Twenty-One

I woke up and felt like a freight train had run me over. My body felt heavy, and my head was filled with cotton. There was an annoying buzzing around me that wouldn't go away no matter how much I tried to stop it.

I tried to move my hand but something was constricting my movement. I blinked and was met with a stark white ceiling and more beeping. I went to move my head, but it was stiff, as was the rest of my body. It felt like I hadn't moved in weeks.

"Isla? Isla, you're awake!" I was slugged by a heavy body and tackled to the bed.

"Oof, Ace, too much." I tapped out.

He backed away suddenly. "Shit, my bad. I was just so relieved."

"Ugh, I feel like crap. What happened?"

"There was a fire, you were caught on the first floor and inhaled too much smoke. You've been asleep for 2 days now," Ace said, and that was when I noticed how haggard and exhausted he looked.

"Have you slept at all?" I asked.

He smiled and shook his head. "There's something we need to talk about. My father was here,