#Slit My Wrists and Hope To Die# >1<

Ana awoke in a white place. At first, she thought Jarred had been an angel come down to save her from the hell she'd been living. But when she angled her head up, she saw IV needles, a heart rate machine, and a doctor in a white coat standing by the window.

Ana moaned gently and the doctor turned, smiling kindly.

"Well, you're awake…" Ana's vision was clear enough to see that her doctor was female, her voice slightly tinny. Ana nodded numbly and her blurred eyesight caught on Jarred who was seated in a far corner, watching her. Her heart jumped and when she attempted to sit up, Jarred was at her side within seconds.

"Don't move…" He warned, taking her hand in his. He noted it was clammy and cold. "Are you alright?" His voice caught in his throat and he coughed nervously. Ana shrugged and all she wanted to do was ravish her hunger for him. She could almost taste his lips on her tongue.

"I'm fine…" Ana whispered, grumbling about water. The doctor excused herself and Jarred sat on the edge of the bed. "How did you find me?" Ana looked warily into Jarred's rich green eyes and became lost in the haziness of them.

"When you didn't show up at school for three days, I had a hunch." He leaned down and brushed his lips across her cheek. "I was really scared…" Jarred's voice was as sweet as an autumn breeze against Ana's ear.

"I'm flattered…" Ana replied, pressing her mouth to his jaw. He pushed his face into her hair and breathed in, not caring if the sweet scent had gone. She had her own sugary musk about her and he savored it.

"Excuse me." A deep voice rattled their intimacy and they turned to find a tall, sturdy police officer standing in the doorway. "Please come with me…" He signaled towards Jarred and Jarred panicked.

But he still got up obediently and followed the officer down the hall. They stopped in the corner of the waiting room and the cop pulled out a pair of handcuffs. Jarred had been dreading this moment.

"Look, kid, we can do this the hard way, or the easy way…it's your choice." He dangled the cuff in front of Jarred.

"Why take the low road when you can take the high road?" Jarred asked. The officer smiled.

"Good choice." The cop put the handcuffs back onto his belt and pulled Jarred by the sleeve. "I am fully aware that you were the one that found Miss Salke." He explained to Jarred when they reached the parking lot. Jarred was nodding, wondering what this was all about.

"Yeah, her father had been raping her and beating her. I was worried so I checked the house." Jarred said calmly when the officer pushed him into the back of the car. The radio cackled with static and Jarred ran a trembling hand through his hair.

"Did you happen to see her father?" The cop, whose name was Dan, started up the engine and they were soon heading down the lot.

"Yes. He was as drunk as a guy could get. Why?" Jarred cocked his head at the set of guns in the front of the car.

"When police went by to arrest Mr. Salke, he was found murdered in the basement. Bullet wound to the head. Multiple shots. And as far as you're concerned, you're the only suspect we have." Dan replied with venom. Jarred's heart stuttered.

What the fuck!?