The road ahead grew narrower as they drove on.
M nced at her surroundings nervously. “Have you taken a wrong turn, Uncle?” she asked
quizzically.
“That’s right.” His tone was sinister.
“Where… are… we?” She felt like her body was gradually growing
weaker. She turned to look at her parents, only to find them already unconscious. She didn’t even know
when they passed out.
“Dad… Mom… wake up…
“Uncle… you…”
The car came to a stop.
Oliver got out of the vehicle. Then, he opened the door and pulled her
out.
She felt limp. Unable to do anything to resist, she let him carry her away. She mustered up all her
strength to turn and look back in the
direction of the car.
A couple of men dressed in ck appeared out of nowhere. They dragged her unconscious parents out
of the vehicle and carried them into the remote parts of the forest.
“Dad… Mom…” M could feel her eyelids getting heavier. After she closed her eyes and tried her best
to reopen them, she was met with blinding rays of light.
They were spotlights from a surgery table. There was a persistent ringing in her ear.
What sounded like Oliver’s voice was heard as well. “Be a good girl,
Wanda. You’ll soon forget about everything.”
She shut her eyes again.
This time, her entire body hurt. It felt like a thousand needles were being pricked into her brain.
“You need to be alright, Chubs. You hear me? Hang in there…” It was
Nathan’s voice.
A loud bang promptly followed-It sounded like the doors of the operation room were being closed shut.
She could vaguely make out a nurse’s voice. “Family members need to wait here. Don’t worry, we’ll do
our best to save her.”
The peculiar sound of footsteps, breathing, and equipment noises were all ovepping in her ear.
Pain. Hurt. Agony.
It was as though she was being separated from the flesh of her body -The pain felt raw.
M slept for what felt like eons.
Someone was persistently calling for her by her ear. It was Nathan’s
voice.
She wanted to open her eyes to look at him, but she didn’t have an ounce of energy in her body. She
couldn’t even open her eyes.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before she gradually opened her eyes.
It was a warm morning. The sunlight from the balcony was ring. It took a while before she got used
to the light.
Her body felt so heavy. She cranked her neck gently and spotted Nathan who was asleep on the
lounge chair.
BONUS
His cheeks were covered in stubbles. He looked worn out and exhausted-It was heartbreaking to see.
M watched him wordlessly as time passed by. She’d dreamt about the past while she was
unconscious. Now that she was awake, the memories from her dream were bing clearer to her.
“Nate.” She couldn’t help but call out to him. However, her voice was low and light, and didn’t have an
ounce of energy.
A split momentter, Nathan jerked, as though he had a nightmare, and abruptly woke up. He looked
toward the bed and met M’s gaze.
At that moment, he thought that he was dreaming. He rushed over with both excitement and
nervousness and swiftly pressed the call
button on the bed.
His eyes were bloodshot. He held her hand in his and choked in a deep voice, “You’re awake Chubs.
You’re finally awake…”
She shot him a shallow smile and gently retracted her hand. Her expression looked calm. “You look so
worn out, Nate.”
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Nathan stilled as though someone struck a pressure point on his body. With teary eyes, he stared at
her silently and unmoving.
Her gaze felt foreign and familiar at the same time. She called him Nate? Is Wanda Hoffis back?
He ignored the painful lump in his throat and slowly said, “You’ve been unconscious for seven days
straight.”
M shot him a bitter smile and replied gently, “I think I was unconscious for three and a half years.”
Nathan startled. His hands were propped on the bed and his head hung very low. His broad shoulders
felt very heavy.
Then, tears fell onto the bed sheet.