“Help… someone help me…” My voice broke into sobs. The air was silent except for the sound of my crying. Blood stung my eyes and my body was limp. Just when I thought this was the end, he finally let me go. I collapsed onto the ground like trash.
The car headlights came on and the engine roared. My chest tightened when I realized they were going to run me over.
“Stop!”
A figure rushed toward me, but before I could see who it was, the darkness swallowed me whole.
When I opened my eyes again, I smelled disinfectant. My head was wrapped in bandages and every breath felt like needles in my chest. The pain was unbearable.
“Anika, you’re awake.”
It was Wilbert. His face looked tired and pale, with dark circles under his eyes. He let out a long sigh of relief when he saw me conscious.
“It’s alright now. I found out what happened. It was a medical disturbance. They thought you were Nivianne. I already sent them to prison. You don’t need to be scared anymore.”
His voice was soft, almost tender, and it made me sick.
“Does your head still hurt? Try moving a little. Tell me if anything feels wrong.”
His phone rang. I knew that ringtone. It was Nivianne. He ignored it for once, and instead he held my hand tightly like I was something precious.
I tried to pull away but he wouldn’t let go.
“Wilbert,” I whispered, “if I told you I heard that man say he was following Nivianne’s orders… would you believe me?”
He froze, then frowned, and finally let go of my hand. His voice turned cold. “Anika, stop it. You’re imagining things. Nivianne is a victim too. If it weren’t for you, she would be the one in this bed right now. How could she be behind this?”
I let out a bitter laugh. My eyelashes trembled as I turned away from him. I didn’t even have the strength to argue. What was the point? He never believed me.
I closed my eyes, too tired to keep fighting.
“I know you’re upset with her,” Wilbert said softly. He brushed his hand through my hair like he was soothing me. “I promise, once everything settles down, I’ll keep less contact with her. Just trust me.”
He stayed beside me all night, whispering sweet words like before, as if that could erase everything. But I only stared at him with empty eyes.
My heart felt cold. Because I knew he was lying. He would never leave Nivianne.
And outside my door, I didn’t know that she was already on her way to find him.
.....
Hours later...