Blood Mines

Chapter 8: Waking up in a different world

“Mom,"

“Go away, I am sleeping." Tanya murmured.

“Ma!"

Tanya groaned with displeasure. She tried to slap the persistent hand away but then realized she couldn't; everything felt heavy. Now she fought against the hold on her hands but more hands held her hands down.

“Now, now, sweetie. No need to be frightened. We are all here. Look, your son came for a visit."

Then, as if someone flicked on the switch, Tanya remembered everything. Coldness rushed through her veins as sheen of sweat covered her upper lip, and again she felt the powerlessness of their ordeal. Immediately she opened her good eye and saw a young man's face hovering before her. She had to blink several times to really register that it was indeed her son, Steve. She tried to smile but the sting in her lip caused her to forget that idea quickly. She lifted her hand and realised that it was bandaged, that explained the heaviness she thought grimly.

However, determined to ease her of his safety she touched his face softly with a bandaged hand, just following every curve on the youthful face with swollen tips, now bruised and swollen from the attack. A bandage covered his head and his hair looked tasselled. He was pale as death from pain though he tried not to show it, his eyes sunken into the sockets.

“Hi ma," he repeated softly, and gave her a quick kiss, his eyes darting to the people around her. Then he sat down on the chair next to her bed, his face contorted in pain as sweat formed on his upper lip. She couldn't help but to giggle at the display. He was a typical teenager who wouldn't be caught dead kissing his mother, so she dropped her hand, not pressing the issue, although, all she wanted to do was wrap him in her arms and keep him away from harm's way. Instead she greeted him with a smile. Well, what felt like a smile; she wasn't sure.

Her eyes darted over him, taking in every scrape and bruise that was visible to her. The bruise around his neck looked the worst of the lot and she remembered that was how they tied him to the tree. It was an ugly purple blood-red scar that would take a while to heal. She was certain the rest of his body must be covered in bruises as well, but, for now it was well hidden with the t-shirt and denim he was wearing.

“Where are we?" she asked instead. She couldn't believe her own voice, it made a rasping sound as if she had something in her throat intermittently blocking the sound. When she tried to clear her throat, pain shot through her and she flinched.

“Don't try to talk, sweetie. Just take it easy and we will answer all your questions for you."

Tanya nodded touching her throat, immediately a cup was held in front of her and she took a few sips. She recalled how painful it was the previous night and kept it in moderation.

“Well, where shall we begin?" Tanya could see the older woman better and, although she appeared to be familiar, she wasn't sure from where.

Her curly, grey hair framed a wrinkled, chubby face. The light green eyes were direct but filled with genuine concern. Her mouth's laugh lines indicated that she was quick to laugh.

“I don't know if you can remember, but my name is Edna. This is Patrick, my next-door neighbour, and the man who brought you here."

Tanya looked at the man who stood at the end of the bed and he nodded, acknowledging her with a grim smile. He was of average build and looked like most farmers: Leathery skin with a permanent pale ring on his forehead that indicated he often wore a hat.

There wasn't anything particularly interesting about him, but he had eyes that were alert as he looked at her attentively. Not missing anything around him, she was sure of it. But there was something in his eyes that she didn't trust. His broad shoulders were firm and straight, proud of whom he was. He looked determined to solve whatever the problem may be.

“You were attacked by a small group of bandits that we have tried to flush out for some time now. The fact that you bit off the leader's finger has made headlines over the bush telegraph." Edna smiled wickedly. “You did the right thing at that moment, but that has put a target on your back, Tanya, and Etienne thought it best to contact Patrick. He brought you to us three days ago."

Tanya couldn't help but to smile as she remembered how the bastard's face contorted in pain. She hoped he died. If not, she would make sure he would. But then she froze as the words registered with her.

“Three days ago," she rasped out, outraged as she tried to sit up just to fall back in agony.

“Yes dear, you have been here for three days now. You were out for most of the time, struggling with a fever due to the rash that you had. We had to give you some antibiotics."

“Antibiotics?" she asked surprised. Medicine was a rarity, just like fresh vegetables; it was very hard to come by, and very expensive when you did.