"Please calm down!"
All of the men turned their heads toward her when they saw Anna. The moment her footsteps came to a halt, four or five big-sized men ran toward her and crowded behind her as they forced Anna to continue moving forward. She saw Jean a distance away from her—the young girl was being pushed toward her by another man.
Jean immediately let out a loud cry the moment she saw Anna. "Miss Anna. I'm so afraid…"
Anna was just as afraid right then, but she had no choice except to put on a calm front as she walked over and held onto Jean's hand. Anna then turned to look at the leader of the group of men. "What's going on? We still have time until the deadlines. Jean! Call the police...."
Smack! Before Anna could finish her sentence, she felt a tight slap against her cheek that made her head spin. Jean let out a loud shriek as she hastily attempted to help Jean.
"I know. But you can't get away from this. Take anything that could be of any value." The man shouted.
After what felt like a long time, the door behind Anna was thrown open with a loud bam. The entire door fell onto the ground, sending dust up into the air.
Sean's face was darker than clouds before a huge rainstorm. With his hands still placed by his sides, he cracked his knuckles as he met gazes with Anna's terrified eyes.
------
"I told you I am fine, Authur" Sasha sighed over the phone umpteenth times.
"Sure. I will call you." Sasha hung up the call with great difficulty. Her stomach felt uncomfortable from the starvation.
She intended to order some oatmeal when she heard a knock on the door.
Sasha paused before answering, "Come in."
Just as she finished speaking, the door opened up to a tall young man, Clark.
"Director said that you should not consume meaty food. Here are the white porridge and vegetables."
"Sir, Thank you but....."
"If you reject this, it means that you don't like this food, and he ordered that I should bring other food of similar nature, till you're content and have finished them up," Clark said emotionlessly, his manners neither overbearing nor self-effacing. His words were succinct and all of which were, without a doubt, conveying the exact attitude and message of Ryan.
Resignedly, she bit her lips and told Clark. "There's no need for the trouble; help me thank Director Ryan"
Clark walked up to her and placed the intricate bag on the cabinet.
Sasha raised her head to look at Clark.
After Clark made eye contact with her, he said, "Director wanted to ensure that you finished up the food."
Upon hearing this, Sasha could feel the twitch in between her brows.
"Okay," Sasha had only taken one bite when she raised her head. She glanced at Clark, who was now staring at her.
While doubtful, Clark stared at her calmly.
"Sir, please return. I will finish all the food. I don't like being stared at when I'm eating."
Clark nodded his head before turning around to leave the ward in big steps, gone were the scrutiny and alertness that he first had.
-------
"Dad, do I look pretty?" She asked her father with a cute smile.
"Of course you are, my pretty Anna" He replied kissing her round soft cheek.
"D, ad is my dress pretty too?" She asked again twirling around.
"Very pretty and I know what you want to ask next." He said as he looked at her raising a brow playfully.
"Before you ask, let me tell you. You are prettier than your dress" He said as he cupped her cheek in his palm and placed a kiss on her head making her giggle.
Anna struggled to wake up. She seemed to hear someone speaking in a low voice around her and deliberately hushed footsteps. She knew that she was in a dream with her father but she did not want to wake up, and she was extremely unwilling to do so.
After all, she missed her father.
Her entire body felt uncomfortably hot, so she moaned in a low voice. Right after that, she felt a cool presence around her as she seemed to be brought into a cool embrace.
Someone gently patted her back and the tempo was so comforting that she felt like crying.
Anna snuggled closer into the embrace and found another comfortable position. Finally, she sank into a deep sleep again.
Anna who slept for over three hours felt an arm
wrapped around her body as he slowly opened her eyes. What greeted her was the handsome sleeping face. Anna gulped the scream that wanted to escape from her throat and tried removing his arms away from her waist and trying to move her body so that she can reach for her phone in the bedside drawer.
At that moment Sean stirs from his sleep. "Are you alright?."
"Umm...I am good." Anna replied awkwardly. Catching the sight of a bowl of water and a towel, it didn't take her long to guess what must have happened.
"Freshen up! I will prepare something for both of us real quick. Do you have any allergy or is there any food you are sensitive to?" Sean asked as he gently sat up straight on the bed.