The attempt to turn on my side caused pain to flood through me, which brought my eyes wide open. Not heaven after all, but not hell either. I looked around and began to take an inventory of the room I found myself in. I remembered the arrow wound and I located the source of my pain behind some white cotton bandages on my lower left side. The broken off arrow shaft was gone. Everything else seemed to be where it should be and functioning, which was a relief as I remembered fighting off the vultures.
Turning my attention to the room I was in I discovered it to be simply decorated, but very homey despite the lack of ornamentation. The room was very clean and well maintained. Just then the door opened and a girl with blond pig tails walked in with a tray. When she noticed me awake I watched her eyes grow comically huge. The tray and its contents crashed to the floor as the girl disappeared down the hall calling out for what I took to be her mother, as she frantically declared to all that the stranger was awake. Soon an attractive middle aged woman appeared in the doorway with the girl, and a smaller boy I hadn't seen before, who peeped around her dress at me.
"Well it's good to see our guest finally awake! I must apologize for the mess Dorie made of your lunch." She said, as she moved to clean up the broken dishes on the floor.
Moving to rise up I groaned aloud with pain. It felt like there was a hot poker in my side that someone was twisting around savagely. Suddenly the woman was at my side helping me to sit up.
"Dorie fetch those pillows. Now!"
Reluctantly, the girl approached with two large pillows, which her mother took and put behind my back. I lay back against them feeling about as capable as a sick kitten. I was completely vulnerable to these people, but thankfully they seemed more interested in my well being than my demise. Maybe that was because of the money they could get for turning me in, came the corresponding dark thought.
"There now. I bet that feels better, to get into a different position."
"It does. Thank you." I said finding my voice, which was very scratchy sounding.
I croaked out, "Ma'am I can't stay here. I'm wanted by some very bad people that would cause harm to your family. If you help me get up I'll get out of here right away."
I moved to get out of the bed, but she stopped me.