"... could be fatal.... hydrated.... needs to.... when she is awake...."
Those were some concerning words while she was disabled during that time. Lucy was unaware how long that was but the period resulted in a loss of many things.
Memories blurring, energy dissipating. She was becoming weaker by the minute.
Lucy dosed off again. The next time she felt awake was fortunately not within the vicinity of strangers commenting of her body.
Blinking her eyes open she stepped into the blurry candlelit room. Mild tears escaped the corners of her eyes as she tried to see everything clearly.
There have been numerous places she had seen or picturised as a luxury place. Yet a room magnificent only through candles, which was abnormal because every part of the world had a tube light installed. Not for providing free light for everybody but more for keeping an eye on everybody. There was no electronic device available in the market without an in-built camera and microphone facility.
Thus, the glow surrounding this beautiful place she was lying in was an exquisite pleasure for a girl kidnapped within 24 hours of being alone on her own.
The realisation of being kidnapped was followed by her frantic increase of heartbeats that she was breathing from mouth.
"She is having difficulty in breathing! Get Horan fast!" Someone must have finally witnessed the girl trembling terribly as she was once again enveloped with the unknown.
How stupid of her to not expect unknowns around if she was to leave her long time livelihood in opera.
"Genie, take her left side. Push her flat to the mattress and rub her hands and feet. She needs to calm down." That must be the man Horan. He need not instruct the girl to do anything, Lucy was already recovering through his voice.
His words so calm and energising at the same time, as if commanding quietly to get well.
"Do you hear me?" She let out a breath in response.
"Good. I want you to calm down because everything is fine and you are in a safe place. You were hurt before but I've covered your wounds. You did a very good job Lucy, now open your eyes slowly."
Her breathing normalised as she followed his commands.
"It's okay to feel heavyweight on your eyes. Be patient and open them slowly." It was a task but also an inward curiosity to meet the man.
Would he be as good as his voice?
Damn her eyesight. She was still blurring that required multiple blinking. Three to four times later, Lucy wished to sleep again.
"Don't stop. You're doing good. You have beautiful brown eyes. And I'm waiting to see them."
Lucy highly doubted this man to be a doctor. In case switching to another profession, a lover boy would suit him absolutely.
"If you are feeling pain, just let me know." She wanted to move her head in denial but then he continued, "Your face is turning red. You sure, you're okay?"
Now, how could she have told him that she was blushing from the thought of meeting him and maybe not coping with his expectations.
As long as she was aware, her attire would be shabby and unrecognisable of her real self. And this so-nice voice man must think of her to be a beggar, right from the streets.
No matter how much conflicts she held in her mind, at a particular time she had to open her eyes fully and meet his.
His were hazel. They were not extraordinary, but they looked good on his face. And yes, he was more than what she expected to see when she opened her eyes the first time after being through the traumatic scenario.
"Hi." Just a single word after she willed to get better. Lucy's lips quirked in the sides to reply, only to do that with a coarse throat.
"Here, water will help." The situation became so embarrassing where Lucy was sure she had lost the chance to impress him.
Now, her thirsty throat and pale, dry face won't work the wonders they did when she was on stage.
So, did it mean she was all beautiful only on stage? Not that she tested that part to check where and when she appeared the best. In the world like this, possessing natural beauty and well being was a dream for majority.
"What are you thinking?" Doctor asked, stumbling her out of reverie.
"No-nothin'". She simply lied back before remembering she was rescued from the kidnapper.
"Thank you so much for rescuing me. I only remembered now..." Her words should have uttered out exactly the way she portrayed in her mind and mouth but all it did was twist.
"T-than' yes ouch for resqui e." In another place she would have been proud to invent a language, the meaning of which was known solely to self.
In the end, the patient coughed the rest of the words resulting in Horan advising her to rest and relax.
The two women who were watching the scene with admiration, went off after she touched her back on the mattress.
Could be the doctor's work.
"Lucy. I am aware you must be having a lot of questions and I can assure you I am not going anywhere for a long while. As for you, you aren't in a state to walk as well. Why don't we wait until your full recovery so that we can finally have a chance to speak together, hm?"
She merely blinked rapidly to his request. Was he surely a doctor? That question continuously revolved within as long as she spent time with him. It was strange she never felt this way ever before.
Maybe she never met a doctor. The regular viewers of her fandom, though for a few minutes, would be actors, producers, businessmen, and every other man and woman having money.
Did that make him poor then?
For the poor girl to have no way of sharing her thoughts, surprisingly her inner self was responding enthusiastically to every query popping.
Oh no. Why is he watching like that?
If she was looking red before, she was damn sure it would have been a tomato on her oval face by now.
"Hey, I asked if you are hungry." Oh.
There was at least one way working for Lucy where she could communicate.
He smiled at her nodding neck, the smile on his face so natural like he was a jolly guy who never frowned or worried for anything.
As much as she loved being immobile and only watching him entertaining, she saw him stand up from his seat.
The peace on her face was disrupted, more so because she wanted to stop him.
Guilty as it sounded she got an idea.
"Lucy? You alright? What happened to you suddenly?" He was in his way to look for other things needing his attention but the girl began hyperventilating just when he left her side. "What's the matter? You were doing fine till now..."
Who knows. At least the one knowing the reason of her condition was not in the state of speaking.
"You are required immediately in the meeting hall." One of the servant women came to get the Doctor. Lucy wondered how many servants worked here and more of all, who was the owner of this place?
Was it Horan? No other name came to her mind as she saw them only addressing him as their master.
"Tell him, I'll be there soon."
The woman was puzzled with the answer. Possibly she didn't expect the Doctor to answer this way. And who was the man expecting this handsome guy?
"But, how can I say that to him!" The servant seemed to have forgotten all title manners and questioned him directly.
It was confusing for the girl to concentrate. She had to work up her mind and her body to avoid suspicion. Yet at a point, something gave away.
The more the Doctor awaited the woman standing at the door, the more restless she appeared to be. As if her life depended on when Horan agreed to come with.
Lucy had the habit of being self-centered on the stage, did it mean she had to take that everywhere?
It was after she 'stabilised' that Horan spoke, "That's my girl. I am proud of you Lucy."
Lucy was sure he had a past time business of flirting with patients. The profit? Loads and loads of fainting bees.
"Now that you are good to be, I'll have my trusted assistant by your side. She will see to your needs as you want." Patting her wrist twice he smiled, leaving her in anticipation for next visit.
Who knew what important task was waiting for the important man. Lucy was content in feeling important for those couple of minutes.
It wasn't every day that she felt good meeting someone. Most of the men she encountered, either listed over her body or forgot her upon once glance.
At least that's what she thought. They really never came back to even ask for a dance in parties she attended with Madam Carry.
From the part of 'forgetting', a realisation struck that she absolutely forgot why she was here in the first place!
Just thinking of that kidnapper's face brought really bad memories and to think that it could have been worse if she hadn't taken the first step in fleeing... the possibility was shuddering to core.
"Hello there. I am here to assist you in behalf of Doctor Horan."
The said woman had made her presence near Lucy's side and she was unaware until now. The patient smiled looking at the woman and in the process she was shocked.
She was blind!