The Pain

By Sam Garcia

The pain started at the base of her neck. It was dull, but strong and it made her shoulders feel heavy. She took four Tylenol, but the pain persisted and she could feel it slowly making its way up into her brain until a blinding light obliterated her vision. The pressure in her head made her gag. She felt disoriented. Her knees buckled, and she crumpled to the floor as she felt a warm liquid oozing from her nose. Running her tongue across her upper lip, she tasted blood. She was losing consciousness, but before she did, she became aware that they were here, and they were coming for her......again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sam Garcia
• Release date: Sep 22, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465847546

Sam Garcia

Sam Garcia is a novice author living in Spring Branch, Texas. He is an avid golfer, former drummer of the 60’s rock band, Critical Mass and recently retired after 40 years in the corporate world. He has published two novellas, The Pain and Crossing Borders. He is currently working on a full-length mystery-suspense novel.

Book preview

THE PAIN

By Sam Garcia

Copyright 2011 Sam Garcia

Smashwords Edition

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Chapter 1

The pain started at the base of her neck. It was dull, but strong and it made her shoulders feel heavy. She took four Tylenol, but the pain persisted and she could feel it slowly making its way up into her brain until a blinding light obliterated her vision. The pressure in her head made her gag. She felt disoriented. Her knees buckled, and she crumpled to the floor as she felt a warm liquid oozing from her nose. Running her tongue across her upper lip, she tasted blood. She was losing consciousness, but before she did, she became aware that they were here, and they were coming for her……again.

Chapter 2

Sunlight broke through the bedroom window and slowly crept across the floor until it made its way on to her bed and warmed her face. The luminance wakened her suddenly. She sat straight up. The pain was gone, but her mouth was dry and she was thirsty. On pure instinct, she examined herself.

For the third time in less than a month, she had awakened without covers, sweating, with fresh bruises on her wrists and ankles. However, this time there was a difference. She vaguely remembered the pain, but not the pain in her head. She remembered a different pain.

Suddenly, she felt digestive acids and last night’s Tarragon chicken trying to work their way up her esophagus. She was going to be sick. She felt dizzy as she eased out of bed and made her way toward the bathroom. Flashing images of something painful darted just out of reach of her consciousness, but still, she couldn’t quite remember.

Then, her stomach began to cramp. It hurt badly. She cradled it with both arms. That’s when she felt something moving inside her.

Stumbling into the bathroom, she leaned against the sink in front of the mirror and lifted her camisole to reveal bruising on her stomach. Her gray, Betty Boop, cotton panties were blood stained. Had she started her period last night?

A flash of light shot from the mirror, blinding her, and she remembered hands – at least she thought they were hands – grabbing and spreading her legs. She remembered the lights in her eyes. She remembered being cold. She remembered pleading, Please, you don’t have to do this. Then, she could remember no more. Nausea overwhelmed her. She bent forward and vomited into the sink.

As she reached for the face towel on the wall ring next to the sink, she struggled to maintain her equilibrium. The bathroom light was blinding. She grabbed the sink with both hands to steady herself, and just as she was closing her eyes, she glimpsed something bloody and fleshy crawling through the remnants of last night’s regurgitated dinner. Surprisingly, as her eyes closed, she felt as ease.

Chapter 3

She awoke to the sound of the phone ringing. She was in her bed, staring at the ceiling. The phone rang again. She examined her wrists. No bruises. Had it all been a dream? No, it was too real.

The phone rang a third time. She decided to let the machine answer. After the obligatory greeting and idiot instructions, the answering machine beeped.

Ellie, this is Tess. Not sure if I’m calling as your sister-in-law or your doctor, but I’ve got news for you, girl. Call me when you get in.

Beeeeep.

Ellie got up and sat on the edge of the bed. She wasn’t in pain. She wasn’t sore. A re-examination of her body showed no evidence of bruising anywhere. She actually felt refreshed. The bedroom carpet felt soft and warm on her feet. She rubbed them into it. The morning felt good. She wished her life felt the same.

Here she was. Twenty-eight years old. Her job barely paid the bills. She had no health insurance – thank God her brother Mark had married a doctor. She had no husband – not even a boyfriend at the moment. She was a bright, attractive, young woman.  One would think she would have better luck with men.

And on top of all this, she continued to have these nightmares at least once a month for the last three or four months.  Karma was definitely on the downside as of late.

On the bright side, Tess had sounded upbeat on the answering machine.

Ellie had taken Tess up on some free lab work to help determine why she had been feeling so weak and ill in the morning. She assured Tess it was only the nightmares - they were getting the better of her. But Tess had insisted. And now, from the sound of Tess’ voice, the lab results must have come back indicating that she was fine. Ellie would call back for the good news as soon as she cleaned out the bathroom sink and brushed her teeth.

Upon entering the bathroom, she was surprised to see that the sink was clean - sparkling, in fact. No signs of last night’s episode. She figured she had probably cleaned it last night and just forgotten.  Or, the vomiting was just another part of the nightmare.

She pulled her hair back into a ponytail, brushed her teeth and then went out to the living room to call Tess.

Ellie? Tess sounded excited. Are you sitting down?

What’s up, Tess?

Ellie, I hope this is good news, but if so, who have you been hiding from us?

Tess, what are you talking about?

You’re pregnant, Tess blurted out. You’re going to have a baby, Ellie.

Ellie’s mind began to race. This couldn’t be. She hadn’t dated anyone in over three months. She hadn’t had sex for almost a year. And then it had been protected at that. If she was pregnant, it was by Immaculate Conception, and she was no Virgin Mary.

There is no way I’m pregnant. Ellie went on to explain the reasons why not.

Ellie, are you sure? Tess asked. These blood tests are virtually fool proof. Look, I haven’t said anything to Mark. Or anyone else for that matter. If you’re pregnant, let’s talk about it.

Tess, I’m not pregnant.

Tess could tell that Ellie was becoming agitated. Okay, Ellie, okay. But do me a favor. Come by the office today. If we screwed up your blood tests, I want to run them again. I still want to find out why you’ve been tired and ill lately. Will you do that for me?

Ellie explained that she would be running errands later in the day near Tess’ office and agreed to drop by and let them run her lab work again.

Pregnant? How ridiculous. It was absolutely a mistake. But now she was just as anxious as Tess to get some good results from her tests and find out what was going on.

Chapter 4

I can’t believe this, but okay.  You were right.  Tess was holding Ellie’s new lab results.  Obviously, the BreverMed Labs had made a mistake on the original.   She would definitely talk to someone responsible and let them know that she would appreciate it if they would be more careful in the future – to put it mildly.   

Ellie was seated in the chair in front of her.  Tess slapped the test results against Ellie’s leg and then threw them on top of her desk.

Well, there they are, said Tess.  "You can take them home and frame them if you want.  You’re in perfect health.  And you are not pregnant."

Chapter 5

Tess hadn’t felt this good in ages.  It had been three months since she had found out that she indeed was not pregnant.   The morning sickness, if that’s truly what it had been, was gone.  She had regained her strength.  She was sleeping better, and more importantly, the nightmares not returned.

Absolutely nothing negative had been found in the blood tests.  Tess had given her a clean bill of health.   The headaches, the weakness, the nausea and the nightmares - she and Tess had concluded - were probably caused by stress. Maybe mild food poisoning, or most likely, a combination of both.   Final exams and graduation had been weighing heavily on Ellie’s mind, but those events were behind her now. Hopefully, that was all it had been.

After ten years of working and going to school part time, she had finally earned her degree in business marketing from UTSA.  She could now put those double duty days behind her, find a real job with good pay and benefits, take better care of herself, maybe find her way into a meaningful relationship with a decent man and finally get on with the life she truly wanted and felt she deserved.  

In fact, she had just concluded what she thought was a very positive job interview with Gunta Media Associates.  If she were hired for this second-tier position with one of San Antonio’s major advertising agencies, she would definitely be on her way.  Things were really looking up.

Chapter 6

Driving home from the job interview, Ellie’s 1995 Honda Accord began to sputter.  She checked the gas gauge.  It read half full.  What else could it be?    Hopefully nothing serious. 

The good news . . . she was almost home.  When she got there, she would call Mark and ask him to come over in the morning to take a look.  It was just after 6:00 PM, but the February evening sky had already darkened.  No use trying to do anything tonight.

And then it happened.  The dashboard lights began to flicker.  The radio went dead.  The engine coughed.  The headlights went dark.  And finally, the car died and began to coast.  Crap, Ellie thought.  This was such a good day up to now. 

She steered the Accord to the side of the road as it came to a stop.  She grabbed her cell phone from her purse and began to call Mark, but stopped.  Why call Mark now when she was so close to her house.

Ellie rented a small, two-bedroom doublewide that sat on an acre of land just off Scenic Loop Road, not 15 minutes west of the UTSA campus.  There was not a neighbor within 500 yards in any direction.  She enjoyed the peace and quiet of the rural