Syd pov
I awaken to find myself in the hospital being treated for my wounds, given IV antibiotics to prevent the numerous injuries becoming infected, and awaiting a visit from a psychotherapist to help me process the recent events.
I'm told that three days have passed, during which time my mind tormented me with repeated visions of the last moments I saw Yanni, over and over and over again.
I see his swollen, tear-stained, bruised and bleeding face, those beautiful and bright eyes, that although almost fully closed can still convey his feelings, his shock and confusion clear to see.
His skin, usually such a gorgeous golden bronze is now ashen and pale, a sheen of sweat on his face and his mouth forming a tiny 'O' as he falls to the ground, silent..... and unmoving.
I will my brain to pause at this point, having no desire to relive the following events, but my mind proves to be far more powerful than my ability to control it, the unwelcome movie continuing to play on the insides of my eyelids, no matter how tightly shut I squeeze them.
As two police officers rush to help Yanni, one radioing for paramedics while the other assesses Yanni's wounds Harry attempts to stand, but is confronted by a 3rd police officer, a young woman who pulls her handcuffs and an aerosol can from her belt, aiming the latter towards him.
She looks anxious but holds her nerve, indicating he stand with an upward wave gesture. They do not take their eyes from the others...
"DON'T...." I shout as loudly as my exhausted body can manage, but the ambient noise in the room is too great..... she doesn't hear me!
Harry is smiling, a full on toothy grin... she is in so much danger!
He slowly puts both of his arms out in front of his body, his hands closed into fists and the young woman accepts this as his suppliance, nodding and briefly looking down to fix her aerosol can back on her belt so she can cuff him.
The next few seconds bring the most monstrous and ghastly event I have ever witnessed. Every time I relive this moment tears spring into my eyes, my breath is snatched from my lungs and my heart and stomach twist inside me.
I know.
Before it even happens, I know.
He's about to kill her, I just don't know how!
I use every ounce of strength I have to raise my battered and aching body from the chair, staggering on legs as weak as those of a newborn giraffe towards the scene before me. I feel like I am in a movie, something futuristic and stark, the mayhem around me appearing to be happening behind glass, or in a parallel universe, visible and close by, but somewhat removed from me, Harry and the young officer.
She is reaching out towards him, her cuffs open and ready in her right hand, Harry inert, eyes glinting under the clinical bright lights above us. He glances at me and winks before returning his attention to the officer.
I have no time to warn her, his strike so swift he could have put a rattlesnake to shame.
The same face!
She is pulling the exact same face as Yanni did just seconds ago as he fell to the floor clutching his abdomen, except she has her hand clamped over the left side of her neck, blood flowing through her fingers as panic settles on her face before she too falls to the ground.
Harry turns to me, waves a small knife at me, winks and then disappears through a panel just beside the entrance door. How did I never know that was there? Where does it go? Does it take him to another room in the house, or outside?
Could he escape?
Is he free?
I manage a few more steps before collapsing to the floor a little behind the paramedics who are working on Yanni, catching a glimpse of his face, an oxygen mask obscuring much of it.
He is grey, motionless and covered in blood.
Another ambulance crew enter the room and gently lift me from the floor and into a wheelchair, securing a safety belt around my waist and panic rises within me! I start to thrash around in my chair, language deserts me and I attempt to remove the belt, I can't let them take me away from Yanni.
The male paramedic who I notice from his name badge is called Rob crouches ahead of me, trying to soothe me as his female counterpart begins to draw up some medication in a syringe. Rational thought leaves me and I'm convinced they are friends of Harry's, here to kill me, to silence me forever.... to protect him!
I scream, repeating the word "no" between cries as I am restrained. A needle enters my arm and I become aware of a cool sensation travelling through my veins, the terror at what this may be providing me with super strength. My forehead collides with Rob's nose and he staggers away from me, tears streaming from his eyes, blood from his nose, as his partner Rhylie continues to restrain me as the drug takes effect, my eyes drooping and my limbs becoming familiarly heavy and unresponsive.
I'm sure I'm going to die!
I want the last thing I see to be Yanni and feebly turn my head to see him being rushed by on a stretcher. I weakly call his name, my voice barely a whisper as I succumb to the darkness.
That's where my memories ended.
I'm in danger. I have to get out of here, Harry got away and I know I'm not safe here.
I attempt to sit up and every muscle in my body screams its objection at that idea, white hot pain erupting all over me.
Clenching my teeth I summon every iota of strength I have and repeat the struggle to sit upright.
My abdomen feels as though a herd of elephants riding sharpened pogo sticks are rampaging across it, the pain so incredible the air is knocked from my lungs and I fall back onto the pillow, completely spent and sweating, my head swimming with thoughts so overwhelming my brain can't process them and I feel myself drifting into an exhausted slumber.
I am roused from my restorative sleep by the feel of someone gently stroking sticky tendrils of hair back from my forehead, and find myself smiling at the feeling, unsure if I'm experiencing reality, or a wakeful dream.
Opening my eyes I am frozen with fear when I see Harry's vile face hovering above mine, his hand on my forehead, slowly inching his face closer and closer to mine, a twisted smirk on his beautiful lips as he bears down upon me.
He's going to kiss me!!
He never kisses me.
That in itself is scary, and I try to push him away, only to find my hands secured with straps to the bed.
Bile rises in my throat and I thrash around trying to detach my wrists from the straps, kicking my legs out in an attempt to keep him away from me, unsuccessful but persistent in that endeavour.
I scream for someone to come and help me, again and again. I call for Yanni, for Laura, my parents... hell, I even call for Noah, but nobody comes.
Strong hands grip me by the arms and I squeeze my eyes tightly closed, not wanting to see his face, picturing Yanni instead.
"SYDDIE!! Syd.... it's ok, it's me, Laura! You're safe..... it's ok, you're in the hospital.... sssshhhhhhh, calm down Syd, open your eyes...."
I do as I'm bid and do in fact see Laura, relief sweeping over me like a tsunami over a tropical beach.
"You we're having a nightmare sweets.... it's ok" she coos, stroking my head and smiling at me.
"Laura, thank God! Yes, I said it, Mrs Agnostic did just thank God..... a God whom I truly and wholeheartedly believe in 100% now! I thought you were Harry, and you're not!" my relief clear in my smile at her.
"So, when can I see Yanni? He's going to be so sore for a while isn't he. How many stitches did he have to have? Poor baby, I'll care for him. What ward is he in? Do you think I'll be allowed to visit him... I must look horrendous, can you help me wash my hair Laura?" A case of verbal diarrhoea overtaking my mouth.
Laura cuts in before I can speak anymore, her face serious.... professional.... scary!
"What?" I ask, shaking my head as she looks down at her fingers... "What's wrong Laura? TELL ME!
NO, don't say it.... please, don't say it..."
"Sydney, I'm so...."
"DONT! Laura.... don't!" I beg her, watching tears fall from her face onto her lap, continuing to shake my head as realisation hits me hard, the blood in my veins turning to ice water, and I swear I feel my heart shatter into pieces.
Laura reaches her hand out and touches my cheek. "He's gone Syddie..... Yanni is gone. I'm so sorry sweets" she whispers, and everything stops for me. I hear nothing, I see nothing..... I feel..... nothing!
My life is over.