Page 188 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

“You’re safe now.”

“How long have I been asleep?” She asked, slowly, gingerly opening her eyes again and looking round the room.

“A few hours.” Cole replied. “They want to keep you in overnight for observation and they’ve put a drip in to get your vitals up.”

“So no permanent damage then.” She said and he laughed.

“I doubt anything could keep you down for long Maddie.” He said and she shook her head.

“I was so scared.” She whispered. “I thought I was going to die in there.”

“I would never have let that happen.” Cole replied moving to hug her. “I will always keep you safe.”

“I didn’t want you to watch me die either.” She said.

“Maddie, you weren’t going to die. I wouldn’t let it happen.”

She gave him a small smile. “What happened to your hand?” She asked seeing the bandage across it.

“I got into a knife fight with Jamie.” He said.

“Is he dead?” She asked meeting his eyes.

“Yes. I stabbed the bastard. Gave him one in the chest for you too.”

She nodded. “He deserved it after what he did.”

“Did he hurt you Maddie?” Cole asked carefully.

“No, not like that but he tried. I beat him off. Beat the other guy off too.”

“The one you killed?” He said.

“You know about that?” She replied.

“That’s how we found you. The police found his body and he had the same unique soil composition on his boots as the van did.”

“Soil huh?” She said smirking slightly before her face fell. “He was the one who’d tortured me last time. They made me fight him. For entertainment. They said he could fuck me if he won...” She trailed off narrowing her eyes as her face flashed in anger. “I just started punching him. I lost it. That’s why my hands are like they are, it’s not from trying to get out of that box. I punched him over and over and I didn’t stop until they pulled me off him.”

She looked back at him and she didn’t look sad, she didn’t look broken, she looked fierce.

“You did what you had to do Maddie and he more than deserved it.” Cole stated.

She nodded. “How’s Max, how’s Jaz, how’s everyone from that night?”

Cole’s face dropped and she shook her head. “No.” She whispered.

“Max and Jaz are still in induced comas. Max looks like he’s going to pull through but Jaz is still touch and go.” Cole replied.

“And everyone else?”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry Maddie.”

She shut her eyes. “I stayed in the van.” She said. “I did exactly what Brandon ordered, what we agreed.”

“You couldn’t have done anything.” Cole stated.

“You don’t know that.” She said.

“Maddie, you were outnumbered, it was a trap, there’s nothing you could have done.”

She buried her face in the softness of the pillow and Cole wrapped his arms around her tighter so that all she could breathe was his smell and after the damp, earthy smell that had been her constant over the last few days she welcomed it more than ever.

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