The Power Within

Chapter Five

I woke up to the sound of soft voices. I opened my eyes slowly. 

Ugh, I feel like s**t. What the hell happened? Where am I?

I looked around the room, as I tried to gather my thoughts. The last thing I remember was talking to my dad. I narrowed my eyes. Why can't I remember anything after that?

The room I was in, looked to be a small bedroom, I could see some trees out the two windows, and I could tell that it was daytime. I am lying in a twin bed with both of my arms covered in bandages. My head is pounding, and my chest is hurting like a b***h. What the hell happened?

The door opened, and a petite older woman walked in. She had a small, heart shaped face. Her dark, brown hair had a salt-and-pepper look. Her massive, green eyes stood out the most to me. They were a gorgeous, bright green color.   

"Oh, you're awake." Her soft, high-pitched voice sounded sweet. She walked over and stood near the bed. "How are you feeling?" She asked.

"Like shit." I replied, my throat felt scratchy, which made my voice sound hoarse to my ears.

The woman let out a soft chuckle. "Yes, I would imagine so. My name is Gabby, and my daughter Louisa found you on the side of the road last night. You've been unconscious for almost 21 hours. We were starting to worry about you."

Oh, so I crashed. That's why I can't remember what happened to me. Well, s**t. This sucks. I thought to myself. Thank goodness that Louisa woman found me. Oh no! What about Jake? And all of my camera equipment?

Gabby's questions interrupted my thoughts, "Can you tell me your name, and today's date?"

"Yeah, I'm Kiley. Yesterday was April 4, so that makes today April 5." I replied. "Can I get some water, please? My throat feels raw. And can you tell me where my things are, and what about my truck?"

Gabby shook her head, and held out her hands, "Calm down, I will answer all of your questions, hang on. Mia," she called. "Can you bring some water for Kiley?" 

I must of looked confused, because Gabby said, "Mia is my youngest daughter. I have four children, Mica, my oldest, and only son, Louisa, Carla, and Mia. Mica and Louisa are both at work right now, so you can meet them later. Carla is off on some adventure, and will not be back for a couple of weeks, and Mia still lives here at home with me." 

"And where is home?" I asked, sitting up in bed. Damn, that hurt, but at least, all of my body parts are working.  I thought.

"Oh, goodness, I am sorry. You are in Flushmont, Michigan. It's just a small town." Gabby said, as she sat on the end of the bed.

A tall, lean young woman came through the door. She was the spitting image of Gabby, other than her height, and her dark brown hair did not have any grey streaks. This must be Mia.

Mia handed me a glass of water. "Here ya go," she said in a cheery voice. She stood close to Gabby.

"Thanks," I gave her a small smile. After gulping down a few swallows of water, I asked Gabby, "Do you guys have my phone, I need to call my parents. I know they must be freaking out right now."

Gabby nodded her head. "Yes, after Louisa brought you to me, she went back and towed your truck here. We brought in all of your bags." Gabby stood up and grabbed my purse, which was on the floor, at the end of the bed. She handed it to me.

I gave her a big smile. "Thank you so much!"

Gabby gave me a small smile, "You are very welcome. We will give you some privacy to make your phone call."

Gabby and Mia both walked out of the room, Mia shut the door behind her.

I grabbed my phone. The phone screen looked like a spider web with all of the cracks on it. I pushed the power button. Please, please work. I pleaded. "Yes!" I exclaimed out loud as my phone powered on. I had 4 missed calls, and 10 missed text messages, all from my parents. I found my dad's number, and hit the 'call' button. 

My dad answered on the second ring. "Kiley-Ann?!" My dad's voice sounded filled with worry. 

"Hey, Daddy-en. I'm okay." I told him.

"What happened to you, your mother and I have been worried sick about you. Where are you?"

I sighed. My poor parents. "I had an accident last night. I don't remember much about it. I just woke up a few minutes ago. I'm in Flushmont, Michigan. This nice family found me. At least, I think they are nice. They bandaged me up, and took care of me while I was unconscious." I told him. I was whispering just in case the people were not nice. But they did give me my phone, so I could call my parents. And they shouldn't even know anything about me. My purse looked un-opened, and they took care of me as well.

My dad's voice stopped my thoughts, "Your mother and I just landed at the airport about an hour ago. We will get our rental car and drive to you. Are you really okay? Do you think you will be safe until we get there? 

"Yeah, other than being in pain, I really am okay. I think I'm safe. I mean, they did take care of me. I can still feel my contacts in, they are as dry as the desert right now. Anyway, I am almost one-hundred percent sure they don't know who I am. And, I will keep it that way. You and Mom-ra are okay, though? I am sorry I had you guys so worried."

I heard Daddy-en let out a sigh of relief. "Yes, Kiley-Ann, we are okay, don't worry about us right now. I'll get the rental car, and find Flushmont on my phone's map. I will call you back once I know when we will get there."

"Alright, thanks. Be careful, please. Is Mom-ra there?" I asked, still whispering into the phone.

"Yes, I'll give her the phone. I love you, Kiley-Ann. I will see you soon." 

My mom's voice was on the phone before I could tell Dad bye. "Kiley, my love, are you okay?"

"Yes, Mom-ra, I'm okay. I promise. Just in pain, but I can move everything, and I have some nice people taking care of me. And Daddy-en said you guys can come straight to me, so you will see me soon." I told her.

"I am so relieved. We will be there soon. Your father is signing for the rental car right now. He said he will call you back, right?"

"Yup, he said once he knew how long the drive would be from the airport to me. Just, please, try not to worry, I don't want your blood pressure going up too high because of me." I said, seriously.

"Oh, don't you dare worry about me. I am fine. You worry about getting better." My mother said in her don't-argue-with-me tone. "Your father will call you back in a bit. I love you, my love." 

I sighed. I never could win an argument with that woman. "I love you too, Mom-ra. Tell Daddy-en I love him too, and I will talk to you guys in just a bit."

My mother hung up, so I clicked the 'end' button on my phone. With the screen all cracked like this, I'm going to need a new one.  I thought. Ugh, and I have to pee. 

"Gabby!" I called, loudly.

I heard hurried footsteps. And then Gabby came through the door.

"Yes, dear," She said, softly. "Are you okay?" She asked, her face looked worried, as she came to the bed.

"Oh, yeah. I just have to use the bathroom..." I told her. 

She let out a sigh, and placed a hand over her heart. "Good, for a minute there, I thought something was wrong."

I gave her a sheepish smile. "Sorry. I just don't know where the bathroom is." I threw the cover off me. I looked at the outfit I was in. "These aren't my clothes." I said, confused. I looked up at Gabby.

"No, those belong to my son, Mica. We cut your clothes off you, in order to look you over. You have some scratches on your arms and face, a lot of bruising on your chest, and that nasty bump on your head, but other than that, no other injuries." She informed me.

"Ah, got it. You guys have been so amazing. Thank you so much." I moved, so that my feet were on the floor. I took a deep breath to brace myself, so that I could stand up. I really had to pee. Gabby held her hands out like she was going to help me. But I shook my head at her. "I got this." I told her. I stood up slowly. My legs were shaky, but nothing too terrible. They held me up, at least. I took a few small, easy steps to the end of the bed where my bags laid on the floor. The Louisa woman did manage to grab all of my bags. I let out a relieved sigh. I grabbed the one with my clothes and toiletry items. 

"Lead the way to the bathroom, please, Gabby."

She lead me out of the room, and pointed to the door near the end of the hallway. "It's just through there, you are welcome to take a shower, if you want, there are clean towels hanging on the rack. And when you're all done, just come on out and you'll find me in the kitchen starting on dinner." She said. Her soft voice was easy to listen to.

I nodded. "Thanks, again, for everything." I walked to the bathroom. 

Before I shut the door, Gabby asked me, from the hallway, "Did you get a hold of your parents?"

"Oh, yeah. They are on their way here now. That way I can get out of your hair." I replied, with a shake of my head. I dropped my bag on the floor of the bathroom. 

"You are not bothering me at all, dear." Gabby smiled at me. "I am so glad your parents are close by and able to come help you, though. I know if one of my children were in an accident, I would rush to be by their side as well." 

I nodded my head. Even though I wasn't a parent, I knew all about how much my parents worried about me. "Thanks again."

Gabby gave me another smile, and walked off. I closed the bathroom door. 

After I had cleaned off in the shower, and replaced my contacts with fresh ones, I emerged from the bathroom starving and exhausted. I walked slowly back the small bedroom, and put my bag down at the end of the bed. My phone was still on the bed where I left it. Crap! I forgot Dad was gonna call me right back. I grabbed my phone and called him. 

"Kiley-Ann? What happened? I thought you said you were safe?" My dad snapped at me.

"I know, I know! I am so sorry! I am safe. I completely forgot about you calling me back. I had to pee, and then I took a shower. I just forgot." I explained in a rush. "I'm okay. I promise." 

I heard his loud sigh. "I swear, you just took ten years off my life-span." 

I sat on the edge of the bed. "I really am sorry."

He sighed again, "I forgive you, as long as you are alright."

I heard my mother's voice in the background, "Give me that phone, Ben, and concentrate on driving."

My mother's voice came through the phone. "Kiley, how dare you scare us like that, again!" She yelled at me. 

I put my head in my hand. "I really am sorry, Mom-ra. I had to pee, and I wanted to shower, and I just forgot about you guys calling me back." 

My mom didn't speak for a minute or two. I heard her huff. "Fine, I guess, since your father forgave you, I will too. You are safe, though, right? And how are you feeling after your shower?"

"I'm safe. I promise. Gabby seems really nice. I am exhausted right now, and starving. My head still hurts a bit, and I've got some cool bruises to show Daddy-en." I told her. Dad and I have made it a competition to see who had the best bruises, ever since he started training me in self-defense, back when I was a teenager.

Mom chuckled, "Well, if you are wanting to show off to your father, I think you are fine."

"So, when will guys get here?" I asked.

I heard her ask Dad. "He said in about an hour. He said Flushmont is a little town off Highway 26 near the Fire Steel River."

"Alright, well, I am going to find food, Gabby said she would feed me. I will see you guys soon. I love you both so much." 

"Good-bye, my love. We love you too. Keep you phone with you at all times. And stay safe."

I ended the call, and slide my phone into the back pocket of my skinny jeans. It felt good to be back in my clothes. I didn't mind wearing men's clothing, but those clothes had a weird smell that made me want to plug my nose. I think Gabby said those were her son's clothes. I wonder why he smells so funny to me. Gabby didn't smell funny, at all, and neither did Mia.  I wondered in my head. I stepped out of the bedroom, and went off to find the kitchen.