Part 1 - The Nightmare Begins

It was 10:30pm on a Friday. I didn't know that intuitively and I definitely couldn't tell by the position of the moon and stars. Those were probably shining somewhere, but not in the middle of the city. Not when the halogen lights overpowered them; hiding the partying people from a blanket of stars, a blanket of peace.

I knew the time because Jordana had just called me?again. This time she wasn't very pleased. In fact, it'd be safe to say she was extremely annoyed.

It was the little things that gave it away. The fact that she didn't say hello comes to mind. She just told me to get my butt away from my 'precious samples', away from my 'precious lab' and get home before she came here and dragged me there by the ear. Maybe it was the use of the word 'precious' that tipped me off, but I heeded the warning - being dragged by the ear anywhere is painful.

When I made it to the car park I only really noticed my car. My car that was parked in the very far corner of the very large car park. I sighed, "At least I remembered to park under a light." I was always getting lectures about personal safety from my over protective girlfriend, mainly because of my talent for losing track of time and working late (today is a pretty perfect example).

As I walked across the car park, the hair on the back of my neck tingled and I felt like I was being watched. I put my hand in my bag and fingered the personal key ring alarm I'd been given for Christmas, and the bottle of deodorant. It may be illegal to carry mace or even pepper spray, but deodorant could be just as bad, if not worse.

I heard an engine start behind me and relaxed - just another late night worker heading home. Tyres creaked on the concrete behind me and I turned slightly to watch the car pass me.

But it didn't pass. The lights blinded me for a second and I felt the bumper hit my legs, the windscreen hit my face, the roof hit my back, and then the ground hit me a few times. My world exploded in pain as the car drove on.

Somehow I'd kept hold of my bag and with no idea of how I managed it, I found my mobile phone in my hand and saw myself press redial.

I coughed and gagged because of the taste of blood that movement had caused. When Jordy answered I could hear a siren and foggily remembered my key ring.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. That effort nearly made me black out.

"Al, is that you?" she paused, waiting for a response but I couldn't form anymore words. "I forgive you for being late. You know I can't stay mad at you. Just hurry home."

More silence and the buzzing in my head grew louder. I knew I was running out of time, running out of energy.

"Honey," a worried note had entered her voice now. "What's that noise? Is that your.."

"I love you," I don't know if she heard me or if she replied. I thought I heard my name coming from somewhere far away.

The buzzing in my head grew too intense and my eyes closed. Breathing became too much of an effort, and finally the darkness claimed me.

@@@@@@@@@

"I love you." It was a whispered declaration and I knew what it meant.

My mind cried out against the inevitable, but all I could whisper was "Al?"

"Alex?" I tried again. "Alexandria, ?" I was getting desperate. The tears began to fall, "Please answer me."

I could hear laboured breathing then the squeak of rubber soles on concrete.

"Jesus, what the hell happened here?" faintly came through the mobile connection. The alarm that had been incessantly roaring since I answered the phone was finally silenced and I felt emptiness start to creep in.

"She's still alive. Call an ambulance." This voice was clearer and deeper, probably closer to the phone.

I called out, hoping the two men would hear me. "Hello. Please talk to me."

There was a scraping sound, most likely the phone grinding across the floor, then "Hello? Who's this?"

"J-Jordana." I stuttered. "Is she ok?"

"Hello Jordana. My name's Graham. I'm a paramedic. I heard the alarm and my friend Ethan and I decided to investigate." He sounded pleasant and somehow I felt at ease that Al was with him. I knew he'd look after her. "What's her name?"

"Al, ?A-Alexandria Webb." Tears were falling again and I tried to compose myself. "Please tell me how she is."

"I can't honestly say Jordana. She doesn't look so good but there's an ambulance coming and ET and I are doing all we can. Can you tell me what happened to her?"

"I don't know? I answered the phone and she just said she was sorry and she loved me. Then? nothing," my breath caught and my heart stopped when I thought that might have been the last time I heard her voice. I wept quietly.

I heard a siren and mumbled voices before Graham spoke to me again. "Jordana, you still there?"

"I'm here," I said anxiously.

"We're going to Royal Brisbane Hospital. Can you meet us there?"

I assured him I'd be there in 30 minutes.

Continued...