Chapter 25

I closed my eyes, waiting until I could no longer hold my breath. Will kept fighting against the rope. Suddenly I heard muffled sounds. It wasn't coming from Will or me. I looked down and around, wondering where they were coming from. I knew it was only a matter of minutes until my lungs collapsed.

The muffling sounds were getting closer, as if someone was shouting my name. Maybe I was already dying. Will turned around, looking past me, his face looked like it had just seen a ghost.

Suddenly something swooped in from below, I almost let my breath out, thinking some creature had finally got me, but it was someone, and that someone was cutting my ropes with a knife. Blood floated from the stranger as I drifted free, staring at my wrists as if I didn't know what to do next. I quickly shook myself out of whatever daze I was in and fought hard swimming to the top. I kept swimming toward the light. Was so close...couldn't breathe.

As if I had never breathed air before, I burst out of the water, choking hard as salt water entered my lungs. Out of nowhere something—or someone pulled me out and dragged me across a rocky slab. I coughed everything up and layed on my back, seeing faces all around me, ones I didn't recognize. I sucked in air like my life depended on it. Choking and rolling over, fighting against my body's will to rest.

"Eva!" A shirtless, dark haired man bent over me.

"Will?" I sat up, someone from behind wrapped a wool blanket around me.

"Will?" I repeated, gaining strength. Water dripped from the curled ends of his hair. He was alive! And so was I! But how—

"Get him in the ambulance." I heard someone say. I slowly stood and realized suddenly all of those faces I'd been seeing belonged to emergency personnel. There were police cars and ambulances parked all over the grove.

"Excuse me, miss?" a man clad in a police uniform stood behind me and spoke in a heavy Greek accent.

"May I ask what exactly happened here? We weren't able to get anything out from the man who was with you."

"They need to be taken to the hospital immediately." An EMS person interrupted him, and took my wrist to check my pulse. He didn't even flinch when he saw the scarring from the wire.

"Wait, what man?" I asked, trying to get back to what the officer was saying.

Only bits and pieces of the last five minutes were coming to my memory.

"Eva!" Someone from the grove came rushing towards me. I squinted, trying to see who it was.

"Charles?" I yelled. Barefoot, I jerked my wrist away from the EMS and ran around the water-filled crevices and rocks. I jumped into his arms.

"But, how did you get out of the car?" I asked, examining him for any serious injuries.

"I'm sorry, Eva, but we need to take you to the hospital. Your body is in shock." I was now beginning to notice I was trembling, under the setting sun. In this sudden rush of cold air, I was at risk for hypothermia if I didn't leave.

"I'll explain it all later." He touched the side of my face with his hand.

"I'm just thanking God you're safe." Feeling weaker than I realized, I let the EMS man pull me away from Charles and towards the Grove, where Will was already waiting for me. He smiled while helping me up and pulling me into his blanket. His face looked concerned as he paused, reading me.

"Eva, your shaking."

I nodded. It was getting worse. I fell limp into Will's arms, feeling like all of the blood was draining from my head. The EMS went into immediate action. Will quickly helped me onto a stretcher and I laid down obediently, unable to fight what was happening. Suddenly my body began pulsing violently. Everyone was shouting orders.

"She's going into cardiac arrest. We need to get her in now!" The doors of the vehicle slammed shut and the last thing I saw were two paddles ramming at my chest.

**********

When my eyes opened, I felt like a hammer had hit my ribs at the speed of a semi-truck. I groaned.

"Doctor, she's awake!" A nurse came looming over me, followed by an older man who's eyes creased when he saw me.

"There you are, dear. You gave us all quite a scare back there."

"You're speaking English." I'd been out for probably hours, and that was the first thing that pops out of my mouth? There must be drugs at work here. He smiled at the nurse, then me.

"That's right, I live here."

"In the hospital?" I grogged. Oh great, another brilliant remark. I heard him tell something to the nurse, then look back down at me.

"You'll be right as rain in a few minutes. Would you mind if I ask a few questions, just to check on your progress?"

I nodded, not knowing where this was going. He looked down at a memo pad.

"What is your name?" What a ridiculous question!

"Eva Westfield." I whispered. My lips and throat felt dry.

"Excellent, Eva." He crossed something out.

"And, Eva, what is your last memory?" I thought for a minute. I was running in the Grove with Will. For some reason I kept seeing water and blood—blood of the person who saved me floating underwater.

"Eva?"

"I—I think I was talking to Will in the Grove." Wait, was Charles there too? What about Gio? My Aunt? As if some sort of inner strength was breaking free, I began to sit up. The doctor and nurse fought to keep me lying down, but they finally settled for propping me up into a semi-sitting position.

"What happened to me?" I asked. For some reason I wasn't panicking, just curious. The drugs were finally wearing off.

"Well, you were under freezing water for over 4 minutes. You're lucky to be alive right now."

"Where's Will?" I asked.

"If you're referring to your dark-haired friend who was with you, he's fine. He's been bothering our nurses all day about you." I smiled. That's Will.

"When can I go home?" I realized as I said it that I didn't even know where home was.

"Well, you can go very soon if you actually do what we tell you to." He shook his head. "Where do you get this stubbornness from anyway? Your Mother or Father?"

I thought about that for a second. A slow smile spread on my face. "Both, I think."

He laughed. "Then we're in double the trouble."

While the nurse checked my IV, I thought more about what happened on the ocean rocks, past the Grove. My memory kept going back to being under the water. Every time I saw blood floating like smoke in the darkness, it gave me chills.

"Do you know who saved us?" I asked. I wasn't sure if they knew, but it was worth a try.

"No, I'm afraid I don't, but I heard it was quite an event. The man was taken to another hospital."

"Well, everything looks good on our end, Ms. Westfield, if you're ready, I'll let the others in."

"Others?" I asked, surprised. The doctor winked and opened the door, nodding at whoever was outside.

I felt my face light up like a Christmas tree when I saw Gio walk in triumphantly, followed by Charles and Will. They were all holding ridiculously large teddy bears, balloons, and bouquets of flowers.

Gio set his gift down on my nightstand and greeted me with a warm hug. It felt so good to feel his scratchy beard on my cheek and his clean, warm sweater which smelled like Manchester.

"I'm so glad you're safe." I finally said, gazing at my three brave Englishman (one half-Scottish). I hugged Charles next, then Will came, looking terribly sexy in a casual black sweater and jeans. I wrapped my bruised arms around his broad shoulders, taking in the smell of his spicy after-shave.

"Even in a hospital, you look more beautiful to me than ever."

I stared into his warm brown eyes.

Gio cleared his throat. "Yes, well let it be the last time, please? I think twice in one week is quite enough." We both chuckled at his comment.

"Thank you for the flowers." I was speaking to all of them, but my eyes never left Will's.

"Yes, I remembered your roses." Gio arched an eyebrow. "And don't try to change it back to Lilies again—I know you only said it because of that Austin fellow."

Something inside me changed as realization struck.

"Eva, what's wrong?" Will asked, looking concerned.

"Austin—he was the one who jumped in and saved us wasn't he?"

Everyone was silent for a moment. I stared at them all.

"Well, is he alright?" I asked urgently. Finally Charles spoke, but his voice was strange.

"Don't' you worry—he's fine right now." Charles swallowed. "He was in pretty bad shape when he left, Ev." I resisted the urge to let the wall of tears fall. Please, let him be alright. Desperate to change the subject I asked about my Aunt. Gio explained how it wasn't long before I was discovered, when they searched the house and found her alive and healthy, just tied up in the attic.

"She was pretty shaken, but she's been asking about you. The officials explained your situation to her. Seems she has a surprise of some sort when you stop by."

He leaned in closer and winked. "I have a little one of my own actually."

I smiled, feeling grateful. Grateful that I had these wonderful people in my life. My real family.

"I can't wait to see it, Gio."