Chapter 45
1027words
Sam called, informing me that they hadn't yet located the driver of the vehicle that took Emma away but they were able to run his plates based on the descriptions and pieced together information provided by the staff accounts. After half an hour of cursing under my breath, and constantly watching the time tick by, he called back again. They located the driver and he told them that he'd dropped her off at a swamp.
A swamp! A fucking swamp! Who the hell does these kinda things to an innocent, defenseless, pregnant young woman?
She had just turned twenty four last month. She didn't even know her way around the city because she was scared of it and all the bad memories it held over her. How was she to know her way out of a damn swamp? I couldn't help but feel so sad, yet angry. She was dropped off at a swamp last evening like a piece of shit, left to be lost and, eventually, dead. There had been a thunderstorm last night and she was out there without a roof over her head or anything to eat.
My poor baby must be so scared and cold.
A dreadful feeling came over me.
What if she was dead? What if someone found her and killed her? What if she missed a step, fell into the water and couldn't climb back out? What if a tree branch broke off and fell on her head? What if...
My mind was going into all types of weird scenarios as I climbed into the helicopter and prepared for take off to Oyster Bay. I was going to find Emma and nothing, and no one, was going to stop me.
Ethan's POV
My phone rang in my pocket as I sat in the helicopter. Detective Sam had gotten some news. Emma was at a local hospital north of my current location. I instructed my helicopter pilot to change course. I was relieved that she was found and at a hospital. She would get the treatment that she needed there.
We landed on the hospital's roof top and moved towards the entrance. I took the elevator down and arrived at the fourth floor. A receptionist stood behind a desk flipping through papers. She gave me a pleasant smile as I approached.
'Hello, I'm Ethan Hollen. I'm looking for my fiancee, Emma Cole.'
She fixed her hair with her fingers and drew out her large chest as she smiled. Maybe she wanted to impress me, but it wasn't working. I was only attracted to one woman.
'Yes, Mr. Hollen. She's in recovery 0-10 on the third floor. It's only one floor down.' She batted her eyelashes like a doll.
'Thank you,' I said back before looking at her with disgust and turning my back. I headed downstairs. 'Ethan Hollen. I'm here to see my fiancee, Emma Cole,' I said to three nurses at a table on the entrance of the ward. I didn't care about being discreet anymore. All I wanted was to see my Emma.
'We've been expecting you, sir. Right this way,' one of the nurses instructed and she led me to the room.
She opened the door and I walked in slowly, eyes affixed on a motionless Emma lying on a bed with an IV and a SATS monitor above her head. There were bruises and cuts on her face. Her eyes were swollen underneath, showing signs that she had been crying rapidly.
I couldn't stop the tears that flooded my eyes and fell upon my cheeks. I sat down on a chair beside the bed, studying her face for any movements.
'Baby, I'm here. I need you to wake up,' I said in a whisper, taking her hand into mine.
'Mr. Hollen, she hasn't woken up since she arrived, and that's not a good sign,' a doctor said as she walked in.
'How is she?'
'She has been unconscious for hours without any signs of movement. Her vitals are stable enough to make a recovery soon, hopefully today or tomorrow. She has been given fluids and medication to assist, but we cannot administer any other sort of medication in case it posses risk to the baby. You do know she's three weeks pregnant?'
I heaved a sigh with a little happiness as she mentioned the word 'baby'. The promise of being a father gave me hope and kept me together, otherwise I might have been falling apart.
'Thank you so much, doctor.' I rubbed my temples, not taking my eyes off Emma.
'You're welcome. I'll give you some privacy now. If there are any changes, please press the red button against the bed,' she pointed to a red button with the word 'Alert'.
When she left the room I turned to Emma. 'Emma, baby I need you to wake up. If you can hear me, please show me a sign, baby.'
She only lie there, eyes closed and small rise and fall of her chest. She was breathing on her own but she just wasn't waking up. Why?
I sat for two straight hours until my butt became numb and I needed to stretch my legs. I got up and paced the room as I cast quick looks at her. I exhaled deeply. I couldn't bare it anymore. I couldn't stand to see her like this, as if she were in a coffin. Dead.
'Emma. I'm right here, baby. I need you to wake up. The baby and I need you to wake up. You can't continue like this, baby. I need you to fight and wake up, please, Emma.'
I was in tears again as I said those words to her. If she didn't wake up soon, the baby could be in danger. Still, nothing happened. I left the room for a cup of coffee in the cafeteria. I was exhausted.
I sat beside the bed again when I returned back to the room. She was still motionless. I sipped the coffee and immediately wanted to throw it away because it wasn't like Emma's. I was addicted to her coffee.
