Episode 3
1800 Words
Madison's POV
I woke up to an indistinct male voice from behind my door and in a minute, fetching rugged-looking face emerged into the room, except that he wasn't looking the slightest bit rugged.
Did he have a shave? How soon did he get it done?
“Hey! I dropped by to see how you're doing. You had quite an outburst yesterday. Here. For you.” He held out a beautiful bouquet of flowers and I looked from the flowers to him. “My mom used to say it was wrong to visit a sick person without some flowers. Got them from the florist down the street.” Itook them from him and mumbled, “Thank you.”
“For a moment, I almost thought you were allergic to flowers. I was one second from discarding them.”
“I didn't think you'd come again. You told the doctor we’re friends?”
“I’m a man of truth. Wouldn’t have compromised that if saving someone like you didn’t require such lie. As for coming again, anyone in my shoes would have a rethink after meeting someone like John Paine. Is he around? I wouldn't like to intrude.”
“I beg your pardon? What's that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing but a joke. I thought you'd be having a laugh.” He must have spotted my clenched fist because he mumbled, “Iprobably went about it the wrong way.” After a moment of silence, he asked, “How are you feeling, though? Any better than yesterday? I was terrified when you went berserk. What happened?”
“Yesterday? It's a new day?”
“Of course. Precisely 3:00 pm. It's right there on the wall clock.” He pointed to the clock on the wall right in front of me. “Don't tell me you've been asleep since yesterday.”
Fetching rugged face is quite a talker. Doesn't he ever get tired?
“Have you seen my cell phone?” Other than the fact that I desired a change of topic, finding my cell phone was important.
“You didn't have one when I found you drowning in the river. You probably lost it there or something.” He shrugged.
“I...was drowning?” I scratched at my temple, finding his words unbelievable.
“You...don't remember sinking and...calling for help?” He frowned and glanced around as though the answer laid there.
“I...don't recall anything of such.”
“Wait a moment. I think I need to go get the doc.”
“Don't!” I called out before he could go any further and he spun around. “He's aware.”
“What?” He closed the distance between us again. “Are you saying your head injury affected your memory?”
“Can I...borrow your cell phone? I would like to make an important call.” He went blank for a few seconds before patting his pockets. “Here.” He handed me. “I'll just be right outside the door.”
It's a good thing I know Sophie's number. Her and John's are the only ones I memorized with alphabets. Alphabets weren't as confusing as figures. Besides, acronyms do it best. Sophie had probably been trying to contact me. I only hope she agrees to what I'm thinking.
“Hello.” Ragged breaths and hard pants followed after.
“f**k, Howie. Faster, I'm gonna come!”
What the hell? I shut my eyes and sucked in a deep breath.
“If you're not f*****g gonna say something, then f**k—”
“Sophie Buckley, I've always known you to be a s*x beast but never one to take a call while in the act. Are you f*****g kidding me right now?”
“f**k! M-Madison, is that you?” There was a muffled voice from Sophie's end and a faint hush. She cleared her throat. “Where the hell have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you. What happened to you? My hunch about the information on the news was f*****g right. I knew you'd be alive and well. I've been worried sick about you.” She was panting harder now.
“I bet you are.”
“I feel less terrible after hearing from you. I'm sorry I couldn’t take your call when you needed me. My calls had been going to voice mail since that night. I'm so glad you're alright.”
Much to my surprise, it wasn't hard convincing Sophie to tag along with the plan. Fetching face came in almost as soon as the call ended.
“Were you eavesdropping?” I couldn't help crossing my arms and pausing to examine his face.
“Believe me, I'm anything but an odd duck. Intruding in anyone's privacy is the last thing I'll do.”
“Do you mind me having this for a few more minutes?” I held up his cell phone. “Turns out I might need more than one.”
“You owe me one, Mrs Paine.” I nodded slightly at his words.
“Have a name, Fetching face?”
“What? What was that?” He leaned a little closer and his lips parted slightly.
“What? Fetching face? It's a nickname. You know, an invented name, pet name...whatever you call it.”
“Are you being serious right now?” He chuckled. “You don't think I don't know what a nickname is, do you? You nicknamed me?” He gave a slow smile. “You consider me handsome? I'll take that as a compliment.”
Is he flirting with me? No way!
“What's your name?”
“I believe I've mentioned that about twice now.”
“I don't recall.”
“s**t! Your condition is way worse than I thought. RhysMcComb. Artist. Rhys McComb. Artist. Rhys McComb. Artist. Rhys McComb. Artist. I hope you're not about to add ‘artist’ to my name.” He chuckled and much to my surprise, I smiled. “Rhys McComb. You've got to have to say it for me to know it actually registered.”
“Rhys McComb.”
“There. Wasn't so difficult, was it?” I nodded at his words.
“Mr McCombs, could you take me out for a walk? I would like to have some fresh air.”
“Only if you call me Rhys. I can't be much older than you. When you call my name like that, it makes me think of my father.” For a fleeting moment, his expression went pitch-black and I almost wasn't sure if I imagined it.
“If it isn't too much trouble, could you take me out for a walk, Rhys?”
“Gladly. Could never be.” Rhys placed me gently on my wheelchair and wheeled me out of my room.
“Are you allowed to move about just yet? I don't want Dr Miles questioning me, and most especially not your husband. He's almost intimidating.”
“Do you have something against him? Perhaps, something you'd like to share? It's the second time you're defaming him right in my presence.” I looked up at Rhys who turned his face away.
“What? Defaming? You should see how he looked at me yesterday,” he mumbled.
“What?”
“I said, we only met yesterday. I know nothing about him, well, except what the media says about him, and that probably doesn't count. At least, I know that much from following what they say about you. What could I possibly have against a stranger?”
He's been following the news. That means he knows about my dad's comatose state and John's recent position as the manager of my company. Is that why he doesn’t like him? Do I trust his words? I'll worry about that later. I have to get out of this place to find John. He needs some explaining to do.
“Are you listening to me?” How long has he been talking? Rhys has to be the most garrulous man I've ever met.
“I'm a little dizzy.”
“I think that's enough exercise for today. You should get some rest now. I'll also call Dr Miles to check on you.”
What? No. Think of something, Madison.
“Water. I'm parched. Could you get me some water, please?” I coughed, holding my throat.
He looked around, a stern expression on his face. I intensified my coughs and he patted my back. The hesitant smile on his face faded and his brows furrowed.
“I'll go get water for you. Don't move an inch, alright?”
Thank goodness. That was close. I nodded in reply to his words and he wheeled me to a more secluded place in the open hallway. The moment Rhys left, I finally paid attention to his buzzing phone in my thighs. Messages from Sophie.
Hey, Madison. I've arrived.
Are you there?
Pick up the phone.
Where are you?
Should I find your room number?
I'm coming. Will locate you soon.
It took almost an eternity to read Sophie's messages. The moment I comprehended them, I dialled her number and wheeled myself far away from Rhys. He can't find me. I must get to John. If the doctor wouldn't bring him to me, I would have to find him myself.
Sophie didn't take her calls. I tried sending text messages also, but I couldn't.
“Mrs Paine!” s**t! It's Rhys' voice. Pick the damned phone, Sophie. Rhys mustn’t get to me before Sophie does. The cell phone buzzed and I took the call without checking the caller ID.
“Sophie—”
“It's Rhys. Where are you? Are you alright? I've been looking all over—” My heartbeat raced and I abruptly ended the call, particularly because his voice was closer than I expected. My throat went dry and for a split second, I wished Rhys came with water.
The phone buzzed again, I checked this time and I slid the phone's screen. “Sophie! I've been trying to reach you. Thank goodness. I'm currently at...” My eyes darted around to give a vivid description of where I was and I spotted Sophie looking around.
“I’m right in front of you. Look right ahead. Sophie!” I waved a hand and our eyes locked. Sophie smiled at me, running toward my direction, but she suddenly came to a halt and her smile froze.
“No, no, no, no. No!” Sophie screamed. Before I could gather my thoughts, a handkerchief covered my nose from behindand I struggled to breathe. My screams gradually reduced to muffled sounds. The last I remembered before slipping into unconsciousness was Rhys’ indistinct scream of my name from behind me.
- Writer
