Black moon.

Eye's

I woke up to a steady annoying beep in my ear, not ready to open my eyes yet, but really curious about what was pounding in my ear drums, like a fire alarm, did I really drink that much last night?  I tried to think back but the fire bell next to my head was really making it hard... OH! I remembered the bar, Matt and his hateful charcoal gaze being slammed against the side of the Black Moon, the sound of my skull cracking, and those eyes, those bright beautiful green eyes…My mind snapped back, where was I now?  Ok maybe it was time to open my eyes. “Oh thank god, Ivy! You’re up! Are you okay? How do you feel?!” Alex jumped across what I now was clearly getting was a hospital room and on top of me. Pain radiated through me as she landed heavy on me, 

“Ugh! I felt fine until you did that!” 

She scrambled off the bed “Sorry! I was just so scared!' Her face reflected the seriousness of her words, despite her perky demeanor I could tell that was all a carefully constructed act for my benefit.  ``It's okay” I said, still fuzzy, `` what happened?” 

she looked confused for a moment then right back to concerned “I don't know.. you tell me. You’re the one in a hospital bed looking like an ogre from hell”. Even with me feeling as if I’ve been hit by a Truck, she still managed to make me smile. I didn't want to tell her what I saw or what happened, half because then the police would go after Matt, and I would never be able to get away from what he did.  With newspapers and court orders. I am still unwilling to be a ‘victim’. Also  because I'm sure telling her I was thrown across an ally by a s*x god stranger who looked at me like he knew me and better yet had affection for me. She would have me moved from here to the psych ward. 

“I hit my head pretty hard. I don't remember much, I think I was mugged. How'd I end up here” 

I gestured to the sterile white room around me, she took a breath and looked down at her feet. Tears welled in her eyes and rushed “By the time I saw your message, it was too late. I came outside to find you and you were in a pool of blood on the ground. The police said exactly what you are, that it looked like a mugging.” Tears started to fall from her face “I'm so sorry Ivy! If I had paid attention, if I came out sooner you would have been okay” Alex paused to compose herself and took a breath “Ivy I thought you were dead.” she was sobbing now. I scooted up and tried not to flinch from the movement, if she saw that she'd just feel worse. I patted the bed and opened my arms “Come here you crazy lady. This wasn't your fault, okay. This is the black cloud of bad luck over my head and the shitty neighborhood we like to go out in. Do not think for one second, you could have done any more than you did.” I could tell she still was feeling guilty, and I so desperately wanted to tell her the truth to absolve her of the unjust weight she was feeling. Alex is so light, and carefree. I hate being the reason that she doesn't get to feel that right now. 

There was some truth to what I said, I always seem to have bad luck, in nights out, in relationships, in anything that can go wrong for me it does. It's why I Like to be a homebody. Spend my time preparing my lessons for my English class, drinking a nice peppermint tea and reading books. When I do go out or step outside my character it is with Alex and because she made me. Except for this one unfortunate occasion I was feeling too sorry for myself and made Her go out with me. Wanting to lighten the mood I say “suck it up, and tell me about YOUR night, you must have been pretty occupied to not have seen my text for so long” I winked, sne faked offense at my comment and immediately forgot she was ever worried or sad and jumped to talking about Josh the cute bartender that made someone cover the rest of his shift so he could talk to her. She gushed for the next hour, while nurses came in and checked my vitals and would only stop to google what the nurses wrote down so she could ‘fact check them’ and make sure of my temporary short term amnesia and mild concussion was agreed on by Doctor Alex armed with Web MD. 

My head was throbbing and any kind of movement hurt but I was okay, Matt had not gotten to me this time. I was saved and I was safe. The rest I would figure out as it came.  My parents came in making no comments, I has assumed Alex had called. They each kissed my head and then we sat mostly in silence with my Brother or my step dad Brian throwing in the occasional pun or joke to lighten the mood. The police came in and asked questions and I played the part, telling them I couldn't remember what happened or how I was left, I didn't have my Purse on me so my attacker must have gotten angry when they realized there was nothing to take. I explained that I was hit from behind and I didn't see a face. Then Brian did what he knew how to do best; he stepped out with the officers thinking he could get more information then they gave him in the room. But I think mostly he just didn't know what to say or do, and this was a good time to mix dad with law enforcement. Brian was a retired cop and I don't think he ever really grasped the RETIRED part. It was probably 8 at night when the doctor came in,  telling me how many stitches I had in my head, that my right arm was hyper extended and badly bruised and my rib cage was fractured so they wanted to keep me there for 48 hours to make sure there was no swelling in my brain and my lungs were stable. I drowned most of it out, all I could think about was why no one saw Matt, where was he when Alex found me? The green eyed s*x god had presumably knocked him out, scared him off, or he must have gotten away. Did he know where I was?  My parents stayed for a while, they brought dinner and we ate in silence. They were concerned, and confused, and I’m not sure they really believed every word I had to say. After a lot of reassurance and promises I convinced them they didn't need to stay the night. My brother Jay had school in the morning, and my mom was just a mess of hovering and worry. Which was putting Alex on edge and I just wanted to be left alone with my thoughts. Sleep didn't come easy, and when it did it was dreamless. Everyone came again the next day bringing food and idle conversation as a distraction from my potential insanity. I had started to believe my own lie. I mean, what did I really see that night, nothing seemed to make any sense anymore.  Once again I drifted in and out of sleep. At some point I woke up with chills, feeling panicked. I groped around the dark looking for the call or light button. Someone was in my room. My eyes made out the shape of a massive figure. No way that was a nurse. “h-hello, who's here?” god I sounded so weak, no response. I steadied myself, mustering all my strength to my voice “Listen. Please, you're scaring me, this is a hospital there's people everywhere, please.” I wasn't sure at this point who I was pleading with if anyone. Maybe I really was crazy, Hot tears were streaming down my face and again there was panic coursing through my body. Then, He stepped out of the shadows into the dim light given off by the muted tv. His brilliant green eyes locked on mine, it was dizzying, the lush forest that seemed to live and thrive in his gaze. His face was steel, emotionless, and I realized I was just staring at him saying nothing. “You're the man that saved me, who are you? Where's matt? why haven't you told the police what happened?” questions fell out of my mouth and I found myself smoothing down my hair trying to reign in the mass of curls to make myself presentable. A stranger was in my Hospital room and I’m worrying about how I looked. Not that ‘presentable’ was possible at the moment in sweatpants and a hoodie, I haven't really bathed since the night at Black Moon, my mom and the nurses washed the blood out of my hair, and I had used a damp towel to get off the remaining dirt and mud but....my thoughts trailed, he was still just standing there his face seemed to soften for a moment with almost amusement across his perfectly arched lips. I wrung my fingers waiting for a response. I wanted to finally know what the hell had happened. Who this man was, that saved. “You’re not ready for the answers I have princess.” He said resolved, solemn. His gaze had never left mine. His voice was like silk, a deep strong baritone that seemed to wrap itself around my chest. Leaving me breathless.  He seemed strained like he didn't want to be saying what he was saying.  Then I processed his words “What, why, you were there! You saw what he did!” Anger started to take hold of me.  “His eyes, you came out of nowhere, and now you're here! If you're not going to help me, why are you even here!?” He seemed to think about this for a second like even he didn’t have the answer to that. Still only the slightest softness on his face, I think a normal person wouldn't notice. Someone else looking at this man would only see steel, where I saw softness. I felt safe and had absolutely no reason too. 

 I was captivated by that face his hard jawline his black hair cropped perfectly to frame his face and those eyes...he had the slightest softness around his eyes it seems like those eyes have not smiled for a long time but when they did it was, nothing short of magic, he had dimples, regardless of the hard thin line he held those lips in I could feel he was no threat...to me at least. He spoke again, whatever internal conflict he was having seemed to be resolved “This will all be explained when you're ready, for now I need you to sleep princess” I started to argue but my body took his words as a command, my eyes got heavy and I don't remember falling asleep mid sentence but I did. When I woke up again, the sun had risen and he was gone.