Ariel slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she noticed was the man in a white coat, checking the monitor for her vitals.
He took a few glances at the screen and then wrote down his observation on his notepad. He adjusted his glasses and wanted to leave when he noticed Ariel staring at him.
"Oh, you're finally awake." He said.
"Why... did you save me?" Was the first thing that came out of Ariel's mouth.
There were no words of thanks, appreciation or wonder as to how she made it but rather, she wanted to know why she was saved.
"I indeed saved you." The doctor said, "But the only reason I was able to save you was because he brought you here." He added.
"I didn't... "
"Please, save your breath." He silenced her. "You just woke up so you should save whatever energy you have and use it to recover."
"I don't want to... Live." She said and he stopped but did not turn to her. He scoffed.
"That's funny. I could've sworn you were holding on to your life really badly when all your organs and cells were dying and it seemed like you wouldn't be able to make it." He said and turned his head to face her. "Do you think you would've survived being stabbed twice and losing so much blood if you had no more will to live?"
Ariel was silent.
"That's what I thought." He faced his front. "You've been given a second chance at life, you better use it well. Instead of wishing for the death that you so cowardly ran from, why not make the people who made you suffer be the one to wish for death?"
With those few words, he left the ward.
'Make them... Wish for death.' Ariel thought and closed her eyes, her consciousness fading once more.
Her consciousness came back and she heard faint voices in the background.
"I told you, she woke up briefly two days ago."
"And now she went back into a coma?"
"She's just unconscious."
"Ah, tell me something I'll understand." That grumpy voice, Ariel seemed to recognize it from somewhere but she couldn't quite point it out yet.
Her eyelids slowly parted and her eyes opened. The bright light on the ceiling greeted her and she squinted her eyes.
"Hey, I think I just saw her blink." That familiar voice said.
"Are you sure?"
"Are you saying I'm blind now? Hurry up and take a look."
Ariel's eyes finally opened and she beheld the brown haired doctor, possibly the one she saw when she woke up earlier and an unfamiliar man sitting in front of her.
"It's about time, sleeping beauty." He said.
Ariel looked at both of them.
"How do you feel? Do you feel like you're going to pass out again?" The doctor asked and Ariel shook her head. "Then, do you feel pain anywhere?"
"A...little sting... on my back." She answered with a silent voice.
"Just a sting?" He asked and she nodded. He used his pen to poke her skin and asked. "Did you feel that?" She nodded. He once again poked her with his pen, but this time, it was on her belly, through her hospital wear. "Did you feel that?"
"Yes." She answered, her voice now louder than before.
"That's good to hear."
He picked up his notepad, wrote a few things and looked up.
"I'll be back in a minute." He said and headed for the door. But then he stopped. "Oh and that question you asked me, I think that guy will be better suited to give you the answers you wish to hear." After saying that, he left.
Ariel was left alone with a man she did not know. But it looked like he was the one who saved her and carried her to the hospital. His voice, there was no doubt.
There were so many questions she wanted to ask but first, she had to sit up. Her spine felt stiff.
Alone, she tried to sit up but it was difficult. That little sting on her back actually hurt more than she thought.
Raymond stood up and approached her. He assisted her to sit and she turned her head to face him.
"Thank you."
"What exactly are you thanking me for? Saving your life or helping you sit?"
'So he really is the one who saved me.'
"Why...?"
"Before you ask me anything, I'd like to ask you, do you know who I am?" He asked and she immediately responded by shaking her head. "Okay, go ahead."
"Why did you save me?"
"There are a thousand stones left unturned." He answered.
"What?" She looked at him, confused. What did that mean?
"I found you pitiful." Raymond said. "And seeing you, I felt you looked like a version of me if I had failed to do something about my unclean birth."
Ariel was still confused. How did that link to him saving her? He did not even know her.
'Why am I saying all this? It's best to get to the main point.' Raymond thought to himself.
"Excuse me," Ariel called. "If you saved me in hopes of getting something from me in return then..." She twiddled her thumbs. "I'm sorry to disappoint you but I... I don't have anything but my body." She said, stunning Raymond. To think she'd think that way. "I may not have anything but I'm good at cleaning, doing the dishes. I'm also a good cook so, if you wish, I can exchange myself for you, saving me."
Raymond was still dumbstruck. He was hearing such a thing for the first time. And it was... Really funny. He ended up laughing loud and hard.
"Whoa, you're a killer." He exclaimed.
His expression suddenly turned serious again.
"I didn't save you to watch you slave yourself away." He said and folded his arms. "You're a really smart and bright lady. I'm sure with proper grooming, you'll be even more excellent. So how about this, instead of cleaning and doing the dishes, why don't you think of something else to make yourself more useful?"
Ariel was silent. Something else she could use her body for... There was one thing... She looked up.
"My life is in your hands. So, I... I can be your sex slave."
This made Raymond pause. What did she just say?
"That is the only thing I can think of, to..."
"Ariel Albert." Raymond suddenly called, interrupting her words. He looked at her with a devilish smirk and asked, "Do you want revenge?"