Page 82 of Misery and Ecstasy

“There you are,” a woman I’ve never seen before looks down at me with kind eyes.

She and another woman are hovering over me.

Moving hurriedly, one of them shines a light in my eyes while the other squeezes my arm painfully.

What are they doing to me?

I try to sit up, but again, something keeps me from being able to.

“Don’t try to move, okay? Can you tell me your name?”

“M-Mc-Kinsey.” I barely recognize my raspy voice when it hits my ears.

“Nice to meet you, McKinsey. My name is Mel, and this is Rachel. We’re going to help you, okay?”

I look between them as best I can.

“Can you tell me your address?”

Closing my eyes, I rack my brain for the answer. I know this. I can see the numbers on my house in my mind. I can visualize the name of my street on the sign on the corner. Finally, my brain and my mouth sync, and I’m able to answer.

“Bux-ton. 6-8-4 Buxton.”

“Excellent. We’ll be at the hospital in a few minutes, okay? In the meantime, can you tell us what happened?”

Hospital?

That’s when everything finally clicks. I’m in an ambulance. But why?

“I…” I think back to the last thing I remember. Draven was begging me to go to the hospital. And then Olivia was there. They were arguing. “I got dizzy, and … then… I-I don’t know.”

“Okay, no worries. When we get to the hospital they’ll get you all checked out. Try to get you some answers.”

Mel turns to speak to Rachel. They mutter a series of numbers and acronyms to one another that mean nothing to me.

“Woah.” Rachel gazes out the window at the back of the ambulance. “That guy needs to give us some more room back there.”

Mel looks out the back before cocking her eyebrow in irritation. Draven, no doubt, is tailgating us, wanting to stay close. I’m shocked he hasn’t sped past the ambulance so he can be at the hospital and out of his car to meet me when we get there.

“There was a man and a woman at your house. Do you know who they are?”

“Dr-Draven. And Olivia.”

“They’re following behind us in their car. We told them to check in with the desk when they get there and wait until you’re placed in a room before they come back. But the doctors and nurses will do their best to reunite you with them as soon as they can.”

I don’t answer, too exhausted to speak the rest of the ride.

The moment I’m wheeled into the ER, a team of doctors and nurses descend on me. The paramedics rattle off all sorts of information before transferring me into their care.

“Two rooms are being cleaned right now, so we’ll have one ready soon. Just park her—” One of the nurses begins, but she’s cut off by someone I recognize as they step into my line of sight.

“Wait…” Dr. Bennett grabs onto the stretcher, stopping the team from wheeling me any farther. “I recognize her.”

One of the nurses steps aside, letting Dr. Bennett move in closer to me.

“You were in last week. With a migraine?”

When I carefully nod, he turns to speak to Mel. “What’s going on with her?”

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