Chapter 33: Chapter 33

I wake up to bright lights in my vision. After attempting to open my eyes, I snap them shut again and groan softly, my body stirring. There's a pounding in my head that intensifies by every second and I taste metal in my mouth, no doubt from the blood.

"Uncle Tobias?" I whisper out, hoping he's next to me. I have no clue where I am but I'm unable to open my eyes and check. I feel a warm hand slip into mine, squeezing it reassuringly.

"It's Woody, I'm here. You're going to be okay." Woody says quietly. The sound of his voice comforts me and I mumble a response, feeling myself beginning to drift off for the second time. I want to ask him what's happening but the ability to speak is almost impossible. With his hand still in mine, I give in to my body's demands and fall back into a deep sleep.

*****

"She's okay. The doctor stitched up her head injury and she's dosed up on strong painkillers but she's going to be fine. A little dehydrated and exhausted but she'll be okay." I hear Woody's voice say firmly. Through the darkness of my eyelids, I try to focus on who he's talking to but the buzzing in my head increases and takes over my senses.

"I think she's waking up. I'll call you back." Woody says. I hear the beep of his phone go off and realise he must have been on a phone call to someone. I wonder how long I've been here, wherever here is.

I groan again, attempting to lift my hand to my face to rub at my eyes. I feel a sharp tug on the back of my hand and wince —

"Ruby, you need to rest. You have a drip in your hand." Woody says firmly, placing his hand over mine to bring it back down to my side. I mumble under my breath and he pauses, trying to make out my words.

"What was that?" Woody says quietly, leaning in closer to my mouth.

"Water?" I repeat, clearer this time. I slowly pry open my eyes, blinking as they adjust to the brightness in the room. My eyes make out the silhouette of Woody's frame as he nods his head, turning away from me. I slowly attempt to lift my head, feeling like it weighs a ton. I'm lying in the middle of a hospital room, multiples machines surrounding me.

"A hospital?" I mumble, my throat completely dry. The words are a struggle to get out so when Woody places the cup of water near my lips, I drink it down hungrily.

"Yeah, I drove you here after you passed out. You had us worried for a second there." Woody explains, his eyes connecting with mine. I sigh in relief as I finish the entire cup of water, leaning back onto the hospital pillows.

"What's wrong with me?" I ask him, my voice croaky and quiet. The water instantly makes me feel better however the pounding in my head remains. Woody takes a seat next to me, his eyes full of concern.

"You have a battle wound on your head that'll make for a pretty awesome scar once it heals. Besides from dehydration and exhaustion, you'll be okay." Woody tells me, giving me a small reassuring smile. I glance around, pointing at a small mirror on the side of the room.

"Can I see?" I ask him and he nods, standing up to retrieve it for me. I watch him from behind, wondering whether he stayed with me the entire time. The thought of that stirs a funny feeling inside my stomach and I don't know how to handle it.

Woody walks back and holds out the mirror in front of my face. I breathe in sharply, the sight looking back at me isn't what I expected. Dark circles run under my eyes, my skin pale and almost ghostly. Several small cuts and a large bruise under my eye is forming but the worst of all is the injury on my forehead. It's been stitched together with thin white pieces of tape covering it and I reach up, running my fingers over it lightly. I don't realise tears are forming in my eyes until my vision blurs and they begin to fall —

"Hey hey, what's wrong?" Woody says, dropping the mirror on the bed. I shake my head and turn away, blinking back the tears as quick as I can. I can't remember the last time I cried so much, so often. Being held hostage and almost dying whilst trying to find your kidnapped parents definitely turns you over emotional.

"Ruby?" Woody says softly, taking a seat on the bed next to me. His leg presses against my waist and I sniffle, reaching up to wipe at my eyes.

"I look a mess." I mumble, my voice shaky. I hear him sigh heavily before his hand holds onto mine.

"Look at me." Woody says firmly, his voice firm. I slowly turn around, silent tears streaming down my cheeks. With his other hand, he reaches up and wipes them away. The feeling of his rough skin on my cheeks causes my eyes to flutter shut and a funny sensation to erupt in my stomach.

"You're beautiful, no matter what." Woody tells me. I open my eyes and he's smiling down at me, chocolate coloured eyes full of warmth. I smile back at him, silence falling upon us as we continue to look at each other. His stare makes me feel like the breath has been knocked straight out of me —

"How long have you been here. . . With me?" I whisper, wanting to know the answer. I'm unsure of whether I'd be able to handle his response but it's important that I know. Woody's eyes fill with confusion before he shakes his head, his words spoken casually —

"The entire time. You didn't think I'd leave you, did you?" He asks me, eyes flickering between both of mine. I breathe in sharply, butterflies exploding in my stomach. There's a sensation in my chest I've never felt before and I don't respond whilst I look back at him. His hand remains fixed in mine and the tension between us grows as we both wait for the other to break the silence.

Is this it? Is this the overwhelming feeling my parents experienced when they met each other?

I continue staring at Woody, wondering what he's thinking at this exact moment. He holds my stare equally as intense, his dark eyes flickering as he appears to be deep in thought. I open my mouth to ask him whether he feels it too because it's driving me insane not knowing. As soon as I do, the hospital door opens and a Doctor steps inside, interrupting us. I notice Woody's eyes flash with disappointment and he turns away from me, facing the doctor.

"Ah Ruby Melvin, you're awake." The doctor smiles, crease lines appearing around his eyes. I nod my head slowly, recovering from the intense moment shared between Woody and I. The Doctor appears to be in his early fifties, signs of grey hairs appearing in his dark locks.

"I'm Doctor Lee, I actually treated your mother and father several times when they were around your age." He smiles fondly, heading towards me. My eyes widen in surprise and I sit up straight, propping myself up on the pillows behind me —

"Really? Treated them for what?" I ask him, intrigued. His eyes flash with amusement as he checks the machines around me, noting down information on his clipboard.

"I can't tell you unfortunately, patient confidentiality." Dr Lee responds, flashing me a smile. I pout unhappily at him —

"Damn it." I mumble under my breath. Beside me, Woody chuckles and Dr Lee joins in. He leans closer to inspect the injury on my head and nods in satisfaction.

"How are you feeling?" He asks me, his eyes connecting with mine. I sigh, shrugging my shoulders.

"Like I've been hit with a truck in the head." I tell him truthfully. He nods, writing something else down in his files. He pauses before turning towards Woody, his eyes flickering between the both of us —

"Are your parents not around?" Dr Lee asks me. I shake my head, averting my eyes from him.

"No, I'm staying with my Uncle Tobias for a while." I tell him which isn't technically a lie. Dr Lee frowns for a moment before masking it over, nodding his head.

"Okay but I'd like to speak to an adult or guardian before discharging you. Is your Uncle around?"

I turn to look at Woody and he briefly shakes his head behind the Dr's back, answering his question.

"He will be soon, he popped out to buy me Nutella. I'm obsessed with the stuff, I can't go without it." I ramble, giving him a sweet smile. The Dr seems taken aback slightly but nods, probably used to dealing with weird injuries and patients from the Melvin family. I can't even begin to imagine the kind of things he's seen and heard from us.

"Okay, I'll be back shortly to speak to him. After that, I can discharge you and you'll be back on your feet in no time." He smiles, heading for the door. Woody turns towards him —

"Thanks Doctor."

As soon as he disappears, I turn towards Woody, full of questions.

"Where's Tobias? What's happening with Jasmine? Has he found my parents yet?" I ask him, each question merging with the last. Woody appears taken aback before holding his hand up, stopping me in my tracks. His dark eyes flash with concern and I can practically see him over-thinking.

"We'll have to discharge you ourselves." Woody reveals, glancing at the needle currently stuck in my hand that's providing me with hydration. I narrow my eyes at him, unsure whether I'd heard him correctly —

"What?"

"Tobias can't come here and neither can your parents, obviously. He sent me here to look after you but he's tied up with Jasmine and tracking down your parents. The Doctor won't let us leave without speaking to a member of family so we'll have to leave without him knowing. Especially since he could call the police if he grows suspicious." Woody explains.

I slowly nod my head, knowing he's right. In the eyes of the law, I'm still a child and require a parent or guardian with me before being discharged. Mix that with me looking like I've done ten rounds with a professional boxer and it's a recipe for the police or child welfare. My eyes fall on the needle in my hand and I wince at the sight of it —

"What the hell do we do about this?"