Chapter 25 No One Touches You
I woke up, and I was no longer in pain. Still had head pain like before, but it wasn’t like the pain when he took the IV out. What happened? I tried not to make any sound or movement. I need to figure out what happened and where I was. I touched what still felt like the medical bed I was in.
Beep... Beep... Beep…
Okay, I was either still in the same room I first woke up in or in a different medical room. It was then that I noticed the presence of something being next to me. I slowly moved my hand towards it as best as I could without being obvious about it.
Beep, Move hand closer. Beep Move it a hair closer. Beep, a little closer.
After many steady beeps from the machines, I made my way to the source. It was a person lying next to me. Their head was on the bed as if they were resting. Who would be lying next to me right now? Was that torture just a nightmare? Was it a side effect of the medicine? I wasn’t sure I could feel much, and I was scared to open my eyes.
I move my hand ever so gently to the person laying on the bed. They have short hair, and oh my, it was so soft. I couldn’t help but to play with it. As soon as I did, a groggy, deep male voice spoke up.
“Now, now, little mouse, you are in no condition to see what the predator in me will do to you if you keep that up.” Ezra’s deep sleep ridden voice was something I can see girls swooning over.
“Oh, thank god it is you.” I rasped out, feeling relieved. As much as Ezra annoyed me with calling me mouse, I was happy it was not the man I was being tortured by, regardless of if he was real or not. Ezra let out a chuckle and it did funny things to my stomach.
“I don’t think I have ever heard you happy to see me.” Ezra chuckled to himself, and I felt him sit up from leaning on the bed. Judging from the sounds, he was probably stretching. How long did he lay there?
“You’re a welcome reprieve from the nightmare I just had.” I decided it was probably just a bad dream.
“Oh? What is worse than dealing with me?” I kept my eyes closed, but I could practically see the smartass smirk on his face.
“Well, it takes a lot to make me happy to hear your annoying voice, but it took being tortured by someone claiming to be Griffen. Man, medicated dreams are freaky real at times.” I mentally chuckled because it hurt to much to physically chuckle. I grew concerned. Ezra didn’t say anything. That was unlike him.
“What?” I asked.
“Mouse.... That wasn’t a dream.” Ezra told me.
“What?!” Concern and dread filled me. He was real, the torture was real. Where was he? I needed to heal so I could defend myself. I was in no condition to keep myself safe.
“Do not worry... He can not hurt you again. I made sure of it.” Anger filled Ezra’s voice.
“What happened?” I needed to know. Otherwise, I would not feel safe.
“I was walking back here with the real Griffen, and just as we rounded a corner to get to this room. We heard you scream. I busted in and took care of the man; he was cutting into your burns.” Ezra explained. I shivered with the memory. It hurt like hell. At that time, I didn’t exactly know what he was doing to me. I kept my eyes shut.
“What happened to him?” I needed to know.
“He is gone. He won’t bother you again.” Ezra told me.
“Are you sure?” Panic laced the tone of my voice, and I hated how weak that made me feel; it was not how I was trained to be. “I think I kept my eyes shut the whole time...” I then whispered, “I think he knows my big secret Like you do.” I still wasn’t sure what Ezra did to figure it out, but I am sure he wasn’t the only one who could.
“Why do you think that?” Ezra leaned in close to me. The smell of cinnamon and espresso hit my nose, and as much as it shouldn’t his scent relaxed me.
“He kept asking who I was and wouldn’t let up that I was lying, when I said I was just Elizabeth. It was like he was trying to get me to admit I was more than who I am. I don’t think I gave him any reason as to why he shouldn’t have believed me, but he wouldn’t let it go.” I was rambling. Did what I said make sense. I hoped it did. I was so scared.
“I see.” Ezra sounded like he was possibly debating something in his head.
“Ezra...” I mumbled his name; I wanted to say something... but I just didn’t know what.
“Don’t worry, little mouse. He is gone forever and is not coming back. I am sorry I left you alone here, knowing what I know. If I need to be called away again, I will have the real Griffin here with you.”
“What happens if you need to go away again and Griffin can’t be here and he comes back?” I hated feeling scared and vulnerable, but in the condition I was in, I couldn’t really defend myself in any way until I could see and not have to be on these pain meds.
“I told you he won’t bother you again.” Ezra sounded annoyed; I didn’t care; this was my life I was worried about. I was the only one who truly cared if I lived or died.
“I heard what you said but come on, I am not in any condition to protect myself,” I argued. He needed to understand where I was coming from. “I can’t even see without my contacts.”
“I know, that is why I have taken the steps needed to make sure you are not left alone again.”
“What steps? And how can you be one hundred percent sure?” I pushed.
“I KILLED HIM, AND EVERYONE HERE KNOWS I WILL KILL THEM TOO IF ANYONE TRIES TO HURT YOU AGAIN.” Ezra yelled in frustration, and I felt him push himself away from the bed.