My eyes fluttered a dozen times as I slowly came to, waves of pain ebbed and flowed across my back, a cruel reminder of Wayne's malicious wrath. The symphony of agony played a sinister tune across the canvas of scars that now adorned my skin.

As my eyes flickered open wide, the sterile white of the hospital room was an intrusive glare against the veil of darkness that I had been enveloped in. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor was a stark contrast to the haunting cries that still echoed in the chambers of my memory.

The room felt like a surreal bubble, the calm a bizarre antithesis to the storm of terror that had raged just hours before. The crisp sheets against my battered skin felt like a tender caress, a soothing balm on the open wounds that Wayne's belt had carved.

My gaze landed on Carson, his figure a steady anchor amidst the turbulent sea of my thoughts. His eyes were closed, yet the lines on his forehead bore the weight of worry that had gripped him. The soft rise and fall of his chest was a comforting rhythm, a silent ode to the bond that tethered us amidst the chaos that life had thrown our way.

"Carson." I tried, but my voice cracked, low from dryness. His presence was a gentle reassurance, a quiet promise of protection that had momentarily been stolen away in the clutches of Wayne's malevolent grasp. As if sensing my gaze, Carson stirred, his eyes slowly opening to meet mine. The depth of relief that shone in them was a warm glow, cutting through the cold dread that still clung to my soul.

His hand found mine, a tender grip that seemed to pull me further away from the haunting shadows of the past. "Tarryn, you're safe now. We're here, you're not alone," he murmured, each word a gentle balm on the raw scars that marred not just my body, but the essence of my being.

"Wh—what happened to... to m—mom? Haisley? Wh—where are they?" I tried to hoist myself up, but pain scorched my back. Carson lunged forward, his hands wrapping around my trembling ones.

Carson's grip was a tender restraint, a silent plea to conserve my strength. His face was a canvas of emotions, each wrinkle a stroke of concern, love, and a lingering shadow of dread. His eyes bore into mine, the calm before the storm of truths that were about to unfold.

"Take it easy, Tarryn. You've been through a lot. You need to rest," his voice trembled on the edge of composure, a hint of the tumultuous journey the night had been for him as well.

The silence that hung between the words was a heavy veil, under which lay the torrent of fears, hopes, and the desperate need for assurance that Haisley and our mother were safe.

Carson seemed to gather his thoughts, his eyes searching the depths of mine for a strength he hoped I had preserved through the ordeal. With a deep breath, he began to unravel the tale of how the night had unfolded after the veil of unconsciousness had claimed me.

Then I sudden got an onslaught of flashbacks. Images were like a tsunami of bad thoughts and bloody and gore, my mind taking me back to the moments when ... when they whipped me.

My body convulsed with agonizing pain as each lash of the whip tore through my flesh. The searing sensation radiated outward, a fiery storm consuming every nerve and sinew. It felt as if the very essence of my being was being torn asunder, each strike a cruel reminder of my helplessness.

The room, once a place of torment and dread, became a dark chamber of suffering. The air was thick with my muffled cries, the sound of leather meeting flesh, and the sickening satisfaction in Wayne's eyes. Each blow was etched into my memory, a cruel brand of cruelty that I could never erase.

My vision blurred with tears of anguish, my cries muffled by the gag that silenced my pleas. The world around me ceased to exist; there was only the relentless, excruciating rhythm of the whip, each lash driving me further into a realm of torment.

My body, already battered and bruised from years of abuse, protested with each cruel strike. The pain was relentless, unforgiving, and I couldn't help but lose myself in its overwhelming intensity. I gasped for air, for relief, but found none.

The moments stretched into eternity, and as the pain continued, I felt a profound sense of helplessness. I was trapped in this nightmarish cycle, unable to escape the torment. Each lash marked my body, but it also etched a fierce determination in my soul.

I screamed for someone to help, warm blood dripping down my back. I scream and I screamed and I screamed. But no one came.

"Haisley?" I shot forward again, crying out in pain. Carson held me upright when black dots clouded my vision.

"Haisley is safe," he said, the words a gentle wave of relief washing over the rocky shores of my anxiety. "The police found him in time. He's been treated for minor injuries. He's... he's okay, Tarryn. He's strong, just like you."

His words were a soothing balm, yet they were but a fleeting reprieve as the reality of our mother's fate hung in the abyss of the unknown. My heart raced at the precipice of the unfolding narrative, each beat a silent drum of dread.

Carson's gaze dropped, a shadow passing over his features. The pause was a chilling prelude to the words that followed. "Mom... she's down the hall. Her condition is... it's serious but stable, last I heard. They're doing everything they can for her, Tarryn."

The words hit like a tidal wave, crashing against the fragile dam of composure I had built. The room seemed to spin around me, the stark, sterile lights above morphing into a swirling whirlpool of fear and despair.

Carson's grip tightened, his presence a steady rock amidst the turbulent waters that threatened to engulf me. "We're together in this, Tarryn. We'll get through it, one step at a time. I promise."

His promise was a slender thread of hope amidst the storm, a fragile yet unyielding tether to the will to fight, to hope, and to rebuild from the ashes of the terror that had threatened to consume us whole.

But even as the words of comfort wrapped around my heart, the echoes of the night's horror resonated through the halls of my memory, a grim reminder of the fragile thread that held the veil of safety, a veil that had been cruelly torn apart by Wayne's sinister hands.

The next few minutes were a blur as I broke down in the arms of my big brother. He rested his forehead against mine. "You're strong, Tarryn. a long road that promised a blend of tears, hope, and the indomitable spirit of survival. The ghosts of the night would perhaps linger, yet amidst the encroaching shadows, the bond of family emerged as a blazing beacon of hope, a promise of a dawn that would eventually break through the shroud of night.

The doctor's entrance was a gentle intrusion into the bubble of emotions that Carson and I were navigating through. His face was a mask of professional concern, eyes scanning the various monitors that now seemed to govern the rhythm of my existence. His white coat was a stark contrast to the various shades of fear and hope that painted the room.

"I'm Dr. Aaron Blake, I'll be overseeing your recovering." His voice was a soothing blend of empathy and professionalism as he addressed me. "Tarryn, how are you feeling? Can you describe your level of pain?"

"It's... it's a burning sensation," my voice trembled as it found its way through the clenched jaws of pain, "especially on my back. It's... it's relentless."

The doctor's face was a calm sea as he noted down my response. His gaze then met mine, a silent assurance of understanding and care. "I understand. We'll administer some more pain medication to help ease the discomfort. It's important to keep you as comfortable as possible to aid in your healing process."

His words were a professional melody, each syllable measured and placed with a meticulous care that seemed to echo through the hollow halls of my fears.

He proceeded to check the wounds on my back with a gentle yet firm touch, his actions a dance of practiced ease. Each touch was a whisper of hope on the rugged landscape of scars that now told the tale of a night of terror.

Carson watched, his face a stoic mask, yet his eyes betrayed the storm of concern that raged within. His hand found mine once again, a silent pledge of unwavering support as we navigated through the unchartered waters of recovery that lay ahead.

But amidst the looming shadows of fear, the glimmer of hope shone through, a silent promise that with time, care, and the unyielding bond of family, the wounds would heal, and the night's terror would eventually dissolve into the dawn of a new day.

I glanced at Carson. "Where's dad?"

"He's on his way. Doctors are discharged him yesterday."

The sudden burst of movement at the doorway caught my eye, pulling me out of the cocoon of thoughts I had been entwined in. The sight that greeted me was a wave of emotions crashing onto the shores of my battered heart. Haisley, his face a blend of relief, concern, and the remnants of a terror we had both lived through burst into the room, Skylar hot on his heels, trying to slow him down.

Haisley's eyes met mine, and in that silent exchange, a torrent of emotions flowed - relief at seeing each other alive and relatively well, the shared horror of the memories that now bound us, and the unyielding bond of sibling love that had weathered the sinister storm we had been cast into.

He rushed to my side, the distance between us closing with each step, breaking through the shackles of fear and despair that had held us captive in separate abysses of dread. His hands found mine, the warmth a soothing balm on the cold skin that the night's terror had left behind.

"Tarryn," his voice was a hoarse whisper, a fragile thread of relief and love weaving through the tremors of fear that still echoed in the chambers of his heart.

The weight of the night's horror seemed to lift ever so slightly as I gripped his hand, the physical touch a sturdy anchor pulling us back from the grim shadows that lurked in the corners of our minds.

Skylar was by our side now, his presence a silent pillar of strength as we navigated through the fragile reunion. His hand rested gently on Haisley's shoulder, a subtle yet profound symbol of the unbreakable bond that bound us together amidst the chaos that sought to tear us apart.

Haisley's other hand tenderly brushed away the tears that now flowed freely down my cheeks, each droplet a tiny vessel carrying away bits of the fear and dread that had ensnared my soul.

"We made it out of there, and I swear to God I'm going to murder him," his words were a gentle rain, washing away the grime of terror, leaving behind the tender shoots of hope that now dared to sprout from the barren grounds of despair.

Carson frowned. "You won't be going near him, Haisley. Neither of you will again."

"What about a trial-"

Suddenly, ringing chimed down the hallway. People in blue scrubs sprinted past my room, their shoes slapping against the tile. Panic blossomed in my chest.

The announcement of "Code Blue" echoed through the corridors. Panic gripped me, and I couldn't help but fear the worst. My thoughts immediately went to my mother, hoping against hope that she was safe.

+++

Who is the code blue I wonder?
Thank you so much for reading!
- Charlie 🧡