PANDORA

by Rebecca Hamilton

“Last night you said there was someone else. You asked if we found her,” he said in his thick southern accent.

  I nodded my head. “There was someone else making him do it. She came over one night and cut my leg.”

  “Cut your leg?” he asked. “With what?”

  Pulling the sheet to the side, I exposed an ugly red scar running down my thigh. “I don’t know. She used something sharp enough to do this.”

  Detective Lock pulled out a small notebook and pen. He wrote notes, occasionally pausing to look up at me.

  After several minutes had passed, he studied my face. “How do you know the other person was a female?” he asked.

  “Easton told me,” I answered.

  “And you believed him?” asked Detective Lock with a frown.

  My jaw dropped. Before I could say, “Yes,” waves of doubt flooded my mind. I then continued, “He talked to her on the phone.” My voice was quiet.

  The detective ran his tongue over his teeth. “Did you ever see her or talk to her on Easton’s cell phone?”

  I shook my head. “He said he loved her . . . ”

  His brow furrowed. “Then why did he uncuff you and hide you under the floor?”

  More tears fell. “I don’t know?”

  Detective Lock leaned forward and put his hand on top of mine. “Abriana, I need to ask you a serious question.” His eyes met mine. “I need to know if you shot Easton.”

  My eyes widened. “No!”

  “You aren’t going to be in trouble, Abriana. We understand. It was self-defense. We just need to know where you hid the gun.”

  My chest rose and fell with short shallow breaths.

  Beep, beep, beep, went the heart monitor.

  Struggling to fill my lungs with the much-needed oxygen, I started to panic. “I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe! HELP me!”

  Panic spread across Detective Lock’s face. He jumped to his feet and sprinted toward the door. “We need a doctor in here!”

  Doctor Porter rushed into the room, followed by two nurses. “Detective Lock, we need you out of here NOW!”

  His eyes landed on mine for a brief minute before he turned and disappeared.

  “She’s having a panic attack.” Doctor Porter barked out commands over her shoulder as she checked my vitals. “Give her two mg of Lorazapam! Stat!”

  The nurse pulled out a syringe and injected the medicine into the IV tubing connected to my arm. The room began to spin and my throat tightened, making it difficult to breathe. Suddenly, the same warm, serene feeling from the night before overtook my body and I fell into a deep sleep.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Alexa

  “She’s been through too much,” my mother said, shaking her head.

  I shifted my weight and uncrossed my arms. “Yeah, but Mom, she needs to talk to him at some point.”

  “You saw what happened last time. She had a panic attack. They had to sedate her.”

  I walked over and wrapped my arms around my mother’s fragile body. I felt her sigh and melt into my arms. Stupid Abriana! Look how much pain you’ve caused our mother! The sooner you’re gone, the better!

  “Maybe she just needs a little bit more time . . . ” my mother whispered, trailing off as tears fell from her eyes.

  “Maybe,” I said, nodding in agreement. “But, what if that time never comes? What if she can never handle facing what happened to her?”

  Unable to respond, my mother sobbed loudly.

  Rubbing her back, I caught my reflection in the hospital bathroom mirror. My hair looked greasy and I had dark circles under my eyes. Ugh! I better get cleaned up before MatÍ as comes to visit her today. He had tried to visit her last night, but the doctor turned him away because of her meltdown. Of course, Abriana would find a way to ruin our time together! Brat! I let out a loud sigh. Soon, she’ll just be a distant memory. The only Vega girl MatÍ as will be interested in seeing is me!

  Interrupting my thoughts, my mother pulled out of my embrace and took a step back. “My life would stop without you two in it.”

  No, it won’t! You’ll be much better off without Abriana. Just wait and see . . .

  Pushing the satisfying thoughts to the back of my head, I forced a sweet smile on my face. “I love you, Mom.”

  “I love you too, Alexa.”

  ***

  After stopping home for a few hours to clean up, I made my way back to the hospital. Instead of turning on the road that would take me back to Abriana, I got on the highway and headed toward Target. “I think I deserve a little treat first . . . .”

  As I strolled through the store, I stopped and looked at a black maxi dress. Perhaps I could wear this to Abriana’s funeral? A smile crossed my face as the thought of her casket being lowered into the ground played on repeat.

  I kept walking. As I passed the skinny jeans, I paused and held a pair up against my slim waist. Cute, but not what I wanted. Turning down an aisle, I looked at a rack of tank tops. I thumbed through them until I found one I liked. On the next rack, I grabbed a pair of shorts. Perfect!

  After slipping into the dressing room, I tried on a dark grey tank top with white print and navy shorts. Yeah, I’m definitely buying these!

  Before leaving, I picked up some waterproof mascara. There, even if I force the tears, I’ll still look good.

  I paid and made it out to my car. Without hesitation, I slid out of my yoga pants and into the shorts. I grabbed the tank top, pulled the tags off and threw them on the floor. I pulled it over my head and tossed the t-shirt I had been wearing on the passenger’s seat.

  Last but not least, I thought as I applied two layers of mascara.

  A smile crossed my face as I pulled out on to the highway. Watch out, MatÍ as! You’re not going to be able to resist me for much longer!

  ***

  It took awhile, but I finally convinced my parents that they could go home and rest. A smile tugged on the corners of my lips. I couldn’t wait to spend more time with MatÍ as!

  I sat in the wooden chair next to Abriana’s bed and watched her sleep. If it wasn’t for those alarms, I could have killed her last night. Ugh . . . Technology!

  Looking up, I watched as her chest rose and fell. The rhythm sent me into a daze.

  “Lex?” came a familiar voice.

  Spinning around, I plastered a distressed look on my face and blinked back fake tears. “Hey, Mat.”

  He pulled me into his arms and squeezed me tightly.

  Yes!

  “I’m so glad they found her,” he whispered.

  I could feel his hot tears hit my bare shoulder.

  “Me too,” I lied.

  I stuck out my lower lip as he pulled away.

  “Has she been sleeping all day?” he asked.

  Nodding, I drank in his features. Those long eyelashes, dark brown eyes, and strong cheekbones . . . Sigh . . . To die for! I forced the smile that tried to surface back down.

  “Do you mind if I have some time alone with her?”

  WHAT?

  “Excuse me?” I asked in disbelief.

  “I’d like to sit with Abriana for awhile, alone,” he said.

  “Oh, um, o- o- okay,” I stammered.

  “I mean, if that’s okay with you?” he asked. “I know it must be hard to let her out of your sight, even if it’s only for a few minutes.”

  “No, I mean, yeah. It’s fine,” I answered in a shaky voice.

  “Thanks, Lex,” he said with a sad smile.

  I watched his eyes. He only looked at me for a moment before turning back to Abriana. Seething, I forced myself to take a deep breath and exhale slowly through my nose. That’s fine, MatÍ as. She isn’t going to be around for much longer . . . So take your time and say goodbye.

  Standing up, I made my way toward the door. “Just text me when you’re getting ready to leave. I don’t want Bri to be left alone, at all.”

  “Will do,” he said as he turned away from me and pulled a chair next to Abriana’s hospital bed.<
br />
  Thoughts bombarded my mind as I made my way out into the hallway. I needed Abriana to die . . . But my first priority had to be killing Easton. I can’t have that man spilling any of my secrets!

  Chapter Sixteen

  Abriana

  “Abriana, honey, time to wake up,” a familiar voice whispered.

  “Huh?” I responded groggily.

  “Doctor Porter is here and she wants to take a look at you.”

  My eyelashes fluttered open to my mother’s warm smile. Scanning the room, I took in the machines and the bright fluorescent lights secured into the ceiling.

  “Do you need help getting up?” asked Doctor Porter.

  Stretching my arms above my head, I groaned. “No, I think I can get it.”

  Dr. Porter studied my face as I eased into a sitting position.

  Why is she looking at me like that?

  “Abriana, you’ve been through an awful lot,” Dr. Porter said in an empathetic voice.

  I nodded in agreement as I pulled on a stray thread attached to the blanket covering my body.

  “How are you feeling?” she asked.

  I shrugged.

  “Abriana,” my mother said. Her brows were bunched together and her tne was soft and low.

  Smoothing out the blanket, I looked up at Dr. Porter. “Everything is sore. I’m scared to go to sleep, and I haven’t showered in days.”

  Dr. Porter took a step closer. “The soreness should subside soon and you can definitely take a shower once I’m done examining you. Why are you scared to go to sleep?”

  Averting my gaze, I mumbled, “I’m afraid someone will take me again.”

  “Abriana, we won’t let that happen again,” my mother said as she stood and wrapped her arms around my neck. She kissed me on the cheek and gave me a tight squeeze before letting go.

  Dr. Porter continued to study my face. “Abriana, the detectives have released a statement. Easton Pierce is in a coma and he has two police officers outside of his hospital room at all times.”

  “Sweetheart,” my mother said, reaching for my hand, “he can’t get you.”

  My chest began to rise and fall more rapidly. “No, but she can.”

  Dr. Porter pressed her lips together, but she didn’t say anything.

  My mother squeezed my hand. “The police are looking into it, Bri. They also have someone posted outside your hospital door. You’re safe. I promise.”

  Why doesn’t anyone believe me?

  I rubbed my face with both hands. Blinking back tears, I looked at Dr. Porter. “Can we please just get this exam over?”

  She nodded and walked over to the hospital bed. “Please lay back down,” she instructed.

  After several minutes of questions, poking, and prodding, she asked me to sit up. “Abriana, I’m concerned about the cut on your leg. I think it’s best if we give you a tetanus shot and a round of antibiotics.”

  “Okay,” I responded.

  “How did you get this cut?” asked Dr. Porter, her voice full of caution.

  “Easton’s accomplice. She cut me with a knife,” I quavered with fresh tears in my eyes.

  The doctor and my mother exchanged glances.

  They don’t believe me. I bit my lip and stared through the small window in the corner on the opposite side of the room. Anger and sadness swelled in my chest.

  “I’ll be right back,” said Doctor Porter.

  “Okay,” I mumbled.

  Unable to look at my mother’s face, I laid back down and closed my eyes. I pulled the blanket up around my chin. Why did Easton pick me? Why did I have to go through all of this mess?

  “Oh, Abriana. sweetheart! Please don’t be upset,” said my mother. She leaned down and gave me a hug. She smelled like roses and lilacs. “Everything is going to be okay. I promise,” she said in a quiet voice full of sadness.

  Tears threatened to stream down my face. “There was someone else, Mom. I’m not lying. She cut me and she shot Easton!”

  My mother ran her hand over my hair. “I’m sorry, Abriana. No one should have to go through what you did.”

  She’s avoiding the subject! If my own mother doesn’t believe me, how can I expect anyone else to?

  The tears began to fall and they didn’t stop until Doctor Porter came back into the room. She had a syringe and a package of pills.

  After giving me the shot, she handed me a plastic cup filled with water and a large pill.

  “You’ll need to take these twice a day, after a meal, with a full glass of water,” she instructed. “In the meantime, you should put antibiotic cream on your cut.”

  I looked down at the jagged red line snaking up my leg.

  “Sure,” I responded.

  “I’ll leave some on the counter and you can apply it after you get out of the shower.”

  “Thanks,” I replied quietly.

  “Also,” said Doctor Porter, “after going through such a traumatic event and having residual side effects, I’d like to prescribe you some medication to help with anxiety.”

  I wiped my damp cheeks with the back of my hand.

  “It will also help you sleep,” explained the doctor.

  Nodding, I looked toward the window and watched as raindrops spattered against the glass.

  “Is it okay if I give your mother the prescription? She can fill it in the pharmacy downstairs and you can start taking it tonight.”

  I nodded again.

  After she wrote out the prescription on a small pad she dug out of her pocket, she ripped it off and handed it to my mother. “Abriana,” said Doctor Porter, “we’re planning on releasing you tomorrow. But, before you go home, we need you to talk to one of our psychologists.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  “You need someone to help you process this terrible event,” said Doctor Porter. “And that someone should be a trained psychologist.”

  An uncomfortable feeling swept through my core. What if the psychologist doesn’t believe me either?

  “That’s fine,” I said.

  “Wonderful,” responded Doctor Porter. “I’ll have Dr. Gillian stop down later this afternoon.”

  “Now—”

  Before she could finish, Alexa burst through the doors with a frantic expression on her face. “Abriana, are you okay?”

  “What?” I asked, my brows lifting in confusion.

  Alexa rushed over to my bed and plopped down. “Wait,” she exclaimed, “didn’t you hear?”

  “Hear what, Alexa?” asked my mother.

  “It’s Easton,” she responded. “A bunch of doctors just rushed into his room. It looks like he’s going to die!”

  Doctor Porter frowned. “Excuse me? Where did you hear that?”

  Alexa looked at the doctor. “They had a crash cart. I’m not an idiot!”

  My heart began to slam in my chest like a jackhammer breaking through concrete. My hands trembled as I brought them to my face. “He’s dying?”

  Alexa nodded with a smile on her face. “Bri, the guy who kidnapped you is going to die! You never have to worry about him again!” she said, wrapping her arms around me.

  A mixture of guilt and relief surged through my body and shook me to the core.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Alexa

  Trying to appear sincere, I continued to hug Abriana. “This is a good thing, Bri! Why are you crying?”

  Pulling away from my embrace, my sister’s petite frame curled up into the fetal position and she began to rock back and forth.

  “Mrs. Vega, perhaps filling that prescription now would be helpful,” suggested the doctor to my mother. “In the meantime, I’m going have one of the nurses administer a dose.”

  Our mother’s complexion turned pale. “I can’t leave Abriana right now,” she said.

  Rubbing Abriana’s back, I looked over at my mother and gave her an encouraging nod. “It’s okay, Mom. I’m here.”

  A moment later, she nodded and scurried out of the room.

  “Bri
, it’s okay,” I said in a soothing voice. Don’t worry, big sis; it will all be over soon. You’ll be six feet under and I’ll live happily ever after with MatÍ as.

  A nurse wearing light blue scrubs entered the room, interrupting my thoughts.

  “Abriana, I have some medication that will help you calm down. I just need to give you a quick shot. Is that okay?”

  She didn’t respond. Instead, she continued rocking back and forth, back and forth.

  The nurse walked over to the side of the bed and reached for Abriana’s shoulder. “I need you to be still for a moment.”

  Instead of slowing down, Abriana’s body rocked even faster.

  The nurse looked at me, her blue eyes full of concern. “I’m going to need to get some help. I’ll be right back.”

  As she left the room, I cut my eyes at Abriana. Forever the victim, Abriana! Why do you always need SOOO many people to care and worry about you? Ugh!

  A few moments later, the nurse came back with two orderlies.

  “Please hold her down while I give her the injection,” she instructed.

  I stood up as a man and a woman walked up to the bed. I wish they would hold her down while I smother her with a pillow.

  Watching Abriana fight against the orderlies sent shivers down my spine. I love seeing you suffer, I thought to myself with a smirk.

  Once she had been pinned down, the nurse quickly jabbed the needle into her backside. A few seconds later, she stopped flailing and the orderlies released her body.

  “What’s going on here?” asked a familiar voice, full of disbelief.

  My heart soared. MatÍ as! Quick! Bring out the waterworks!

  Pretending to sniffle, I turned toward him and buried my face into his broad chest. “It’s all my fault,” I cried.

  He stood with his hands at his sides. “What’s happening to Abriana?”

  “I told her Easton was dying and she freaked out. She started rolling back and forth and wouldn’t stop!”

  Stepping away and leaving me off balance, MatÍ as rushed to Abriana’s side.

  Stop trying to rescue someone who doesn’t love you. Disgust surged through as I saw his worried frown. Hmmmm . . . Maybe I should have faked my own kidnapping instead of this elaborate mess with Abriana? Ugh! I could have had MatÍ as all to myself by now!