2. Bella

2

BELLA

My head pounds as I fall into the damp sand as I shuffle forward. The haziness in my vision has me wondering where I am as I clutch my head in my hands. I stumble onto my feet and move forward even though my legs are like lead and I struggle to lift my feet.

Wind whips around my hair and I shiver at how cold I am. Water rushes onto the beach and I stumble to get out of its path as it pulls back. Deep waves build in the distance and my heart beats heavy at the idea of getting caught and pulled out to sea.

I stumble to get higher up the beach, but the rocks are harsh on my bare feet, and they sting and throb already with the open cuts. The cold water makes me hiss from the salt, but the freezing water numbs them enough for me to endure the pain.

A harsh wind slaps against my body and I fall down. The quick movement forces my head to spin and my nausea builds up in my throat and I struggle not to be sick. Slowly I crawl as I squint my eyes, desiring to lie down somewhere and fall asleep, but I need to get out of here. Wherever here is?

I push off my hands and rise to my feet and I walk in a zigzag as I can't stay straight. No matter how hard I try, I don't have enough strength in my legs.

Off in the distance is a home further from the beach. It's the only place I've seen since I started walking. But I can't say when that was or how long I've been trying to get help. Everything around me is off, and the pain is the only constant I'm familiar with.

The urge to be sick builds again and I lean over and place my hands on my knees as I breathe in through my nose and out my mouth. Trying hard to control my body as best as possible. The last thing I want to do is to be sick.

It passes and I sway as I stand up, keeping my eyes shut tight as the rapid movements force the world to shift more and it causes a deeper sense of motion sickness. Something I've battled with since childhood, but this is a more intense sensation, especially since I'm walking.

Once my body stops swaying and the ground beneath me stops spinning, I ease my eyes open and sigh. I don't instantly double over and release all the contents of my stomach.

I regain my focus towards the house in the distance. It's my goal to make it there. I step forward as sturdy as I can and wince as my feet throb as I move out of the muddy sand and onto the drier rock filled beach.

A man comes running toward me and I seize for a moment as I try to make out his features, but he's still too far away. I want to hide because I don't know who he is, but the need for help outweighs the need to run. If I can't get him to get me to a hospital, then I'm not sure what's going to happen.

My vision fades in and out of darkness and panic overtakes me. I don't like the dark. The dark is a terrifying place.

Huh. Why don't I like the dark?

I waver but maintain upright, as I focus on the large man as he's closer, and I can't help the way my heart pounds inside my chest. With everything going on with me, I still notice the insanely attractive man and his short cropped hair with the salt and pepper wisps at the temples. The dark brown eyes lit with concern. A defined jaw that clenches the closer he gets to me. He holds up his arms with the physique of a god, and I don't hear a word he says as I drop.

The man dives and catches me as I take in his clean-shaven face with the slightest lines framing his eyes.

Oh, he's so handsome.

Everything goes black and the pain stops.

My body tenses as I'm jostled around. I slip one eye open and I'm laying in the front seat of an automobile. Judging by the height outside the window, I'm assuming it's a truck. The gorgeous man from earlier frowns as he speeds down the road as heavy sounds hit the windshield.

I hiss, another jolt of pain stabs my brain and I curl into the seat further as I notice I'm wrapped in a large jacket.

The man looks over. "Hey beautiful, I'm going to get you to the hospital, okay? Hang in there."

I blink a few times as his deep voice rolls over my body and this need to crawl into his lap and rest my head against his chest consumes me, and I frown at the safe feeling I gain from his presence.

The man looks at me with concern all over his face. He lifts his head to the road and curses as he slams on the brakes.

He lifts his hand up to catch me from falling forward and banging my head on the dashboard, but the seat belt catches me. I groan at the pain across my chest.

"Shit, darlin' I'm sorry. Hold on okay." He opens his door and the hail pounds inside the cab of the truck and I shiver at the cold. I didn't realize the man has the heaters blasting directly on me.

With the slamming of the door, I try to gain the energy to lift my head and follow him, but it takes too much effort, and I slump back against the seat and pass out.

I'm so tired.

There's no more pain.

I'm burning up and I try to sit up as I hate being strapped down, but the heavy blankets are tightly tucked around me, limiting my movement. I glance around as best as possible, but my eyes sting and make my head pound harder as I squint to look around.

A fire roars in the fireplace. There's no other light source and the windows are boarded up. I look around the room and the place is sparsely decorated but everything is nice quality and the couch I'm on is comfortable. Only my body feels like I've been battered and hit by a truck.

I scan over my shoulder and the handsome man is sitting in a chair with his head down onto his chest and his breathing is deep. He's sleeping and knowing he's there has me easing up and I settle into the cushions.

The need to shut my eyes is strong and I burrow into the blankets more because of the comfort I find they bring me now, knowing he's here. I don't feel trapped so much and just want to rest.

I slip back into the darkness as the pain stops once more.