Ash

I wake up back in the cell and confused as hell. Hey, that rhymes. Get it together Ash, you are kidnapped, it's no time for jokes. I shake the thought from my head and think back to my dream. What was that orange glow?

I make a move to sit up from my position on the ground but I instantly regret moving. My head feels like it weighs a ton and I have a massive headache. I have a hard time drawing in a normal breath due to the pain in my ribs. They are probably broken.

I hear the door of the cell open but I can't move to see who it is. I just hope that they aren't here to hurt me again.

"What the fuck? You should be healed by now," I hear Malakai growl. "Damn it, I was wrong."

Wrong? Does he mean that he got the wrong person because if so then I totally agree. Maybe he will let me out now.

"Damien!" Kai shouts causing me to whimper in pain due to my headache. A hear the faint footsteps of another person approach the cell.

"What is it Kai?" The new man speaks.

"We have the wrong person. I need you to go drop her off somewhere," Kai orders.

"Okay, anywhere in mind?"

"No man's land," Kai replies with an evil tone.

One person comes towards me while the other leaves. I am picked up and throw over a shoulder causing me to scream in pain before my ribs keep me from making any noises since I can barely breathe.

"Shut up," a man groans as he begins to walk with me over his shoulder. Tears are steaming freely down my cheeks but I can't make any noises higher than a whisper.

After we are walking through the forest for a while, probably about ten minutes, I am moved off the man's shoulder. He just lets my body fall to the ground and I almost pass out once again. I struggle to stay awake and possibly get out of here.

"Have fun rotting out here. I hope the wilds tear you apart slowly."

The wilds? What does that mean? Oh no, I am not going to make it out of this, am I? The man shifts into a blonde wolf and runs back in the direction we came from. It looks like there won't be daylight for much longer. I have to do something if I am going to survive.

I force myself to roll over to my stomach and lift myself up to my knees while I silently scream in agony. I take a moment to take a few shallow breaths before slowly standing to my feet. I immediately feel dizzy and see black spots throughout my field of vision. I stumble into a nearby tree. It keeps me standing but my head is pounding.

As I walk, if you can even call it walking, I continue swaying from tree to tree. I go in the opposite direction as the man left in. The sun is setting and I here a howl in the distance. It is coming from my right. I try moving faster but with no prevail. I stumble and hit my head off a tree root causing me to fall unconscious.

"Hey, hey are you alive?" I hear someone whisper. I groan in response.

"Help! I need some help over here!" I hear someone yell which I want to smack them for because the throbbing turns back into pounding in my head. "It's going to be alright, I am going to get you to a hospital."

All I can do is groan again. I can't seem to form any words. I hear footsteps approach and I fear it is those...werewolves again. I can hear that faint sound of sirens in the distance that give me some hope. I have come this far and I am not giving up anytime soon. I feel someone touch my shoulder lightly to which I flinch but I regret moving instantly.

"My name is Lina, I am a paramedic. We are going to get you to a hospital but we need to roll you over to a backboard, okay?"

I just blink slowly to try to show I understand and I prepare myself for the pain. I feel the medics lift my one shoulder and roll me over to a hard board. I groan in pain as they do so. Once they stop moving me, I try to take a deep breath but freeze up immediately when a searing pain radiates through my chest. I take many shallow breaths to try to sooth the pain. I feel the medics try to bandage up my wounds but I have trouble keeping my eyes open any longer.

"No, she's crashing," I hear before I pass out.

***

I feel myself on a soft bed and it is dark wherever I am. I try to pry open my eyes which actually works after a few tries. I look around the room as my eyes adjust to the dim lighting. I can now hear the steady beat of the heart monitor and I see some tubes hooked up to my arm. How did I get here?

Kai. Woods. The Wilds. Help. Paramedics. Pain. Agony.

Right. Someone must have found me and called the paramedics to come help. I don't feel like I am in much pain anymore which is a relief. I don't actually see any bandaging on me. How long have I been here for?

The door to the hospital room opens and a doctor comes in who looks surprised to see me awake.

"Asherah, you are awake."

I nod my head slightly in response.

"Do you want me to grab your dad? He just came to visit you," she smiles.

"Y-yes," I croak due to my dry throat.

The doctor nods and leaves the room. When she comes back, she has a cup of water and John rushes in, immediately holding my hand.

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe you are awake. We thought we lost you. How are you feeling honey?"

"I.." my voice sounds scratchy and the doctor hands me the water. I drink it slowly and when I finish I begin talking again. "I feel fine. What happened?"

I look curiously at John and then the doctor. They both look at me with the same expression. Sorrow and empathy. My expression turns fearful as I await an answer.

"When you got to the hospital, you were in bad shape. The paramedics has to resuscitate you twice on the way to the nearest hospital. Once you got there, they airlifted you to the nearest trauma centre which is where you are now. We kept loosing you but thankfully the doctors were able to get you back every time. No one knew if you would ever wake up again."

"How long has it been since the incident?" I ask, weary of the answer.

"Honey, it's been a year."

I look at John like he has two...no four heads. I have been in a coma for a year? I feel overwhelmed and I don't know what to do so I just cry. I let out all of my feelings. John gives me a fatherly hug which I gladly accept. Once I calm down, I turn to the doctor.

"When can I go home?"

"We have to run some tests to see how your muscles are doing. You will most likely need physiotherapist here at the hospital first."

I nod and the doctor leaves to get another person to do the tests.

"What happened?" John asks the dreaded question. What do I say? I can't tell him the truth or else I will be put in the looney bin.

"I was attacked at the party by someone and they took be deeper into the woods where they beat me. I managed to stumble away after they left and I woke up. I tripped and then pass out. Next thing I know, the medics were there and another guy."

"I am so sorry sweetie. Hopefully we can get you home soon and you can see Cress. She has been so worried about you."

I nod my head and I see a man walk into the room.

"Hello Asherah, my name is Dr. Harsaw and I am a doctor who specializes in muscles. I am going to take a look. Is that alright with you?"

"Of course and please call me Ash."

"Okay Ash."

He moves closer to the bed and seems to be careful with every move he makes around me. What's going on?

"Can you point your toes and flex them?"

I do as he says and he write something down on a sheet of paper.

"Now bend your knees," and I do so. "Lift your legs one at a time." I once again do what he asks.

"Great. Now bend your elbows. Raise your arms one at a time. Sit up. Swing your legs over the side of the bed."

I follow all of his commands and he looks very shocked that I can do all of this. He then asks me to try standing and I do. I stand up and other than my legs having pins and needles from laying down for so long, I feel fine.

"This is outstanding. I have never seen a patient come out of a coma and do all of this. You are a medical mystery. I feel confident in letting you go home if you can walk out the the front desk and back by yourself."

I smile and I begin walking towards my door. I walk threw it and down the hall.