CHAPTER ONE
I was running as fast as I could. I knew this was my last chance to escape. I knew this was the only chance I got to feel free again. While checking behind me, my legs were in action without my control, trying to get away as fast as they could. "My legs," I moaned, out of breath. They hurt so much, and I knew I couldn't run any further after a few seconds. I searched the area to see if there was any place I could hide until they were gone.
Not stopping for a second, I continued scanning the area, but a sudden flash of light made me go blind for a moment, and later, all I could feel was the ground beneath me. Tears escaped from my eyes. I was lying on the floor, now realizing that a car had hit me. My breath got caught in my throat. "No," I moaned, please not right now. Usually when people get hit by a car, this is not what they'll think that moment. But that case wouldn't work for me. Getting an open door for freedom only to be closed on my face in a second after I step in? How is this fair?!
They were coming, I knew that. "Oh my god, oh my god, what did I do? Flora!" I could hear unfamiliar voices that now were coming closer. A hand touched my cheek, then checked my pulse. "I'm," I whispered, "not dead." I heard the same voice shout in surprise. Another voice, which I was hearing for the first time, spoke to me. The calming sound of her voice already making me feel better. "Don't worry; we're waiting for an ambulance, and then you'll be fine, okay?" Another tear escaped. The girl must've think I was in pain, so she caressed my cheek gently.
"Where does it hurt? I can help; I'm a nurse." I didn't know why, but my eyes refused to open. Maybe because I was scared the minute I opened them, I could see them. The thought of them being here around caused my body to shake like a leaf. "Please, please," This is it? I couldn't even form two sentences correctly? Like I have time! "Help me!" I moaned again. Thankfully, my voice wasn't as cracked as before. It was more like a morning voice.
"We will! I'm so sorry! I, I didn't see you." The first voice said. I recognized her voice since hers was more of panicked while the other's was as calming as a lullaby. "No," I managed to say. I was taking so long to talk, but my lungs were hurting like hell because of running and maybe because a car had hit me? No idea, but it hurts. Surprised that I didn't black out, I opened my eyes, still scared but knowing there's no escape. "Please, take me away from here! They're coming!" Tears blocking my sight, I couldn't quite tell who the girls were or how they looked. But I could see one of them was brunette, and the other one was dark-haired. "Who's coming?"
Moaning again, but this time from the pain, I could feel my eyelids were about to close, and I was about to be in a deep sleep. "God," I mumbled, sobbing and panting, "Just get me out of here!" The dark-haired girl looked at me, or maybe this is what I imagined because everything was blurry. "Who are you running from?" she asked again. Gulping, I turned my head. My breath was so heavy, and every time I let out a breath, it just hurt my ribcage like I was being stabbed. And trust me, I know the pain of being stabbed.
"Brothers," I said before my eyes closed completely, and one of my phobias showed up, darkness. "My brothers." I said, or maybe I thought I said, because after that, everything was gone.
I was running again. My hair was all wet and sticky from the sweat. Oddly, I wasn't feeling tired or any kind of pain. My neck and cheek weren't hurting, and my ribcage was doing fine, probably because I wasn't feeling anything. My eyes were focused on the road I was running. Suddenly, I stopped. I gave myself time to check what was around me. That didn't take much time; since there was nothing around. No houses, no people, no animals or trees. Nada. Just a road and complete darkness. I closed my eyes tightly. I hate darkness. I was waiting for my claustrophobia to hit me, but again, nothing. I fell on my knees and started crying. The things that happens to me just because I want to be free.
"She'll be fine; however, we couldn't find any information about her. We must wait until she wakes up so she can tell about herself." A male's voice interrupted my self-pity. I opened my eyes to see who my savior was, but the darkness was still there.
"Thank you, Helia," said the kind voice I remembered. Hearing her voice calmed my body instantly. She must be some kind of an angel to leave this effect on people; otherwise, I don't know how to explain this. Maybe because no one ever was kind to me before, I felt calmed with her voice.
"No worries, are you okay?" the savior of darkness spoke again. Where are they? Checking the road from the left to the right, I was confused as hell, but a part of me was relieved to know I wasn't alone. "I'm fine, baby; I'm just worried. Musa was really shocked, and I don't think she could easily drive anything for a long time." Silence. "Riven can fix that. Don't worry." Silence again. I lifted my hand in the air, looking all confused as to why I did that.
"I'm more worried about her; she really was so scared but not because a car hit her. She was running like she had no other choice; you should've seen her face. Musa wasn't even going that fast. For a second, I could say it's her who hit us."
"Flora," the savior spoke; their voices were calming my body and my head. I laid on the cold ground, with my hand still up, listening to them. "We should call the cops." A shock wave hit me like lightning. "No!" I screamed, even though a part of me knew they couldn't hear me. "No, please don't call the cops!" They weren't saying anything; however, the pressure I felt on my hand got stronger but not as strong as to hurt me. It was more like supporting. "Hey, okay, no cops," she murmured. My eyes filled with tears, this time with happiness. She could hear me! Seeing a light coming towards me, I started to walk towards it as fast as I could. Maybe that was her!
My eyes opened, now clearer than before. Happy to see there was light and no more darkness.
Except outside, it was dark; the room, however, was all white. Scanning my surroundings, I realized we were in an all-white room. I was lying on a white-sheeted bed, not so comfortable but much more comfortable than my bed at home. There was a TV right in front of me and a small door inside the room, maybe the exit or maybe the bathroom? My eyes darted towards the brunette that was smiling at me lovingly. I wasn't wrong; she had every potential to be an angel.
Just next to her was a man, with long black hair wearing a white coat. He must be a doctor. They were looking at me carefully like I could escape anytime. Couldn't blame them; after hearing about the cops, the only reason I wasn't running away was that I had no energy whatsoever in me.
"Hi," said the angel named Flora I guess, cutting short the glances we were giving each other. Her smile made me focus on her. "Do I have any broken bones?" I asked; my voice was all lost. I thought I imagined it, but realizing Helia's furrowed brows and Flora's shocked expression, I could see they heard my question. "No, you're just a little sore and..." he stopped for a second and looked at me. I shifted uncomfortably in my place. Causing a lot of pain needles to stab me.
"Bruised, all over. No minerals or vitamins in you whatsoever. You're anemic. Also too skinny. I'm sorry, we usually ask before checking everything, but you slept for two days, and we had to be sure there weren't any risks." Not really getting what he's trying to say, I squirmed my eyes and cleared my throat to ask, but he got my question and answered quickly. "Your body has become extremely weak because you have been subjected to violence," he said, opening a new fear case in me. "We don't know anything about you, but the girls insisted on keeping this incident away from the cops because you asked them to. And now, since you're awake," he cleared his throat and looked at me with a sorry expression evident on his face, "You can tell us who you are and who hurt you like this."