A few hours later, we are at the hospital. Ryan has gone for emergency surgery and is being sent to ICU to recover.
There are search parties out for Marcella. It is difficult with the storm in full swing. The helicopter barely managed to get us here.
I stand in the broad hallway with my arms crossed over my chest. This has by far been the worst day of my life.
The doctor comes from the operating room. He rubs his hands together as if he is rubbing in some cream. He comes to stand next to me and gives me a simpathetic look. For a moment I fear that he is going to give me the worst kind of news.
"He will recover. It will take time. He is lucky that the shot missed most of his vital organs. There is a bit of damage but it will heal with time. We were able to stop the bleeding. Give him time to rest. We will keep a close eye on him." The doctor doesn't really give me time to speak.
I do not really have anything to say to him either. What else can I do other than wait for Ryan to wake up. I watch as they make him comfortable in his room. I am not allowed to go in yet. I am not sure if I will be able to go in at all. We are not married and nobody else knows that we are engaged.
Bailey comes up to me. I see her when she is almost next to me. I try to smile at her.
"Ellie is still in surgery. It does't look too good at this moment. Doctor said we may lose her." Bailey speaks in a lifeless tone. Today has been traumatizing for her as well.
The men are on the far side of the hallway talking to the police. Greyson looks over to me and then turns his attention back to the police officer.
Ava steps out from behind Andrew. She lets go of his hand and comes over to Bailey and I. I turn to take a seat that is mounted to the wall behind me. Bailey joins me on the seat. When Ava reaches us she comes to sit on the other side of me. I feel tired and drained.
"The search party cannot find Marcella." Ava states. "They do not think she could possibly be alive anymore. They will resume searching for her body in the morning."
A chuckle escapes my mouth.
"That woman cannot die. I will not believe her to be dead until I can see her lifeless body for myself." Even though I feel a lot of hatred towards this woman I didn't mean for it to sound sou hateful coming out of my mouth.
The other two look at me. I keep looking in front of me.
"We need to watch Ellie. I am sure she will show up here to finish what she started." I tell them.
The men finish talking to the police and start walking towards us. Greyson walks right past us without a word and heads straight to where Ellie is in the operating theater. He cannot enter but he stands outside the door waiting for anyone who comes out to give him an update.
Andrew puts his arm around Ava and tells us that he is heading home for a shower an fresh clothes. Ava leaves with him.
Brandon goes to sit next to Bailey.
"Would you like a shower and fresh clothes also?" he asks her
"Yes. But I don't want to leave Rachel here alone." Bailey tells him.
"Don't worry about me. I did an online booking into the hotel across the street. As soon as they tell me that Ryan is comfortable, I will run across the street for a shower." I tell them.
"What is your room number? I will ask my personal assistant to send you clothes." Brandon tells me.
I give him the room number. Grateful that I do not have to go search for something to wear.
About an hour after Brandon and Bailey left the doctor comes out and tells me that Ryan is comfortable and sleeping. He says that I can give him a few hours to rest and then they will see if they can wake him slowly.
I head over to the hotel room to shower and freshen up. Brandon's assistant left a rail of comfortable clothes in my room.
I take a shower and wrap myself in a towel. I walk towards the bed and sit on the edge. I am exhausted. I lay back and fall asleep instantly.
I wake at the sound of a door closing. I open my eyes and look around the room. It is dark now. I fumble to get a hold of the bedlight and switch it on. There is not a sign of anyone in the room. I hold my breath to hear if I can hear any movement. It is dead quiet. Only the sound of the air conditioner can be heard in the room. Unfortunately the sound the air conditioner makes also drowns out any other kind of sound.
I get up from the bed and walk towards the doorway. I find a lightswitch an switch on the lights. I turn back to the room to see if anything is different.
Everything seems to be in order except for the clothes rail that is standing a bit crooked.
As I walk towards the clothes rail I can see slithers of material laying on the ground. I look closely at the clothes on the rail. Every single piece have been cut up into slithers. My blood turns ice cold. I look around the room to find my purse.
I grab it and open it to find my phone. I call Andrew immediately to tell him what has happened. Andrew tells me to keep calm and ends the call. The very next moment there is a knock on the door.
A security guard comes in and walks straight towards me. Another hotel staff member comes to me with a large fluffy robe that she wraps around me. I put my arms into the sleeves and tie the belt around my waiste. They escort me out of the room and into another room.
The guard assures me that they are going through the security footage to find out who was in my room.
A few minutes later Andrew and Ava comes into the room. Ava brought me some other clothes since the clothes that Brandon provided for me is now useless.
I put the clothes on and go to sit with Andrew and Ava at the dining room table.
"Greyson is busy going through the footage with the hotel security." Andrew tells me.
"I am damn sure that she is still alive" I tell Andrew. He nods but doesn't say a word.
A while later Greyson comes into the room.
"We can see that someone entered the room and left thirty minutes later. But we cannot see who it was." Greyson tells us.
My heart sinks. I will never be able to live a life where I do not have to fear this woman coming into my room at night. I try to bite back my tears. I need Ryan.
"How is Ellie doing?" I ask Greyson. Greyson gives me a grim look and gets up from the table and walks out the room.
I look at Andrew and Ava with wide eyes.
"Ellie didn't make it through the surgery. And they found that she was pregnant, so Greyson is dealing with a lot more than just the deaht of his wife." Andrew tells me in a soft tone.
My heart breaks for Greyson. I also feel a deep loss for a friend we just burried a few months ago. This time she is really dead.
I put my head on the table and start to cry. I need Ryan.
Andrew reaches across the table and places his hand on my shoulder.
"You have always been the strongest of us all Rachel. It is okay to let it go." Andrew rubs my shoulder.
I take a deep breath and sit up. He is right. I have always been the strongest. I cannot give in and cry myself to sleep like this.
"We need to go to the hosital and check on Ryan." I tell Andrew.
"Brandon and Bailey is at the hospital. They are not leaving Ryan's side until you get there." Andrew tells me.
I finish up and get ready to leave. I do not want to be in a place where that woman has free range. Andrew takes me to the hospital and I get permission to stay in Ryan's room with him.
Hours later, I curl up on the winged back chair in Ryan's room. I fall asleep almost instantly.
I wake up to Ryan groaning. I get up quickly and find Ryan clawing at the bed sheets. I rush to press the button to call the nurses. An alarm sounds and the hospital staff and nurses rush to the bed. A nurse pulls me from the room and makes me stand outside while they attend to Ryan.