"Let me see my daughter!"
The frantic voice drew me out of my subconscious for a little. Red spots swarmed the bright white field that was my vision as I tried to find the source of the voice.
"Sir, please! She's in bad shape, you shouldn't see her like this."
âLet me see my daughter!â
Father?
âNo.â
âWhat?â
âYou really shouldnât see her right now.â
âLet me see her!â
Bright light spilled into my field of vision for a moment and a human shape blocked some.
âTawny...â the annoyed tone turned concerned and then gave out. âWhat...what happened?â
âIt appears that she was tortured for information, sir.â
âDo...do we know if she...if she broke?â
âShe is a Marked, sir. Even if she gave up that information for a temporary reprieve, we must assume she did.â
Everything faded to black.
***
I cracked my eyes open in a dark room. My entire body throbbed as I struggled to open my eyes. I could just make out a few walls, mostly barren, barring a cross across from me and a small window. This is different from the cell.
Am I dead?
Did I die in that torture chamber?
I felt something soft but firm below my back and I was warm. A warm bundle swathed my entire body except my arms. I lifted my head enough to see my arms and a tube running into my arm. I followed the tube to a small bag hanging from a clearly makeshift hook suspended above me.
Hospital?
This doesnât look like a hospital.
Then the pressure on my hand became noticable. Looking past the tube, I saw a figure with...his..yes, definitely a he...his head on the bed and his hand wrapped tightly around mine. Dark swirling patterns covered the skin on his arms. Can I curl my fingers?
I tried, receiving sharp spikes of pain in my shoulder, but managing to loosely grip the manâs hand back. He stirred, his head lifting from the bed and his gaze instantly turning to our clasped hands.
Dad...
He looked up at me and his icy gaze melted. âTawny...â he breathed.
âFather,â I croaked. My voice cracked and my throat ached from the effort. âAm...am I dead?â
âNo, no, baby, youâre alive,â he said, relief obvious in his voice. âI thought Iâd lost you for good this time."
"This time?"
"You've woken up twice now,â he said. âLast time you were really scared and well...it doesnât matter. Youâre alive and awake.â
âSir? Who are...â I heard a female voice and looked past my father to see a head of fiery red hair. âIâll tell the doctor.â
âWhatâs Addison doing here? Whereâs Nick and Vicki? What are you doing here? Where am I?â the questions started rolling over my dry lips, my throat screaming in protest as my voice grew more and more frantic.
âTawny, you have to relax, please,â my father said. His hands wrapped over my shoulders. I squirmed underneath him, sending shots of pain through my shoulders. âTawny please relax, youâre safe. Please, youâre badly injured and need to rest.â
Addison returned with another man who instantly rushed to my side and touched my hand. âTawny, I need to you take a deep breath. Take a deep breath for me.â
Somewhere in my fratic mind, it listened and I did as the mystery man asked. I looked to my father as he watched me with fear filled eyes.
"Where's Vicki?" I whimpered.
"She's sleeping in her room," my father respond. "Nick is recovering as well. You need to rest. As to where you are, you are safe; away from the loyalists. Addison led a small team, against orders, to rescue you three. I'm just here to make sure you're okay."
The doctor was fiddling with the bag hanging over me and a few other things out of my sight. A sudden lethargy swept over me and the pillow beneath my head felt exceptionally cozy.
"Alright, Tawny, you're going to sleep a little longer but this is just to metabolize the drugs in your system. When you wake up again, there's someone who needs your help," the doctor said.
I nodded lethargically and my eyelids felt heavy.
"Sir, ma'am, you should leave now, let her sleep," he said.
Addison and my father nodded and turned to walk out. "Father, you'll be here when I wake up, right?" I asked.
"Of course," he said.
And once again, everything went dark.