Something was wrong but
Olivia Montgomery had not the first idea what.
She could hear voices, but they were juggled and they all seemed to blend together evenly making it difficult for her to hear them. It would take just little effort for her to open her eyes but she couldn't. The cold water patted against her body reminding her of the danger she was in.
She had no idea how she had gotten here but at the same time she wasnʼt certain that she had slept in her bed last night.
"We need to inform the townʼs mayor." Olivia heard one of them say. Call the townʼs mayor, what for? She asked herself but the answers were unprovided.
'This was just a dream.ʼ She told herself. It only felt real and in a minute, it would all be over and she would wake up in her bed at home.
Olivia almost cursed herself when a minute passed and the water was still brushing against her feet.
She made a silent prayer to heaven. She had never been a dedicated Christian but it wouldnʼt hurt her to admit her vulnerability now.
As if her prayers had been answered, she felt herself being eased out of the water by strong but gentle arms. She felt itʼs warmth radiate through her body as a soft blanket was pulled over her body.
"Poor thing."
She heard whispers surrounding her, everyone voicing their concerns but amidst it all, Olivia somehow found a way to slip back into unconsciousness.
~**~
Sixteen hours earlier
Olivia would have ran but she
couldnʼt, how could she? The image played right before her
eyes and she could do nothing to stop it. A sudden lump formed in her throat making her swallow subconsciously. Her hands shook uncontrollably, Olivia could not stop the involuntary movement but it was the least of her worries right now.
"Victor?" She whispered. It was soft, shaky, unstable but it carried throughout the room.
That morning, she had woken up with a trivial headache. It wasnʼt very bad but then it had soared into a constant throbbing that felt like a hammer was being hit on her head.
She decided it would be best if she visited the hospital. Besides, she wanted to do something other than lazing in her bed.
She picked up her channel bag, the one she had gotten when she made a quick visit to an exotic fashion store. She padded down the stairs, out the door and into the sunlight.
The sun was bright, that she
noticed as she sidled up towards her car. Fumbling for her keys in her bag, she handed them over to Stewart who promptly opened the car door for her.
"Where to maʼam?"
Olivia placed a hand over her forehead, the throbbing was constant, unrelenting and it seemed to be getting worse by the second.
"The family clinic." She replied as she leaned back into the car seat, placing her head on the headrest.
"Is anything the matter?" She could hear the concern in his voice as he spoke.
"Nothing much, Stewart. Itʼs just an horrible headache that wonʼt go away." She replied.
It was actually something much. The pain that came in her head afterwards reminded her of that.
The drive to the hospital was a blur partially because Olivia had slept through most of it.
"Weʼve arrived maʼam." Stewart said some fifteen minutes later.
'So fast?ʼ She thought to herself as she got out of the car. It had been barely six months since she visited this place. Nothing had changed about it and it was still the same.
She had gotten to the entrance before she suddenly paused.
Stewart.
Her visit here might take some
time, especially since Marja worked here. She was their family doctor and the two got along really well just as friends should.
"Is something wrong?" Stewart asked as he noticed her pause. "No." She shook her head. A
small gesture. "Just I might take long here."
"I donʼt mind. Iʼll wait." He said.
"You donʼt have to." She said as she dug into her purse, "Here, take a cab home. I would call you when I get back to let you know Iʼm safe." She added the last part
only to convince Stewart to leave. The man was loyal and kind. She had seen it in the way he always cared about her.
"Alright. Donʼt worry about the fare." Stewart said and hurried down the stairs.
Olivia watched him before she put the bill back into her purse and entered the building.
"Olivia, what a pleasant surprise!" Marja exclaimed almost knocking over the flower vase on the table as she welcomed Olivia into her office.
"Believe me, thereʼs nothing pleasant about my visit." Olivia said as she took her seat.
"Iʼm having a headache and itʼs getting worse by the minute."
"Really?, have you been stressed lately?"
Olivia shook her head, "Well, asides work and other stuff which I do on a daily basis. Iʼve been engaged in nothing else."
"When did it start?"
"Early this morning, when I woke up." She replied.
"Now thatʼs strange." Marja said incredulous as she tapped her bottom lip with a finger.
"Donʼt you think I should run a test? Olivia was quick to ask. She didnʼt know what was wrong with her but unless they ran a test, she would never find out.
To be honest, she had been feeling a bit more weird lately, blurry visions, light headed ness and seven others.
"No. It hasnʼt come to that." Marja said thoughtfully.
"Why not?, I told you itʼs worsening by the second." Olivia queried.
"I know. I would say you get some rest, it might only be stress." Marja responded.
"I insist on getting a test done. Itʼs why I came here. I canʼt go back home with this pain in my head."
Marja dropped her pen and
took a deep breath.
Olivia could be stubborn and it
was no use explaining to her that a test was not necessary at the moment.
"Fine." She obliged. "I would see to that immediately."
The test was concluded half an hour later. Marja led Olivia back into her office as she looked over the results of the test.
Marjaʼs eyes scanned the paper, her brows furrowed deeper as she read the result. Olivia waited patiently allowing Marja to finish before she asked.
"What is it Marja?, I could see the way you..." Marja cut her off impatiently.
"Have you been watching what you eat lately?"
The question caught Olivia by surprise especially because she hadnʼt been expecting something like that.
"Is that necessary?"
"Yes it is. Take a look at this." Marja handed the envelope over
to her and watched as Olivia unraveled it to remove the test result sheet.
Olivia crosses her eyes unable to understand any of the medical jargon that had been printed on it.
"This results shows that you are being poisoned. Itʼs currently harmless but overtime, it would become hazardous to your health. I need you to think, have you been out lately? Do you have an allergy."
Olivia paused her lips, talking about allergies. She could eat anything that was edible as long as it was harmless. She couldnʼt believe it. Poison? Who could have poisoned her?
"Olivia, I would prescribe some drugs that would tether the effects of this poison, but you would have to follow my instructions. Don't eat out and watch what you eat. Keep track of how you feel after every dish, okay?"
"Of course. I will." Olivia smiles. "I would leave now." She said as she picked up her black leather bag.
"Wait." Maths called out. "Let me write your prescription."
"Never mind. I would come back for it, thank you." She said and hurriedly left the hospital.
Olivia suspected only two people who could have tried to kill her.
Her step mother and her step sister.