12 Wake Up!

Aubrianne Ivanov POV

My heart started to pound against my ribcage, and my pores stood at attention. What in the world? Who was in my home?

I quietly crawl out of bed, then frantically but quietly look around for a weapon that can be used in my defense against the intruder. While I steady my breathing, in and out, I chant in my head.

I only found a pair of my seven-inch heel dance shoes that were in close proximity. Ah, jackpot! One of these in the head can surely knock someone out.

Scanning my body, I noticed I wore tight shorts and a vest. I hastily pulled on a robe, heel in hand, and went tiptoeing to my bedroom door. I turned the knob as quietly as possible, hoping the door wouldn't squeak.

A breath escaped me when the door did not make any noise. I peeked out, eyes looking to my immediate left and right first, then outwards to my small living area.

To my surprise, it was my mother, and she was busy washing some dishes in the kitchen sink.

I blinked, then blinked again. My eyes were deceiving me. Telling me lies, selling me more dreams.

As if she senses me behind her, she calls over her shoulder, "it's about time you woke up, and you will not need that." Stopping her movements, she turns and eyes me, then those same eyes went the heel in my hand.

I smiled sheepishly, a little embarrassed. I was holding a stripper heel in my hand, about to attack my mom. I quietly brought it down from the position of holding it up in the air and slipped it behind my back.

Because not soon enough for my liking, it suddenly dawned on me that I WAS holding a STRIPPER heel in front of my mom.

I was worried and eyed her, wondering what she thought of me, looking for a reaction. She gave me none, and I started to ramble...

"Oh my sweet child, hush now, there is no time" she stopped her actions, completely discarding the plate she held in her hands along with the sponge.

I closed my eyes at the sweet sound of her voice, which I had not heard in years. It was music to my soul.

Though confused about what she meant, I slowly took a step closer and discarded the shoe on the sofa I approached while inching closer to my mom, "mom? What do you mean?...wait, more importantly, what are you doing here?" As another piercing realization stabs me in my heart.

This must be a dream because my mother was dead!

I shuddered, pulled my robe tighter around me, and eyed her curiously and cautiously.

Drying her hands on her apron, she faces me ultimately and rushes over to me, grabbing me in a tight hug. "Oh, Bri, there are so many things I wish I had the chance to tell you."

I hugged her back just as tight, but all too soon, she let go, and her hands caressed my cheeks. As she looks me over, "I am so sorry, Aubri, but you must wake up, baby girl. It is not your time yet. You have your whole life ahead of you."

"Wait, what? Mom, what are you talking about?"

"Please, baby girl, you have to fight. It is not your time yet, please! Don't give up." My mom constantly plays with my hair, putting it behind my ear, then pulling it out again, smoothing it down, letting it fall to the side of my face as she just watches me in admiration and as if she had not seen me in years.

"Gosh, look at you; you are so beautiful. Now you must wake up and know you are on the right path. Soon my child, soon. All will be revealed."

"Now, wake up!"

A blinding light flashes, my eyes slightly flutter open, and I groan. My vision is blurry, and I cannot see anything clearly. Plus, my heart aches in my chest. It's like someone has been using it as a stress ball, and I am not sure why.

I blinked rapidly, and the steady sound of a monitor beeping caught my attention.

Was I in a hospital?

A quiver ran down my spine, all the hair on my skin stood at attention, and I felt slight prickles on the pores of my skin. Why is my vision blurry?

Turning my head towards the sound of the beeping, I didn't see a thing. Why can't I see? A sense of dread consumes me. Shutting my eyes tightly, I opened them again and focused.

Looking around, everything slowly comes into focus, and I quickly realize that I am in a hospital, and John, Jada, Shawn, Kylynn, and Ena are lounging about, all staring at me.

Surely it was my movements that gained their attention.

However, this makes more sense than the last two times I jerked awake, though a strange look was etched on each of their faces, and I believe they were observing me.

I couldn't decipher what they were thinking. Then their faces quickly turned into relief and a look of concern when I stared at them and said, "I can see you all."

They smiled, but still, no one moved, like they were waiting for something. Nevertheless, it warms my heart to see them all here, knowing that I am not alone at this time.

Then, as if a switch came on, my hands reached up to touch behind my head as I slightly lifted my head to reach the spot behind my head. I grimaced, the effort seeming more than I could bear. It hurts, and I scrunch my face in agony. Also, I could not seem to form a coherent thought at the moment.

And then, before my hand could reach the back of my head, my hand was pulled back by the IV connected to me. "Ouch," I whined, "that hurt."

But then it was like another light went on, and I immediately reached down with my other hand to lightly touch my nether region, that cushy place between my legs, but my hand just hovered as I couldn't bear the thought that Ron had accomplished his goal.

Remembering that demented look in his eyes, I looked down hysterically and tried to see but couldn't lift my head the distance.

Frustrated with feeling paralyzed, my head fell back. I tightly closed my eyes, trying to feel or sense if anything had happened, because the horrifying realization of the last night had danced across my memory.

But I could not tell.

Different emotions racked my body all at once. I felt fear, my heart started racing, and my breath came in and out quickly.

Then shock. How could Ron do this? How could he have gone this far?

And then I felt disgusted about some of my reactions towards him. Which made me self-conscious. And now I am just angry. My head throbbed in the depths of its chaos.

Upon seeing my turmoil, Jada quickly said while moving closer to me and swiftly taking one of my hands gently in hers, "Shawn blasted into the room before Ron got that far, and he took off through the private exit for the high rollers. No one has seen him since."

I opened my eyes to look at my hand in Jada's then they rose to her eyes. Asking her, really? Understanding caresses her features, and she nods briskly.

"He is a band from the club for life. No longer is he welcomed at Triple X, and if he loses his goddamn mind and so much as decides to show up, he WILL regret it. Everyone is on high alert. No one messes with any of my girls and gets away with it."

My eyes switched to John as he blazed with fury, his nostrils flaring, eyebrows pinching as his jaw ticked. He was pissed!

He then pauses, and as he observes me, his eyes soften. John has always taken care of us girls. He treats us fairly and never lets anyone take advantage of us!

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A/N

John sent out the APB on Ron!

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