Blood Mines

Chapter 7: Is this the end?

When she finally came to her ears were buzzing again. That persistent sound that wanted to drive you mad. Bile rose and she swallowed hard. She took deep breaths until the feeling subsided, rolling on her back in the hopes that it would calm her down. She tried to open an eye but blinding light caused her to flinch away and she closed it once more. Her heart was pounding hard in her eyes, throat, ribs and arms. She had lost the feeling in her legs a while back.

Finally, with enough strength regained, she tried to open her eyes again. This time she noticed it wasn't the blinding sun in her eyes, but a torch that shone directly into her eyes. She turned her face away and groaned, a deep voice said, “She is awake."

“Good." Someone else said.

“Sweetie, can you hear me?" A woman's voice spoke directly to her. So close that she could feel her breath brush her skin.

Tanya could only groan in response, she felt disconnected with her own body. Not sure if she even had one, her body felt tight, way too tight to be normal. As if a heavy weight had descended onto her and she struggled to breathe. Everything was painful.

Then someone lifted her head and she could feel a cup pressed against her lips.

“Here, drink, dearie."

Tanya gulped away the cold sweetness that was offered to her. “Slow down, dear. Not so fast, you will choke and that will not help the ribs. Slowly, there you go. That's enough."

“My son," she choked out, water spittle ran down her mouth and a soft cloth removed it tenderly.

“He will live." She replied.

“My name is Edna." She introduced herself.

“Tanya." She replied although it sounded more like a wheezing than her actual voice.

“I know dear. Etienne found you, and brought you and your son to us. You are safe now. Just relax and sleep."

“I want to see him." Her voice small and shaking Tanya felt like crying, her body trembling in shock and a warm blanket was wrapped around her. She felt a light prick in her arm as a needle punctured her skin with a sharp sting as the woman explained,

“You can see him tomorrow when you feel better. He is in the room just down the passage." The injection needle passed her sight and then clanged down into a stainless steel dish. All these sounds were soothing her as she realised she was indeed safe.

Tears ran down her face, she blinked from the sting as her tears seared the bruises on her face. Now, for the first time she felt swollen, her one eye could only open in a slit, the other, was painful but still she had the ability to see, although in a haze. It seems that the woman's face was covered with clouds: hazy and out of focus.

She tried to touch herself but hands held them down.

The woman whispered, “Don't fear, sweetie, we will fix you right up. Now, rest, okay." With a final tap on her leg she dozed off but she could still hear the man ask the woman, “How is she?"

“She will live." Then the door closed. She rolled her face into the softness of the pillow and slept.