Jenkins' footsteps echoed through the sitting room, each step as deliberate as ever. Clio's eyes darted at the door, staring around for a means of escape, but she knew she couldn't outrun him, not even this time.
Her father's shadow loomed over her, casting a dark presence that seemed to suffocate her. Clio's breath caught in her throat as he reached out, his fingers closing around her wrist like a vice.
"You're going to regret disobeying me, Clio," he hissed, his breath hot against her ear. "You're going to regret ever crossing me."
"But Dad, I didn't… you know I didn't. I was just trying to give a suggestion," she stuttered, her eyes welling up with tears as she tried to pull away, but her father's grip only tightened. She felt a wave of fear wash over her, followed by a surge of adrenaline. She knew she had to get away, but how?
Suddenly, her father's phone rang, shrill and insistent. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he considered ignoring it. But then he seemed to think better of it, releasing Emma's wrist as he reached for the phone.
Emma didn't hesitate. She turned and ran, dashing out of the room and down the hallway. She could hear her father's roar of anger behind her, but she didn't look back. She kept running, her heart pounding in her chest, until she reached the safety of her bedroom.
Clio's heart raced as she fumbled through the drawer beside her bed, her fingers finally wrapping around the cool surface of her phone. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she pressed the buttons to dial her mum's number, but her hands trembled so much that it took several attempts to get it right. Each ring felt like a small eternity, and when the call finally went to voicemail, she let the phone slip from her grasp, landing softly on the carpet beside her.
Leaning back against her pillows, she exhaled deeply, a frustrated sigh escaping her lips. "Why isn't she picking up?" she pondered, her mind swirling with a mixture of anxiety and confusion. Clio's gaze drifted to the ceiling, unfocused as she wrestled with her thoughts.
Her mind was a chaotic battleground, torn between the harsh memories of her father's outbursts and the worry that cloaked her mother's silence. Should she dwell on the violence that threatened her sense of safety, or should she be concerned about the unanswered phone call that left her feeling isolated and vulnerable? The weight of uncertainty pressed heavily on her chest, and the room seemed to close in around her.
★★★★★★
Different nurses were seen hurriedly moving about the hospital, their urgency palpable in the air. Amid the commotion, a woman was brought into the emergency room, and a young boy followed closely behind, clearly anxious and out of breath.
"Have you been able to reach any of her relatives?" he asked the nurses, longing for some positive news, his chest heaving with each rapid breath.
One of the nurses nodded and replied, "Yes, I just spoke with her husband."
"What was his response?" The boy's voice was filled with anticipation, but the nurse merely shook her head, sympathy etched on her face. She relayed the husband's cold words: "How is that supposed to be my business?"
The boy's jaw dropped In disbelief at the man's dismissive reply. "She doesn't have anyone else we can call? She's supposed to have children," he exclaimed, desperation creeping into his voice.
The nurse took a moment to gather her thoughts before continuing. "Someone has been calling the line, but the caller ID is unknown. I think you should return the call. I'll be moving in with them for her treatment," she said, attempting to offer a reassuring smile as she hurried into the emergency room, leaving the boy standing there, enveloped in worry.
He swiftly opened his phone and punched in the number of the unknown caller, the anticipation hanging in the air as the line connected and was answered almost immediately.
"Why haven't you been answering your phone?" Clio's voice erupted from the receiver, filled with an urgent concern that echoed her rising anxiety.
"I apologise for the delayed response," he attempted to convey, but she interjected sharply, her tone laced with worry and frustration. "Who are you, and where is my mother?" she demanded, her voice straining under the weight of her fears.
"I'm calling from the hospital," he explained, his voice steady in the face of her panic. "Your mother is currently receiving medical attention. We reached out to your father earlier, but he has not yet arrived since we attempted to contact him," he detailed, aiming to provide clarity in a tumultuous moment.
"Give me the address of the hospital right now," she insisted, her voice trembling slightly but brimming with urgency.
"It's located directly opposite Belgian High School," he informed her, and at that moment, she abruptly terminated the call, leaving the conversation hanging in the air like an unresolved question.
As soon as the call concluded, the nurse exited the emergency room and approached the young man.
"Her daughter is expected shortly. How is the patient?" he inquired.
"We have successfully stabilized her for the time being," she responded with a faint smile.
"Ensure you provide a comprehensive explanation to her daughter; I shall take my leave now," he declared.
"Once the patient is prepared for discharge and her invoice has been produced, you may contact this number; I will oversee the billing process," he added before departing promptly.