Page 35 of Laying it Bare Backstage

“She’s still not answering.” Ivy’s terrified voice snapped my attention back to her and she bore her tear filled eyes into me.

“Fuck! How do we find her?” Taking Ascher and Ivy in hand, I tugged them down a hallway and then out to the back lot. I needed a place to think. Outside, I paced in front of my car, yanking my hands through my hair. “If she isn’t answering her phone, I have no idea where to even start looking for her. And I swear to God if Naomi didanythingto her, I’m going to kill her!” My thundering voice boomed off of the external walls of the building.

“Her phone!” Ivy shouted. “We can find her phone.” She tapped on her screen.

Rushing to her side, I stared down at her cell as she clicked on the Find iPhone app. “I’m pretty sure I know her password.” She clicked another button and typed. Then she brought her shaky hand up to her lip before punching in what I assumed was a password. “Fuck! That wasn’t it.”

Ascher stopped in front of her and took her face in his hands. “Take a breath. I know we are all running high on fear and adrenaline, but focus. Take a deep breath and think because you won’t get that many tries before it locks you out.”

She raised her gaze to me, her eyes full of the same panic swirling through my gut.

“It’s okay. You got this.” My voice came out stronger than I felt at the moment, but I hoped she believed the words because I sure as hell didn’t.

She typed again and a moment later squealed, “I’m in!”

I stared down at the last known location for Serenity’s phone and a small amount of relief trickled through my chest before a new wave of horror flashed over me. “That’s behind the old office supply warehouse. The only thing back there is woods. Fuck!” I raced over to my car and ripped open the door. “Hop in guys. I’m going to need your help.”

Ivy and Ascher weren’t even buckled into the back seat when I hit the gas and sped off in the direction of the warehouse. Praying I wouldn’t get pulled over by the police, I pressed my foot down harder on the gas pedal. Although as long as they didn’t stop me before I got to my destination; I didn’t care if they followed me there. Then they would see what the urgency was all about. The trip seemed to take hours, but was probably only about ten minutes. But that was ten minutes too long. I barely had the car in park before I leapt from my vehicle and sprinted through the woods, having no idea where to even start my search. I darted my gaze around the wooded area praying for any sign to show me which direction to go.

Crunching through the leaves rather aimlessly, I somehow managed to find a lone cell phone lying on top of a pile of brush and twigs. Ivy raced past me as I typed in Serenity’s passcode. When that unlocked the phone, I knew she had to be close. I pocketed the phone. Tendrils of fear still wound their way up my spine because these woods were pretty large; there were wild animals out here; and if night fell we’d be shit out of luck.

“NO!” Ivy’s pain infused screech tore me from my thoughts. She had dropped down to the forest floor.

I sprinted toward her, that ball of dread plummeting to my stomach.

Ivy wailed as she rocked Serenity’s limp body in her arms; her face soaked with her tears; her eyes emitting so much anguish; her best friend’s blood coating her yellow blouse.

“Fuck fuck fuck! She can’t be dead.” Rage, terror, and helplessness swirled around inside of me. It was a toxic cocktail. I dropped down beside her and pulled Serenity into my own arms and stood. “Check and see if she’s breathing and has a pulse and then we’re racing to the hospital.”

Ascher joined us and put his cheek at Serenity’s mouth and then felt at her neck. “She’s breathing but barely and has a pulse but it’s thready.”

A nameless dread engulfed me. We couldn’t be too late. Things had to turn out okay. Maybe if I repeated that mantra enough, it would come true. “Let’s go.” Curling her tighter to my chest, I dashed for the car.

Thankfully no one had stolen it considering I had left it running. I slid into the back with Serenity while Ascher and Ivy hopped in up front. “Without getting us killed, run every damn red light and speed like demons are chasing you. Please.”

Trying not to jostle Serenity too much, I ripped off my shirt and used it to help stop the bleeding. I knew it was bad when I had dropped down beside Ivy, but my main focus was getting her out of there. Now staring at the gaping wounds, a new terror seized me.What if she bleeds out before we get her help? She was so pale and her fingers and some other areas were icy and turning bluish. “Please go faster.” I begged. Then I ducked my head and rained kisses all over her face. “I love you, Serenity. Hold on, Baby. We’ll get you taken care of. Just hold on. I love you.” I continued that chant for the duration of the trip.

“Where do you want me to park?” Ascher’s question brought me out of my near hypnotic state.

“Right in front of the emergency room doors. I don’t care if they tow my fucking car.”

As soon as Ascher pulled to a stop. The three of us jumped out and dashed to the doors.

Once inside, I screamed for anyone to help. “Please someone help her!”

A nurse came bustling around the front desk. She took in the blood soaked clothes and the pale unresponsive woman in my arms. “What happened?”

“Someone attacked her. I’ll answer every one of your other questions once I know she is going into surgery and someone is working to save her. She needs help now. Please.” The words trembled out, tearing a part of my heart and soul with them. I couldn’t lose her.

She nodded to another nurse behind the desk who picked up the phone. Then she grabbed a stretcher. “Lay her down. The O.R.doctor will be right down.”

Staring down at my world, possibly taking her last breaths in my arms, it was so fucking difficult to release her. I was terrified I was never going to see her alive again. But I couldn’t do anything else for her.

“We’ll do all we can, Sir.” The nurse placed her hand on my arm. “Do you have a name and date of birth for her at least?”

“Of course I do, I’m her fiancée.” The lie rolled off of my tongue with ease. “Her name is Serenity Renee Hayes.” I was so relieved we had talked about middle names and that I had asked about her birthday this past week. “And her date of birth is April tenth nineteen ninety seven.” I gently laid Serenity down and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I love you, Serenity.” I choked on her name. “I’ll be waiting for you after they fix you up.”

An older man with graying hair at his temples stepped up to us. “I’m Dr.Rispen.” His green eyes gazed at me with sympathy. “We’ll do all we can for your fiancée. You can wait up in the waiting area on the fourth floor.” And with that he rolled Serenity to the elevators and then he and a few others in white stepped inside.

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