Worst Nightmare

CHAPTER 1

"Nicole! Are you okay?" a voice shouted over the rain as I struggled to get out of the car wreckage.

"David, get away!" My leg screamed with effort as I tried to stand and run. He grabbed hold of my arm and stopped me from injuring myself even more.

"Nicole, you're already hurt as it is! Don't you dare make it worse!" the boy argued as we fought to get control of my flailing arms. I limped away after throwing my elbow into him, but he ran after me and tackled me to the damp ground. I tried to yell, but his hand muffled my cries. "Come on Nicky! Stop! I'm trying to get you to the doctor!" He picked me up and threw me onto his motorcycle. I sighed and finally calmed down, the shock of the car attack getting to my head finally. I succumbed to the pain in my leg and back. The men that had rammed into my Honda were nowhere to be seen.

"Dave, I'm sorry. You really were just trying to help," I apologized as we took off on the motorcycle. He nodded but stayed silent as he tried to concentrate on the dangerous, wet road. The rain had settled from pouring to drizzling. I leaned my head on his shoulder wearily and sighed.

"Does it still hurt as much?" he asked when we pulled up to the hospital.

"It's worse," I said as I grimaced at the shots of pain ran through my leg. He picked me up and carried me into the hospital. A nurse saw us and rushed over.

"What happened here?" she demanded as she inspected my aching leg.

"A truck slammed into the front of her car and disappeared," David replied as they put me on a stretcher. I only remembered being put onto a hospital bed and a male doctor coming in to tell me that I had to stay for a few days. After that, my mind went black, and I couldn't remember a thing.

A few hours later, I woke up to the sound of machines. I looked around to see a respirator and heart monitor. It was then that I realized I was in the hospital. I thought back to the accident and gasped when I noticed that David wasn't there.

"Hey you," a voice told me as it came into the room. I turned my head to see David staring down at me with a smile.

"Davy," I teased with a small smirk. He shook his head and pulled up a chair next to me.

"How you feelin?" he wanted to know as he took my hand softly in his.

"The medicines worked, at least. It doesn't hurt anywhere," I shrugged.

"The doc said that you broke your leg and fractured a rib or two, but you'll be fine," David smiled in relief. I gazed out the window in silence for a few moments when I remembered David was there. When I looked back at him, he was frowning at me.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I was just thinking about the accident. What if they had done more damage? What if you weren't here right now? What if..." he trailed off with a sudden tear.

"Dave, it's okay. I am here, and it's because of you. You were the one that saved me. I live now because of you," I answered with a squeeze of my hand in comfort and my arms clasping him in a merciful hug. He embraced me gently, his head leaning on mine.

"Oh, isn't this sweet? Two lovebirds hugging right after one of them was about to die," a raspy voice growled behind them.