Chapter Two
Sky
The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was that I could see the darkness. That statement doesn't really make sense, though, does it? I guess what I meant was that the blanket that Cal had wrapped around my face as a type of funeral shroud was no longer there and I could see the varying levels of shadows that made up the darkness.
The next thing I noticed was that I hurt. A lot.Everywhere.Which I took to mean I wasn't dead.Not yet, anyway. Of course, surviving the death pit wasn't really an option, so I wasn't inclined to get my hopes up.
"Hey." A low voice from the darkness startled me. "Shh. Don't try to move, Sky."
Who the hell was talking to me and how did they know my name?
I heard a click and had to blink against the light that flooded the room. When I was able to open them again, a ruggedly handsome and vaguely familiar face came into view above me.
"Do you remember me, Sky?" The man seemed to be searching my face for any sign of recognition. "My name is Colt. We, ah, met at the Omega house yesterday."
Right. The Alpha that had temporarily stayed my execution. Except, I didn't really seem to be dead. Maybe it hadn't been temporary.
I managed to tilt my head the slightest bit and was rewarded with a blinding smile.
"Great." His smile slipped the slightest bit. "I'm sure you know you've got some injuries."
I couldn't hold back the snort or the pained wince that followed it.
"Sorry." A large hand gently stroked the side of my head. "I wasn't sure if I should cut out the wiring in your mouth."
Please!I tilted my head as forcefully as I could.Please remove that fucking torture device!
"Okay." I watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed. His other hand came up into my line of vision, a tool of some sort in his grip. "This is going to hurt, though."
Given how long the bit had been lodged in my mouth, I knew just how immense of an understatement that was.
His fingers were incredibly gentle as they pried my lips open, but the pain as the barbs bit into my tongue overwhelmed me. The light began to swirl with the shadows, overtaking my vision as the darkness swallowed me whole.
"Sky? Can you hear me?"
I forced my eyes open and found Colt's face swimming in my blurry vision.
"I removed as much as I can," he said softly, his brow creased. "I had to leave the studs in your cheeks, but I cut the wire flush to the back. We'll have to have a doctor remove those."
A doctor? Oh, fuck no!
I managed to grunt, my mangled tongue too swollen to even try to form words. My panic must have shown on my face, because he stroked my hair again. "Not those butchers that were holding you," he assured me, stroking my hair again. "Anyway, I know you still hurt like hell, but I need you to sit up so we can get some water in you and then rinse your mouth out with an antiseptic. Can you do that?"
Could I? Damned if I knew, but I was willing to try.
Another head tilt.
"Good." Colt's arm slid carefully under my back, lifting me with excruciating slowness until he was able to prop me up against a pile of pillows. "Very good." He gently pulled my head back and dribbled fresh, cool water down my throat little by little. "That should be good for now," he said, tilting a foul-smelling bottle against my sore lips. "Donotswallow this, okay?"
The liquid oozing over the open wounds in my mouth burned like acid. I felt tears begin to drip from my eyes as I obediently reopened my lips to allow it to dribble into the towel that Colt was holding under my chin.
"One more time," Colt said encouragingly. "This will take the pain away."
Liquid flooded my mouth again, but this time the icy coldness left my mouth blissfully numb.
Colt patted my chin dry and then tossed the towel to the floor. "Since your tongue is numb, you'll need to stay propped up for a bit."
The semi-upright position allowed me more range of motion with my neck and I managed a small nod.
