Chapter 4

The white was blinding. But everything was white. Sam squinted and attempted to make out his surroundings.

There was not much in this white room. He was not on a bed, but rather on a metal operation table-like table. There were no windows, just white walls.

Where was he?

This couldn’t be a hospital. There was no bed, no cheap furniture, not even a bedpan. Not that one was needed.

What had happened?

Sam strained to remember, but the side of his head hurt. He reached up and felt a long row of stitches that stretched from about an inch above his ear down to where his neck began.

He remembered the red liquid…blood. He rolled over and let out a pain filled yell.

His side was bandaged, his ribs must be broken.

What happened?

He remembered the screaming.

Dear God, the screaming! There was so much pain in it, so much confusion.

What happened?!?

Max had turned. Sam began to follow, and then…

The other car, it was so familiar, but he couldn’t place it.

The screams. He knew the voices.

No, it couldn’t be. It shouldn’t be. IT CAN’T BE!

It was so clear now. The blue Dodge Durango. His wife’s beautiful face. His daughter’s innocent eyes which were then filled with terror. The breaking glass. The screams.

What were they doing there? Where were they now? Please God, let them be ok!

He had to stand. He had to move. He had to find his family!

After much effort and pain he was able to stand.

A sound came from the other side of the room. It sounded like…clapping. He looked to the area that the sound was coming from and saw a man dressed in all white.

“Very impressive,” said the man, “very impressive indeed.”

“Who…are you?” Sam asked short of breath.

“Jonathan Nells,” said the man proudly, “I am the man that saved your pathetic life.”

“Saved my life? It was just some broken ribs.”

“Yes, and a cracked toe, which is why it is impressive that you are standing.”

“That’s still not life threatening.”

“No it is not, but the blood you were losing from that gash in your head was.”

Sam touched the stitches again, “So you’re a doctor?”

“If that’s the way you want to see it, but as you have probably already noticed I do not work in a hospital or a clinic.” He motioned to the room around him, “This is my workplace. It’s not much, but it works.”

“So you are not a doctor?”

“I am who you want me to be.”

Sam studied the man. He had green eyes and a balding head. What hair he did have was white and most of it made up his beard, which didn’t contain much hair either. He looked to be in his early sixties.

“What does that mean?” Sam asked.

The man, Jonathan as he called himself, did not answer the question but instead said, “Your wife and daughter is fine. The airbag saved them, along with their seatbelts. It looks like you received the most damage from the wreck.”

“My wife and daughter? How do you know about them? Where are they?”

“Now that I couldn’t tell you.”

“What do you mean?!?”

“I mean, knowing the people that are after you, they could be safely in the hospital, or at home, or somewhere…else.”

“People? What people? And what do you mean somewhere else?”

“I can’t say anymore, not now. We will meet again. There is a silver Silverado outside, the keys are in the ignition. Take it, drive home. Let intuition guide you after that.” Jonathan started walking towards the door. When he reached it he turned and said, “Oh, yeah, the stitches will come out in a few weeks, the femur will be fine, and so will the ribs just keep some ice on them.”

He opened the door.

“Wait!” Sam yelled, “Who are you?”

“Take care of yourself Sam, we will meet again.”

With that Jonathan walked out of the room. Sam moved as swiftly as he could to pursue him, but by the time he reached the door any evidence that someone had been there was gone.

Sam stepped outside and looked around. He was outside the store that Max had robbed.

What was going on?

He turned and saw the Silverado.

Should he take it? Did he have a choice?

He limped to the pickup and got in. The door was unlocked and the key was in the ignition. Sam cranked the truck and started the drive to his house.