Evening. Hospital unit care. Betty came out from the elevator, a bunch of flowers in arm. Walk towards the front desk.
A young healthy man sits on a chair typing something on the computer. He didn't notice she was staring at him. He felt heavy, he looked up in shock.
"Can I help you?"
"Well yes". She lowered her glasses. "I'm Agent O'hare from the FBI". She showed the front desk man her badge. "I'm here to have a word with these girls".
"I'm sorry, Agent O'hare. The girls just received their surgery. They are now asleep. Anything I could help you besides your interrogation".
Betty nods understanding. She smiled. "If the girls awake ask the family to call me". She handed her name card to the man. "Make sure they call me or you can call me on their behalf".
"Alright. See if I can, Agent O'hare".
"And also this". She handed him flowers. "Give these flowers to the girls".
"Sure".
Midnight pass. A stranger came up. Standing in the middle of the room where the girls' room stood.
Locking the door, shut the curtain and switch off the light. The nurses, the doctors, not even the security know the strangers are inside this building.
Especially inside these girls' rooms.
Heavy footsteps approaching Joan's bed. A hand slipped inside the pocket. Turn out a shining pocket knife.
The pocket knife now pressed on Joan's cheek. Her eyes opened wider as she felt something sharp on cheek and saw a dark figure leaning closer to her. She drops her eyes on the pocket knife on her skin.
She wanted to scream for help. But there is no voice coming out from her throat, she feels weak and tired.
Same thing happens to Candy and Alisha who sleep across her bed.
"If you girls scream. I slit your throat. You understand?"
Strangers whisper in her ears. Joan nodded her head. She doesn't wanna die yet. They don't, too young to die.
"If you wish to stay alive, be a nice little girl".
Stranger presses the pocket knife deep on Joan's skin again, letting it bleed as the stranger likes. Joan is crying and scared of the stranger; she doesn't know where it came from.
"If you obey my order. I'll see you in Hell! You understand!?"
"Yes .." She cried.
"Good. Now be a nice high school girl". The stranger snickering. "If you made a mistake, even a tiny mistake. I'll find you. I know where exactly you three girls lived. Killing people wasn't my first".
Joan spoke in tears. "Are you Poppy's mom? Isn't it? But your sound is not even hers". She is brave to ask the stranger a question. "I'm sorry Poppy's mom. I'd never think to hurt her". She cried again. "Pleaseee ..."
"Who's Poppy?" said the stranger. "Who is she? Is she one of your sisters?" Giggling. "I don't care who Poppy is. I have been watching you for so long. Let's say, I'm your stalker. How do you like it?"
"I'll promise. We three promise. We _ we promise never to hurt people as we like. But please _ you hurting me".
The stranger snickering again, said. "I thought you like it? And I'm enjoying hurting you. Imagine you spread your legs for me, as I fuck you badly. I always watch you, Darling".
She shut her eyes, and heard the stranger laughing at her. She screams at the top of her lungs, as she opens her eyes the figure is gone.
This time the light is on, the nurse and the doctor bursting inside looking at her in panic.
"Please .. there's a man .. a man _ a man just .. just in here. He .. he .. hurting me. Look what he did to my skin!"
She showed her cheek where the pocket knife was pressed on. The doctor and the nurse look at each other's faces.
"It's bleeding".
"Miss Joan, calm down. You are still under drugs after surgery. Anesthesia is a powerful drug for patients to handle. What you see earlier is just your imaginary cause of the drug we give. You're a bit dizzy". said the doctor.
"Nothing happened here. Look at your friends?"
The doctor points at Candy and Alisha's bed. "They're asleep. Only you awake in the middle of night".
"But it is real to me! He's here. Don't you see blood on my skin!"
The doctor sighed. "Miss Joan. There is no blood on your skin". She wiped her cheek with her hand. Nothing.
"You'll three just out from the surgery room. I'd suggest you get enough sleep".
"I'm not lying .."
"I understand. Tomorrow you will explain to the police and your family. They wanna know what exactly happened to you three in school".
The doctor patted her shoulder with a smile.
"Sleep. Don't move so fast. You're still injured, especially your neck. If you need anything, press the red button on the wall beside your bed, and the nurse will come for you".
The doctor gives her a smile and nods, walks out from the room with the nurse behind.
Joan watches around the room as they leave, afraid the stranger is hiding somewhere she barely notices. The room is clear, sweat all over her face.
Later as she calmed down. The light is still on. Her eyes began to feel tired and sleepy. Without her notice, she was already in her slumbers.
"Mr. Herman what are doing in here?" ask Belle. He feels guilty about what happened to Poppy earlier. "It's already midnight and how you know where I lived?"
"Coincidence? No. I said before that I lived around here. Poppy told me which floor she lived on. Here I'am".
He rubs his back head. "Actually I'd just got back from my night walk. I can't stay silent about what happened. My mind never gets over it. She scared me to death".
"Bullies always happen around us, Mr. Herman. It never stops. Generations to generations. It wouldn't".
"I overheard you talking with Mrs Wood today. Is it true?" Belle nodded her head. "That terrible".
She nodded. "If you want to know about Poppy. Well, she's fine. She is a strong girl. I raised her well".
"Well, then I see the twins at school".
"You will. Thank you for being a good man to my kids. I know they don't have love from their dad".
Lee Herman stares at her. She corrected herself. "I mean is urmm well, I probably need a husband. I'm not desperate!" Chuckle. "I really need a man beside me".
"Jake isn't it?" ask Lee Herman. "The guy who you want to be. It's him". Belle nodded in blush. "I'm happy for you, Ms Belle".
"Thank you. Is time I think". Silent moment. She spoke back. "Poppy mentioned something to me that I would like to ask you".
"What is it?"
Belle bit her bottom lips. "I don't know if Poppy misheard or something. But she 100% said that you _ call her my daughter". Lee Herman blink with no word. "I know this is crazy". Giggling. "Did you?"
"She is in pain, Ms Belle. When someone is in pain in their ears, their mind is messed up. They can hear everything that wasn't a real thing". Belle nodded. "No. I wasn't". He lied. Belle nods understanding. "Is that the reason why you want a husband?"
"No. Well, yes. I'm. Actually Jake and I are still in a relationship. He will never forget. Well, I guess it is the right time to move on with my new life and kids' '.
"Well congratulations to me. I pray for your happiness and the twins". He turned his feet and walked. Pressing the elevator button. "I'll see the twins at school".