Something wet ran down her cheek, and she realized she was crying. She wanted to wipe the tears away but she didn’t dare move.
“What are you doing?” someone yelled from the doorway. “Get away from them!”
She turned, her gaze falling on Richard, one of the other doctors, walk through the doorway. One of the armed men turned, then there was a tat-tat-tat noise, and she watched in shock as Richard fell to the ground. He remained still.
They’d shot him. Shot Richard.
Alana cried out, and she turned back as the other man aimed his gun at her.
“Please, please,” Alana begged, dropping to her knees. “My name is Alana. I’m forty-two. I have children. A boy and a girl. A hus—”
She was cut off mid-sentence, as the gun was fired, slumping to the ground. Her eyes staring lifelessly towards Jenna. That’s when Jenna started to scream.
Curt ran forward, his heart stopping as he saw Jenna on the floor, curling in, her arms over her head as though trying to protect herself.
“Jenna! Jenna!” He knelt, reaching for her.
Her whole body shook. Her cries of fear made his gut clench.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
He turned to find Travis behind him, staring down at Jenna in concern.
“I don’t know. A car backfired, and suddenly she screamed. Jenna!” He reached out and picked her up. She cried out again, the noise filled with such fear he almost drop
ped her.
“A flashback?” Travis asked, coming forward as Curt settled on the bed and held Jenna on his lap. “Try talking to her. She’s more likely to react to your voice than mine.”
He rocked her instinctively, barely aware he was doing it as she stared off into the distance, her eyes wide, tears coursing down her cheeks. She looked so pale and fragile he wanted to tuck her somewhere safe and keep her there, where he knew nothing would ever touch her again.
“Jenna, come on, baby. Come back to me now. Listen to my voice. You’re safe. I’m here. Jenna, come back to me.”
Jenna.
Jenna, come back to me.
She was in the darkness again. Curt was there this time, though. Oh, no, they’d caught him too. But, no, Curt was strong. He wouldn’t let anyone take him.
Jenna. I’m here. You’re safe. Come back.
She blinked then gasped as she saw a man leaning over her. With a whimper, she shrank back. That wasn’t Curt.
“Back off, Travis, you’re scaring her.”
She knew that gruff voice. Curt. She turned her head, looking up into his face. So familiar, yet different. He had more lines now. Some gray hairs. But they only made him more attractive.
“Curt.”
He smiled down at her gently.
“I’ll get her a glass of water,” the other man said.
Her heart was racing. She felt weak and she was trembling uncontrollably. Where was she? Confusion filled her.
“Curt?” she asked, clinging to him.
Sweat coated her body, and she probably smelled less than pleasant, but there was no way she was letting him go. He’d just have to put up with the stink.