(Arata)
Miranda and Chan lifted my mood and spirit. Both of them joked and kept the conversation light. They avoided talking or asking about the incident and I knew Karsten must have forbidden them.
"So, he called you guys to co et ?" I asked, enjoying the chocolates Miranda had brought for . The whole box was open in front to choose from.
Miranda helped , seeing my hands were bandaged and one had a cannula on.
"Yes! I think he approves of our friendship now." Chan snickered from the chair nearby.
I smiled, more to myself, knowing he had kept his promise.
Soon after, the doctor ca for an inspection. The middle-aged man had a friendly face and a comforting presence. Two must points for a good doctor.
"How are you feeling now?" The doctor gently asked.
"Much better, thank you." Miranda placed the box of chocolates away.
"So, Arata. Are you claustrophobic?" He asked with his tablet in his hand as if ready to click so boxes.
I nodded and told him how I had felt before fainting so he would have an idea. He jotted everything down.
"Just take antibiotics for a few more days and rest. Let your hands heal; no dipping them in water or lifting heavy objects. No typing on the phone, use voice ssages. Use ointnt I have prescribed on the neck and shoulders." He gave a hefty list of instructions while writing an online discharge slip.
"Thank you. I appreciate how everyone took care of ," I answered, slightly relieved, and he smiled in understanding before furthering.
"Try to keep yourself relaxed. Do so mind-relaxing exercises because I don’t want to put you on dication for panic attacks."
"I know, I will follow your instructions." The room Karsten had given had a fish tank instead of a wall, I knew that would help relax.
Hopefully, there wouldn’t be any more abductions or attacks. Strangely, I just wanted to return to Karsten’s villa, go to my room, climb in bed with my many pillows and watch the fish swim by.
The doctor discharged and left the room. Chan and Miranda hugged one after the other.
"Take care of yourself and don’t worry about the office. We got you covered."
I thanked them for the visit, flowers and chocolates.
Once they had left, Caysir entered the room.
His ever-present smile was missing today as he gathered up my stuff.
"Are you feeling better, Miss Arata?" He asked in deep concern.
"I am Caysir, don’t worry." I offered him a warm and reassuring smile.
We settled in the car and I could still sense how grieved he seed.
He never looked at through the rearview mirror but kept his eyes on the road while saying.
"I feel like it’s all thee fault."
"I am good, Caysir. Only my hands got injured." I wriggled my hands, which had been freshly bandaged, and I appeared like a zombie.
"I am sorry, I wasn’t there to protect you. I feel like a failure," he lanted. But this wasn’t his fault at all.
"Don’t bla yourself. They should have been more careful about the security."
I stared at my hands, and the horrible mories of that man grabbing resurfaced. I pushed them down not wanting to break down in front of Caysir. I would do it, once I was alone.
We arrived back at Karsten’s residence, and I knew he wasn’t ho yet. The thought of him questioning that man made my stomach clench and not in a pleasant way.
Karsten could be scary, but to what length he could go to extract answers was beyond my understanding.
Asbela was waiting for , uneasy and worried. Her eyes dipped to my hands and a concerned haw escaped her.
"Arata! I am so sorry. How are you? Olphi said that you were t with an accident."
I reassuringly smiled at the girl as she led inside and up the stairs. Caysir fetched my stuff.
"I am good now. Nothing to worry about, just so bruises on the hands and neck. They will heal." I tried to dispel her worries.
Asbela helped settle down in my room and changed into comfortable night garb from the stupid hospital gown.
She filled up the vases with water and removed the roses Karsten had brought for , adding fresh flowers to them—the ones Miranda and Chan brought.
I told her to keep the blue roses Karsten had brought for and not throw them away.
"I know how to make paintings and art with pressed flowers. I will make sothing beautiful for you. Don’t worry."
Relief settled in my bones as I relaxed against the soft pillows, resting my hands on the dolphin one which was in my lap now.
Once Asbela was done and I was comfortable she said, offering a kind smile.
"I will bring you so lamb stew with turric powder. It will help you heal."
"I will appreciate that." I kept the pretending smile on my lips.
Once the door closed, I sunk into the softness of the bed and closed my eyes.
I missed my family; thoughts of Baba, Mom, Grandma and Zaylen crossed my mind, and I wished I could speak to them.
If only I could hear their voices, it would calm my disturbed heart. But my phone was with Karsten and he even knew my password.
Nothing and absolutely fucking nothing escaped this man.
What if he read the ssages between Azul and ?
He would burn with jealousy, that was a given. After this incident, I knew my chances of ever eting Azul were thin and fragile like wet tissue.
At least I could speak to him, unburden myself?
Right?
The screeching of tyres against the gravel had my eyes opening and turning my attention towards the window of my room. It offered a direct view of the breathtaking gardens and the main entrance.
Karsten’s other car had co to a halt and he erged from it with a dead serious look on his face.
Sothing was off and my heart beca agitated, extrely agitated.
Soon I heard his rapid knock on the door, followed by his deep voice. There was an urgency there.
"Arata, can I co in?"
"Yes!" I answered quickly, my eyes wavering towards the door. He opened and entered the room with a face set in stone.
My heart sank seeing him look all dark, cold and gloomy.
"Hey! How are you feeling?" He asked, staggering towards . The surety in his steps was missing, replaced by sothing dark and almost feral.
He quietly settled down on the edge of the bed, near my legs.
And then I noticed the stains on his shirt, a few on his neck and even his face.
Blood, there was blood on him.
My first instinct was he had been hurt. So, without thinking, I hurled away the dolphin pillow, sprang forward and grabbed his face with my injured hands.
"Are you hurt?" I asked with my heart jumping into my throat as my desperate eyes scanned his face for the injuries, dying for his answer.
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