Zena was getting overly familiar with walking in an endless space now, so this time when she opened her eyes, there was no confusion. She didn't even bother walking. She sprinted towards the light in search of Xian. Perhaps she would tell her something important, something vital for her survival. Who wanted to kill her?
However, she did not see Xian when she reached the light. She saw something else.
***
'Where the hell am I now?' Zena wondered as she looked at her surroundings. She was sitting in a dimly lit room, with bottles of alcohol and half-empty glasses scattered on a table before her. There were three other women sitting around her and very loud music playing in the background.
"Elder sister, do you know the man staring at you over there?" She heard one of the ladies ask. Naturally, she followed the lady's gaze, and Zena was shocked when she saw who was staring. Logan.
"I know him," she replied. "That's Logan Lugen. His family owns the Lugen Memorial Hospital." Instantly, Zena realized what was going on. She was seeing one of Xian's memories. She was watching it through Xian's eyes.
"Really?" another one of the ladies asked, with wide eyes.
"That means he must be very rich," the third one said. They were all very pretty and young. With good bodies as well. "Is he part of the club? I heard most of the third and fourth-generation heirs around the same age meet regularly."
Xian shrugged. "As if they would ever invite someone like me to that."
"Why not? You are also an heiress."
"What utter rubbish. Only children with parents can be heirs." Xian turned to look at him again and scoffed as he raised his glass to greet her.
"Where are you going?" The first woman asked when she got up.
"Home, I'm done drinking and my mood has been ruined."
"I can help with that."
Xian looked up and saw him standing right in front of their table smiling at her. "I highly doubt you can. You're the reason it was ruined. If you would excuse me," she said as she walked around the table to leave.
"Are you really going to see me and not even say hello? You must have been taught better manners than that." He said as he grabbed her arm to stop her from leaving.
Xian glared at him and then at his hand. He got the memo and let her go but she wasn't going to have it. "And you must have been taught not to put your hands on women."
Logan chuckled. "Not in this sense."
"Hmmm, well, let me reeducate you since you don't know. No one touches me okay?" She said through clenched teeth. "And why must I say hello? Do I owe you anything?"
"Are you not part of the country club?"
Xian scoffed. "Why would I join something as obnoxious as that?"
"So are you saying you are better than all the people that did join?"
Xian smiled and stepped forward. "I don't have to say it. Excuse me."
***
Zena thought it was over when the first memory faded when she walked away from Logan. But when she opened her eyes again she was running out of a building with a heavy arm around her shoulder.
"You bitch!"
"How can you even call yourself a human being!"
"I am disgusted by you!"
Zena looked up at an angry mob, blocking her way with shock. What the hell was going on?! Before the person guiding her out could push her out of the way, an egg flew straight at her and hit her right on her forehead.
"Ow!" Xian gasped as she lowered her head again and shut her eyes.
"We just need to get you inside," the man said. "Let's go! Let's go! What are you doing?! Stop them, protect her!" He yelled. Eventually, she was standing in a building trying to wipe egg yolk from her face.
"Stay here, I'll get you some wipes." He said.
"Where will you get them?!" Xian screamed. "I told you people that I shouldn't have come here now. How can I be in the middle of such a scandal and still come to an award show? And how..." she sighed. "How could they let them do that to me while I was on stage? In front of everybody. Look at my hands," she said and Zena saw the cuts and bruises all over her skin." I can't even leave in peace. I walk out and I am ambushed by an egg! Seriously? Of all days! I am so embarrassed." She said through clenched teeth.
The man looked at her with pity as he sighed. "Just stay here. I'll be back soon."
As soon as he walked out of her sight, she crumpled to the floor and began to sob. Zena could feel the weight of her sorrow as if it was her own. It is so familiar with the impression on her heart left by Xian to protect her sons.
'This must be a memory.' Zena thought. 'I wonder how long ago this happened.'
Xian looked up when a handkerchief entered her line of sight and she saw that it was Logan who was holding it towards her.
"What the hell are you doing here? Are you stalking me now?!" She spat, sniffling.
Logan sighed as he bent down beside her. "Take it, before the egg enters your eye."
Xian looked at the handkerchief again and took it. But she didn't use it to wipe her face but to blow her nose.
"Hey!" He exclaimed.
"I would rather you see me with an egg broken all over my face than with a runny nose." She said, her words hoarse and broken because of her sobs.
"Do you suddenly care about my opinion? I thought you were better than me?" He stated bluntly, shrugging playfully even as she glared at him.
Xian huffed angrily. "Did you come here to gloat? To torment me?"
Logan's expression softened. "Do you really think that lowly of me?"
"Yes!"
He noisily drew in a deep breath before he spoke. "You act tough, nonchalant and mean, but you are the one crying out her eyes because some fans were mean to you."
Xian looked away. "You cannot understand how it feels."
"I can't," he said. "And I am sorry that they did that to you."
Xian turned to look at him, to catch the lie, the joke in his statement but she saw nothing but sincerity in his words. "Why? Why are you here helping me? Everyone else has abandoned me."
"Does it matter?" he said as he stood up. Giving her his hand, he smiled softly. "Come, I'll help you escape."