Prologue
Dawn Raynon
My senses were coming back to me; I felt like I was floating. Fading in and out of consciousness, I tried to lift my head as a familiar metallic smell crept through my nostrils , snaking through my senses. I tried to move, but there was something weighing me down. I tried to look around; I could feel it. Feel it in my gut. I was the only person alive.
Then voices, strange noises filling my ears. Distorted at first, they were making my head hurt; I slowly realised what they were… sirens, dust and screams. What had happened?
"Quick- there is a woman trapped here." Suddenly, I felt a weight pushed off me.
"Wait, there is a girl here too." I hear the same voice again.
"Liam!" The lady's breathing is starting to get shallower. "We need to hurry up!" The voice slowly fades away as darkness creeps up on me. I felt someone lifting me up, before everything turned black.
· · · · ·
Beep — beep — beep –
"She's gone"
Wait, who's gone? What's happening to me? Am I dead?
· · · · ·
I wake up with a sharp pinch on my right arm. My body was stiff and aching, waiting, begging for some movement. With great effort and patience, I finally pry my eyes open, but I was only welcomed by the blinding bright light that caused the pounding in my head.
"Dr Richmond, the patient is finally awake!" I heard someone exclaim. A doctor? I took a quick glance of my surroundings, and was shocked by the amount of whiteness that the room contained. As my eyes landed on the machine beside me, I instantly realised that I'm in a hospital, and the strong scent of disinfectant only confirmed my thoughts.
"Hello, I am Dr Richmond. I am in charge of a group of patients from the bombing." I stared at him, not knowing what to say. A bombing? I was involved in a bombing? Suddenly, everything came flooding back into my mind.
My birthday. My parents. The explosion.
The feeling overwhelmed me, as the memories came flooding back.
The screaming. The crying. The blood.
Suddenly, the walls closed in and the comfortable position I was in became uncomfortable. I was aware of every cell in my body. The room started to spin as sweat broke out of my forehead.
The panic. The desperation. The shock.
" Miss Raynon, can you hear me?" my body was heating up; my head was throbbing as the room continued to spin. I felt as if someone was strangling me.
" Breath in, breathe out," Dr. Richmond suggested to me. Although it wasn't easy, I gave it my best effort, trying to ignore the pain and discomfort I was going through.
But somehow, I just couldn't; the memories of the bombing event kept repeating in my head. I had so many questions, but none could be answered in the state I was in. So I followed the orders of the doctor and focused on my breathing. Despite the fact that it was not easy, eventually my breathing calmed and I stared into space. I was thinking about what had just happened; trying to process the situation, before, I fell into a deep slumber.
Zander River
I watched her as she lay on the uncomfortable, plain white medical bed. When I was young, I swore an oath to myself that I would protect her from any harm that may come, but I have failed. Only 5 years later. People might think that it is stupid that I take the oath I had swore to when I was 10 so seriously, but whenever it comes to Dawn, I will never take anything as a joke.
Just watching her lying on a hospital bed, deep asleep breaks my heart. Let alone imagining her being involved in that disgusting bombing event at the concert. Her jet black hair surrounds her and as the memory of the night came flooding back, I could only imagine what it was like for Dawn...
. . . . .
( 3 nights before )
The performance came to an end, and the booming sound echoed through the arena. The screaming started, blood started pouring and the crowd rushed. My first instinct was to leave the arena, but the crowd was an impossible barrier to break through. It was like a swarm of bees ready to attack the prey outside. As I felt the cold breeze of the night, panic slowly left me, but I was only welcomed by more crowds and reporters.
It was not until I was on the train ready to get back home and contact the rest of the boys who were here with me that my phone rang, and the caller ID was Dawn's. I picked up, waiting for her normal loud self but was only greeted by a low deep voice.
" Hello, this is Dr Richmond- are you a friend or family of Miss Dawn Raynon?" the caller asked me. Shock was the least of my reaction towards this question. I was confused- she was normally a cautious person, and I can never bear to have anything happen to her.
"Yes, I am Zander- Dawn's best friend. What happened to Dawn? Is she alright?" I was nervous and afraid of the answer that is to be expected. Nothing should come to harm her. Nothing. Nothing at all.
" I'm sorry to inform you that Dawn was involved in the bombing event at the concert this evening." My vision spiralled as tears streamed down my face. How could it be? I have just escaped the event which Dawn was involved in, right? How did she get hurt, when I'm safe?
After calming myself, I returned to the phone call.
" What is her condition right now, doctor?"
" She's in a coma right now. We think that Miss Raynon has also mildly fractured her left arm." With that answer, I ask for the hospital location and rush there as soon as possible. It broke my heart as I saw her on the hospital bed. Tears started streaming down my face as I stayed by her side.
. . . . .
" Mr. River, Miss Raynon has just woken up. " With that sentence, I took off like a little child that has just seen their parents. I have been so worried that she would not wake up. Granted, it is selfish of me, but I needed Dawn- she may be annoying and noisy but only she can keep me sane. I needed her. I needed her to keep me in check, to take things off my mind.
As I entered, the distinctive scent of the hospital welcomed me. I hurried through the entrance to the front desk.
"Dawn Raynon, please," I said.
"Of course, dear, you know where to go," the nurse smiled back at me. Rosy, I think her name is. I rushed through the corridors, excited to get my best friend back after the last 3 days. As I reached her room, the scene that unfolded before stunned me. Dawn looked as if she was drowning; unable to breathe. Her face was as pale as snow, and she was hyperventilating. I rushed forward, determined to help her, but was only held back by a nurse.
" I'm sorry, dear, she needs some space. It is better not to overwhelm her." I was scared for her, she looked so vulnerable, so terrified, like she saw a ghost. The bombing had affected us all, but it was only now that I have truly seen the true effect of the bomb.
The tears started streaming down her face, but her breathing slowly became stable as she slowly followed the instructions from Dr. Richmond. I could see as she became tired; as she slowly fell into a deep slumber. I sat beside her, observing her pale face, stroking her straight jet black hair, thinking of the terror she was going through.
. . . . .
"Miss Raynon has just had a panic attack. We assume it has been caused by the attack she has experienced," the doctor informed me. My heart hurts for Dawn- I cannot believe that she has to go through this.
"Is there any way that I could help her?" I asked hoping for a positive answer. I would be willing to do everything I can to relieve her pain.
"There is nothing specific you can do- the best thing is to be there for her and support her when she needs you. Try to get her away from any memory from the night."
"Thank you, doctor, I will try my best to help Dawn." With that Dr. Richmond walked away, leaving me to dwell in my thoughts.
I put my arms around her, holding her while she slept. I felt her snuggling into my arms, holding onto me. Just this slight movement was able to make me smile- at least she can still trust me.
"I'm sorry, Mr River, but could I have a quick word with you regarding Miss Raynon?" Dr. Richmond interrupts me.
"Of course, doctor."
"We have been wondering if you could identify some items for us."
Certainly not what I expected at all.
"This lady was on top of Miss Raynon when we found them." We continued moving through the corridors as he spoke.
"I'm assuming that this lady was trying to protect Miss Raynon," he said when we stopped outside a door. He opened the door and invited me in. There was just a single table in the middle of this dark room, with items on it.
" We were able to identify most of the victims that had unfortunately passed but, as this lady has not been identified, we are hoping you can help us with some of these items that would hopefully help us to identify the lady." I slowly identify the items on the table. Within a second, my eyes landed on a ring- more specifically, a wedding ring. My body was bursting with shock. I was unable to react.
Julia.
It was Dawn's mum's.