Indistinct chattering filled the room as Maria struggled to open her eyes.
The voices seed to fade in and out, distant yet persistent. Her eyelids felt heavy, her body sluggish, as she forced them open.
"Where am I?" she muttered weakly, her voice not coming out.
Her gaze landed on the IV drip hanging beside her bed. Confused, she tried to move, but a sharp pain shot through her body.
A numbness spread across her limbs, leaving her helpless.
Near the foot of her bed, soone lay with their head resting close to her legs, sleeping soundly. Maria tried again to sit up, but her body refused to cooperate.
Frustrated, she lightly tapped the bed with her palm, hoping to gain so control over her movents. The sleeping figure stirred. Slowly, the person lifted their head and rubbed their eyes.
"Cassandra?" Maria’s heart clenched with recognition.
The mont her best friend’s gaze t hers, Cassandra’s drowsiness vanished. She gasped loudly, a grin spreading across her face.
"You’re awake, Maria!" she cried in relief.
Without waiting for a response, Cassandra shot up and ran out of the room, her excited voice echoing in the hallway. "Doctor! Doctor!!"
Maria frowned. Shouldn’t she have spoken to her first before dashing off?
Her eyes wandered around the sterile white room, scanning every corner. There was only one bed, hers. That confird it. She was in the hospital.
Monts later, Cassandra returned with a doctor and two nurses trailing behind her. She stepped aside, watching intently as they examined Maria.
The doctor checked her pulse and vitals before finally turning to Cassandra.
"Fortunately, she’s out of danger now. But we’ll need to run a few tests to confirm that she has fully recovered," he explained calmly.
Cassandra nodded quickly. "Can she speak?" she asked, her voice laced with concern and the doctor turned back to Maria.
"Try saying sothing," he encouraged.
Maria parted her lips, but no sound ca. Panic surged through her. She tried again, but still, nothing. Then, Cassandra’s expression darkened.
"Why can’t she speak? What’s wrong with her?"
"It’s a temporary side effect," the doctor reassured. "Due to the shock she experienced, her body is still in recovery mode. It’s likely she’s feeling numb as well."
Maria blinked rapidly, silently confirming his words.
"There’s no need to worry. In the next few hours, she should regain full control," the doctor added.
"Oh alright," Cassandra let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you, Doctor."
With that, he instructed the nurses to check Maria’s IV and administer so dication before leaving the room. Once they were gone, Cassandra moved closer, taking a seat beside the bed.
She began massaging Maria’s legs, a soft smile on her face.
Maria barely noticed. Her mind was racing with questions. Where were her parents? How were they? She tried to rember what had happened, but her mory remained frustratingly blank.
"I need to grab so fruit for you," Cassandra said suddenly, snapping Maria out of her thoughts. "I’ll be back soon."
Maria watched as her friend walked towards the door. Just as Cassandra opened it, Maria caught sight of two police officers from the pack, standing at the entrance.
’The police?’ Her brows furrowed.
Before she could dwell on it, Cassandra slipped out, leaving Maria alone with her thoughts.
With nothing else to do, she closed her eyes and forced herself to sleep.
Few hours later...
When Maria woke again, she glanced at the clock on the wall, it was already past four in the evening.
Her body felt slightly better, but a dull ache persisted in her left arm. She looked down and noticed a tight bandage wrapped around it.
"You’re awake?"
Cassandra’s voice drew her attention to the doorway. Maria’s eyes flickered to the small basket of fruits in her friend’s hands.
But none of that mattered.
"Where are my parents?"
The words left Maria’s lips before she could stop them. Cassandra stiffened, her expression shifting to one of sadness and that made Maria’s heart pounded.
"Cassie?" Her voice wavered.
Instead of responding, Cassandra walked over and set the basket down beside the bed.
"Which fruit would you like first?" she asked, deliberately avoiding Maria’s gaze.
Maria narrowed her eyes. Sothing was wrong. She reached out and grabbed Cassandra’s wrist, gripping it tightly.
"Tell the truth, Cassie... Where are my parents?" She demanded but Cassandra hesitated, her face betraying her inner turmoil.
"I... I don’t know, Maria. I haven’t asked the doctor about them because I’ve been here with you for the past three days."
Maria’s grip loosened.
"Three days?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "What do you an three days?"
"You’ve been unconscious for three days," Cassandra explained softly. "I ca rushing here as soon as I heard what happened."
Maria felt like the air had been knocked out of her. Three days? She had been unconscious for that long?
Before she could process the information, movent at the doorway caught her attention. Beta Gilbert and Bernard walked into the room.
Maria’s stomach twisted in anger at the sight of Bernard.
He stood tall beside his father. His short black hair was neatly styled to the side, and his features were sharp. He is just five years older than Maria, but has the face of a mature man in his late twenties.
His presence alone in the room sent a wave of resentnt coursing through Maria’s veins.
Where had he been on the night of their engagent? Why hadn’t he shown up? And now, after everything, he had the audacity to be here?
She forced herself to look away, turning her attention to Beta Gilbert instead.
"Sir," she said, her voice firm. "Where are my parents?"
"Maria," Beta Gilbert hesitated, scratching his head. "You need to remain calm—"
"Just tell !" Maria cuts in but before he could answer, Bernard spoke up.
"They’re dead." His voice was flat, emotionless.
Then the room went still.
Cassandra and Beta Gilbert turned to him, their faces etched with shock. Maria, on the other hand, felt like the world had crumbled beneath her.
For a mont, her brain refused to register the words.
Dead? No. It wasn’t possible.
Her parents... kind, strong, and loving, couldn’t be gone. Her lips trembled as she tried to form words, but nothing ca out. The pain in her chest was suffocating.
Bernard, however, remained unfazed.
"Get a hold of yourself and move on," he said coldly. "What’s done is done."
Maria’s head snapped up, fury burning in her eyes. How could he be so heartless?
"Bernard," Cassandra abruptly called out. "Have so compassion! She just lost her parents!"
"I’m being honest here," he shot back. "She needs to accept it and move forward."
Maria’s hands balled into fists, her nails digging into her palms but she didn’t say a word.
"Enough, both of you!" Beta Gilbert’s voice bood through the room, and silence followed.
He turned back to Maria, his expression softening.
"Maria, I have to leave now. Try to rest, and don’t let this consu you. I’ll check on you tomorrow."
She didn’t respond. She just nodded stiffly.
Beta Gilbert sighed and walked out. Bernard, looking increasingly uncomfortable, quickly followed.
The mont they were gone, Cassandra sat beside Maria and reached out to comfort her.
"I... I just want to be alone," Maria muttered, her voice hollow.
Cassandra hesitated but nodded, quietly stepping out of the room. As soon as she was gone, Maria curled onto her side, her mind reeling.
The mories of that night remained frustratingly hazy. But as she closed her eyes, flashes of sothing, or soone, appeared in her mind.
She suddenly saw a shadow and a blurry face. Her breath caught in her throat, and she jolted upright, her whole body trembling.
"Yeah, I saw him!" She whispered, terror gripping her chest...
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