it?"
"I don't know if I was hallucinating or if it really happened.. But I could've sworn I heard him cry and say 'I'm sorry' before I blacked out."
"He cried and apologized?"
"I know it makes no sense, but I really think he did."
"This'll help us a lot Ava. Have a quick recovery, we will keep you updated on the investigation."
"Thank you." I said and he got up to leave.
My Dad came in right after; "Sorry you had to witness that kid. Your mom is just.." He said shaking his head,"she's just extremely worried."
I sighed, "I know. I just wish everyone would stop blaming themselves."
He nodded and stayed quite,like he was thinking about something. I noticed his worry lines seemed deeper, and the bags under his eyes were....even deeper. Then suddenly his eyes got bright and he said, "Hey, what do you think about another visitor? Or are you not up for it?"
And even though it made no sense, I felt better than I ever did before. I felt great, like I could run a marathon without breaking a sweat. Maybe it was whatever drugs they had me on....
I smiled at my father, "I would love a surprise visitor."
"Great, I'll be right back." He said and then left.
Not even a minute later I saw him running to my room through the glass doors.
Tyler. My best friend since before I could remember.
He didn't even say anything when he walked in, just came right to me and hugged me so hard, I thanked god that I had oxygen running through my nostrils before I could pass out.
"I- I tried to see you before. But they said only family. God Ava, you scared me so bad. I'm sorry, I'm babbling. How you feeling? Scratch that, it was a stupid question. You just came out of a coma, what was I expecting you to say? 'I feel just peachy.' Oh wow, what the heck is wrong with my mouth? It doesn't stop with the words. They just keep on coming. Look they won't sto-"
"TYLER." I said laughing
He smiled his goofy smile at me, "Sorry. You just really scared me."
"Sorry about that. Don't worry though Ty, I actually do feel 'just peachy'."
He laughed, "Yeah right.
"I'm serious, I really do feel fine."
"Good. I'm telling you Ava, you can't just go around getting into comas and scaring the crap out of me like that. I just..I thought," His voice got small and he looked at his hands as he said, "After my mom-"
"Tyler, don't. I'm not your mother."
His eyes looked sad and heavy, and it took him a moment until he finally looked at me. My own eyes were filling with tears and I quickly wiped them away. I missed Mrs Hemmings, we all did. She was the life of every party, the smile that you knew would always be there. I still couldn't believe she was gone.
"I know."He said
"So..how's the gang? You and Dani still together right?I didn't miss some crazy dramatic breakup?"
He smiled, his eyes lighting up at the mention of my long time friend (and his even longer time girlfriend), "Nope, still going strong."
Just as he said that the door swung open and,Max, Callie, and Dani came in holding more balloons. After they each gave me a bone crushing hug I laughed and said, "I feel like that old guy from Up."
"How are you feeling?Oh baby, I can't even imagine everything you've been through." Dani said to me
I sighed and opened my mouth to answer her,when something weird happened.
I must be going crazy.
This can't actually be happening.
All of my friends, and doctors roaming the halls, even things that were dropped, they were all frozen. Completely frozen in time.