Clara knitted her brows and wondered what it was that he couldn't tell her today. She slowly nodded her head and smiled. " Okay."
********
Mira got down from the taxi and stood in front of the hospital with slumped shoulders.
Her mind was torn into two as she was contemplating whether to leave the company or stay.
After all this time, Clara had been the only good friend she had. Can she be able to leave her?, she sighed and stared up at the orange sky. The sun was about to set and she had heard Jack said that Clara would be discharged later. She had made up her mind to tell her everything: Her dark past and the bad memories she wanted to forget then maybe the pain in her heart would subside.
She was still lost in her thoughts when she sensed footsteps striding in her direction and looked at the person who had stood in front of her then her eyes instantly turned cold. " What do you want! " she uttered sharply while staring at the young man in front of her. Although he was wearing civilian clothes, she instantly recognized him as they had spent many years together in the same organization.
" Mira, you need to come with us. Boss had been searching for you. . . where did you go and why did you leave the basement without informing anyone?.". The guy stared into her eyes with a sigh.
" I'm no longer one of you. . .and tell your boss to stop following me, " She said with clenched fists.
The guy watched her with a sigh. She had really changed: even her hair which she usually kept short was now very long reaching down to her waist and she now looked like any normal girl on the street, completely different from her formal complacent demeanor and he wondered what actually happened to her. " Mira__"
" Leave me alone Mark. . ., and don't follow me again! " she cut him off and was about to make her way inside the hospital when she heard him say " I'm sorry. " and the last thing she knew was that she was being carried into a car before losing consciousness.
********
__ Inside The Hospital __
Jack looked at his wristwatch and wondered why Mira had not yet returned. She had promised to be back before sunset but now it was already half-past seven.
" Jack, where is Mira?, " Clara asked softly as she lay on the bed after taking her medicine. She was afraid Mira would not meet them as she might be discharged anytime from now.
" I can't reach her from the phone,. . . she should have left the company by now. . . I wonder what is holding her from coming back," Jack said and dropped his laptop before looking toward the bed and noticed that she had fallen asleep.
He chuckled then stood up and covered her with the sheet before sitting down on the chair. He can't wait for tomorrow to come as that had been the only thought occupying his mind. She would finally be his and he wouldn't have to hide his feelings anymore.
Jack was still watching her delightedly when his phone started ringing. He stood up and walked out of the ward to answer the call.
Meanwhile, Clara's brows knitted on the bed as she was still in deep sleep, then her body started shuddering, making the sheet on her falling off.
Some minutes later, Jack came inside and was met with that sight.
His eyes widened and he ran toward the girl who was about to fall from the bed.
He ran to her side and quickly held her before she could land on the floor. " C..Clara, ?" he called out with trembling hands before managing to put her back on the bed.
Clara's head turned rapidly from one side to another and her breathing was ragged. It was the nightmare again, but why was he going away this time instead of telling her to get out. Her heartbeat intensified and she called out to him but it seems like he couldn't hear her as he kept walking away. " Carl, " she called out again, feeling her heart almost ripping out of her chest as it yearned to follow him, then she was suddenly in an unfamiliar place and she looked around with astonishment; enormous trees towered over her and the moonlight peered through the leaves. Her eyes darted around and the stench of blood wafted through her nose. 'Why am I in a forest and where is Carl' she wondered then suddenly heard a groan from her side. Her eyes darted in that direction and her pupils dilated. 'No. .no, this is a dream. I have to wake up' she tried to pinch herself but it seemed like her body was being controlled by some kind of external forces as she can't even lift her hand, then her leg pushed her forward, and there he was, lying unconscious in a pool of blood.
" C..Carl." Her voice quivered and tears start streaming down her face. no, this can't be happening. " Carl wake up, " she called out again, still stationary in the same place. She yearned to touch his face which was twisting in pain with his eyes tightly shut but can't even move her fingers.
" Please Carl... Don't leave me, " she whispered and more tears streamed down her face.' I can't live without you '.
Jack noticed the perspiration on her forehead after tucking her back on the bed, then tears started flowing down her face. His heartbeat accelerated and he stared at her anxiously before rapidly pressing the button to summon the nurse.
He watched her tossing on the bed with a pained expression and held her hand tightly. His heart ached, feeling useless that he couldn't take away the pain she was feeling. And then, he heard her muttered something and he frowned before inclining his ear closer to her mouth.
He heard her mumbling with a sob, " Carl, please don't leave me, Carl...".
His eyes widened and he jerked up from the chair. " Carl? " he frowned and his expression darkened after remembering their encounter at the amusement park.
His eyes darted to her with shock. "Does that mean. . . " his heart sank and he stared into space. 'Was he the reason for her depression,? was she in love with him, ?...' So many thoughts ran through his head and his heartache intensified.