The Tracks by Sally Royer-Derr (little readers TXT) 📕

hit her head. Ava fell to the ground, her eyes fluttering closed.

Chapter 10

Everything smelled of disinfectant. That could only mean one thing. She was in a hospital.

Ava slowly blinked her eyes open, trying to get used to the harsh white lights. She wondered who she was here for. Ava shifted her legs and hissed when a sharp sting of pain sliced her abdomen all the way up her back.

That was weird.

Ava looked down at her hands. They were bandaged. She lifted the sheets and noticed a bandage taped around her stomach and frowned at the blood that stained them red. So, her wounds were recent… and she just ripped them.

How did she get here? Why was she here?

Ava looked around, her surroundings unfamiliar, and she fought the bile that rose up to her throat. She put a hand on her chest to calm her breathing, but nothing worked. Her heart beat fast and hard the more she tried to recall the events that landed her in this hospital room.

Whatever happened, it was surrounded in some dark shadow that caused her head to pound in pain.

She had to get out of here fast. She needed answers.

Ava pushed the sheets aside and ripped out the needles in her arms. She pushed through the sting of her wounds and stepped on the floor, breathing heavily. She held on to the side of the bed for support.

The sound of feet hurrying to her room caused her to stop immediately. The door burst open, and Ava flinched at the sight of so many unfamiliar faces.

They held her down and pushed her back into the bed while she screamed and struggled, causing her wounds to open up even further.

“Please calm down, we’re trying to help you,” a nurse pleaded.

Ava didn’t listen. She continued struggling until she felt the sting of a needle being pushed into her arm.

“What did you do to me?” she asked weakly.

Darkness overtook her and she fell asleep. The next time she woke, she found they had put restraints on her. Panic filled Ava as she tried to struggle free. There was someone in her room, and with her limited vision, Ava couldn’t see who it was. She pulled on the restraints again and again until her limbs could no longer take the scraping pain. Then she heard someone shuffling in the chair. Ava stopped cold.

“I’m so glad you’re awake, Ava!”  a young girl exclaimed, her footsteps coming closer.

Ava shrunk back as much as she could. She couldn’t breathe again. She looked away and refused to respond. Ava ignored the hurt look that flashed across the girl’s face.

Why was she looking at her like she expected something?

“Who are you?” she whispered.

The girl’s eyes widened in surprise and then worry. For a moment she didn’t know how to respond, and her reactions scared Ava and confused her even more.

The girl turned to her again and took one of Ava’s bound hands into hers. They awkwardly shook hands, yet this interaction somewhat calmed Ava’s nerves.

“Well, I’m Ellie. We met not too long ago actually. I—"

Ellie was cut off by the sound of footsteps nearing the door. Whatever ease Ava felt in that moment dissipated when she heard unfamiliar voices outside her room. Ava closed her eyes and forced herself to think clearly when she heard the doorknob being turned. Ellie sensed her discomfort and took her hand again, this time in a show of comfort.

“It’s all right. You know these people,” Ellie whispered.

Ava opened her eyes and in front of her stood a doctor and a nurse. Ava craned her neck and saw three unfamiliar men wearing equal expressions of concern. After checking her vitals, the doctor promptly left, whispering something to a man who had been casting worried glances ever since he got here.

Ellie stayed by her side as these men approached Ava.

“So, you’ve lost your memory,” one man mentioned. “I’m sorry I didn’t make it in time.”

Ava had felt his genuine guilt, but she couldn’t bring herself to reply. She didn’t even know what he was apologizing for.

“It’s okay, Carl,” an older man said, patting him on the back.

Carl. The name struck something familiar within her and she turned to him.

“I should know you,” Ava said.

“I feel like I should tell you this. I was your partner for many years, and I actually came here today to tell you that I’m retiring.”

Ava tilted her head at him, unsure of what to say. She didn’t even know how to feel.

Carl let out a small nervous laugh.

“Normally you would tell me that its about time and say something mean about my knee.”

He placed a hand on Ava’s shoulder, taking it away immediately when she flinched back. He smiled at her again and she returned it this time, thinking maybe Carl was to be trusted. The older man then turned to Ava, causing her to flinch slightly at his commanding presence.

“Call me Chief,” he said. “Get well soon, Ava.”

Ava was sure Chief said more. However, her focus was on the third man who looked at her the exact same way she looked at all of them. He didn’t know who she was, and she was curious as to why he was in a room with a bunch of people she knew.

The older man coughed and brought the third man forward. Ava never took her eyes off him as he introduced himself.

“I’m Oscar Guera. Chief here thinks with Carl gone, you’ll need a new partner when you fully recover.”

Poor man. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. Ava would have shaken his hand, but she was in restraints. She waved as much as she could.

“I’ll try my best.” Ava said, her voice soft and unsure.

“And you always do,” Chief