4

Saving Erin

Chapter 4

Erin's point of view 

I try to open my eyes, but it hurts so much; everything hurts, my face is swollen; I can feel my eyes almost swollen shut as I try to force them open, and my ribs hurt when I breathe. It hurts just to move my head, and I can't help the moan that escapes my dry lips. 

"Owwww " 

"Hey, easy little lady."

I hear a deep male voice, making me freeze. Is he going to hurt me too? 

"Hey, you're okay; you're safe here."

He says as I finally force my eyes to open, looking around the room. I don't know where I am; I'm lying on a bed. I turn my face in the direction of the man's voice. My heart races when I see him. He's huge. Who is he? And what's he going to do to me? I pull the sheet around me, sliding from the bed as I scream as the man stand up. He's a fucking giant…..

"Arrhhhhhhhhh"

I curl up in a ball on the floor in the corner of the room, waiting for the stranger to do what he wants to me. I can hear myself screaming as the tears run down my face. It's hard to breathe. I can't breathe…..

It hurts….

"Fuck I won't hurt you."

The giant says in such a gentle voice, but I don't believe him. I don't believe anyone anymore. 

Another man comes running into the room as I try to make myself as small as I can, curling into a ball on the floor, pulling my knees into my chest as I struggle to breathe, tears running down my face, unable to stop my body from shaking.

The big man speaks again.

"Shit, Boss, I don't know what to do." 

The other man nods to the door as he says.

"Go and get Laila Tank." 

I'm left alone with this other man as he whispers gently to me.

"Hey, little lady, I promise you you're safe here. Nobody here is going to hurt you."

I look up, and he has such a kind and sincere face, but I can't trust anybody. I curl up more as my panic begins to take over. I can't breathe. It hurts so much. The more I can't breathe, the more I panic as I try to force air into my tight lungs. 

The man's whispers quietly to me again….

"Slow, easy breaths, sweetheart, big breaths in and out."

He sits on the floor near me but never makes a move to touch me as he keeps talking, keeping his voice low. His voice is somehow soothing, as he says.

"Can you count backwards with me nice and slow big easy breaths let's slow that heartbeat down okay 10 - 9 - 8 well done 7-6-5 good girl that's better 4-3-2-1 there you go love your safe now I promise you you're safe here, nobody's going to hurt you here."

As my heartbeat comes back to normal, l look up, hes a very handsome man, and he has such a kind face; I can't explain it, but  I feel safe with him here. He speaks again as he sits closer to me, close enough to comfort me but not too close to scare me. I jump as the door opens and a woman walks in, the kind man reassures me. 

"It's okay, sweetie; it's only Laila; she's a medic, and she's going to make sure you're okay."

He holds out his hand to me as I tentatively reach for it, his touch is so soft as he gives my hand a gentle squeeze. The woman walks over to us as she says. 

"Hey, hunni, how are you feeling? What's your name, sweetheart."

She asks with a friendly smile.

"Erin, Erin  Daniels"

I mutter with my head down; she smiles at me, putting me at ease as she gently whispers. 

"Well, Erin, I'm Laila, and this is my boss Jake; how about we get you up off the floor and back in that nice comfy bed." 

I nod my head as I try to stand, crying out with the pain. I'm in agony, my legs too weak to take my weight.

                  Jake's point of view

It breaks me to see how much pain she's in. I just want to lift her in my arms and place her on the bed, but I don't want to scare her. She squeezes my hand tight as she finally manages to stand her legs unsteady as she walks to the bed, clearly in a lot of pain, I keep hold of her hand, trying to help her as much as I can without scaring her and her tiny hand feels so good in mine, making me not want to let go. 

Laila smiles as she says to Erin.

"Well done, Erin; let's get you some pain relief." 

She squeezes my hand tight as she whispers...

"It hurts….."

I wish I could take the pain away from her; she's obviously in agony. Laila looks at me as she says 

"Jake, can you get my bag and a drink for Erin, please." 

"Yes" 

I reply, which means I have to let go of Erin's hand, and I really don't want to let go. I give her hand a little squeeze and leave to get Laila's bag l, walking out into the living area where Tank is sitting with his head in his hands, he looks up when he sees me. 

"Hey, boss, is she okay?  She scared the shit out of me in there." 

"Yeah, she is now; Laila's just going to top up her pain relief."

I shout as I go and get Laila's bag and some fresh juice for Erin. Maddox comes into the cabin banging the snow off his boots as; he starts to take off his cold suit. After doing his check of the perimeter, he looks at all of our serious faces as he asks.

"Hey, guys, what's up." 

"Our little guest has woken up; this shits seriously fucked up who does that to a woman."

Tank replies before I say. 

"Yeah, I'd like to get my hands on them. Hopefully, the weather calms down, and we can get her off this mountain back to the safety of the bunker."

I say as Maddox looks at me, clearly concerned as he says. 

"Well, looking at it out there, we ain't going anywhere, today boss." 

I look out of the window at the snow drifting in the breeze. It might be keeping us up this mountain, but for the time being, it's also keeping Erin safe. Tank slams his hand down on the counter in frustration. 

"I need to find out what's happened to her and if anyone's still after her, but she's so fragile at the minute." 

I don't know what it is with this woman, but I feel the need to protect her, to keep her safe. Yeah, I know it's my job, but it's something more with her, Madog grumbles.

"Nobody is getting through us, boss." 

Tank paces as he says. 

"Yeah, I'd like to get my hands on them. Jesus, I've never seen anybody have a panic attack like that. I thought she was going to faint on me." 

Madog chuckles as he says.

"Haha fuck sakes; Tank your enough to scare anybody." 

I give my orders as I take the medical bag to Laila and a glass of juice for Erin.

"Tank, can you get us an update on this weather and see when we can get moving down from this mountain." 

"on it Boss."

He replies before he heads off to the other room, where our equipment is set up.

"Madog, see if you can find out anything about our mystery lady ERIN DANIELS." 

"Yeah, man, madogs on the case."

He's gone before I've finished the sentence. 

I pick up the juice and make my way back to Erin to see if I can get any info from her opening the door, I peep inside, and she's fast asleep, looking much more comfortable. For some reason, it makes my heart twinge to see her sleeping so peacefully. 

Laila looks over to me with a half-smile as she says. 

"I guess the morphine's kicked in. It's the best thing for her at the minute. The poor girl must be in agony. 

I nod my head as I reply. 

"Yeah, I guess so."

I quietly put the drink down next to, her wishing I could take her in my arms and comfort her. It takes a lot of effort to turn around and walk back out the door, but I need to go and see if Madog can find anything out about our mystery lady. 

Authors note.

Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think of the story so far.

Love always