𝒲𝒾𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊

Chapter 6

Harper pov 

When I woke up, I was in a new room, lying on a bed with a blanket covering me. I took in my surroundings: a desk, a few books on a bean bag, and a figure in the shadows. Panic set in as I realized someone was watching me while I slept.

My hands shook, and my breathing grew labored. It felt like I was suffocating. Suddenly, Blake's familiar voice cut through the darkness. "Hey, Harper, it's okay, it's Blake." She encouraged me, "Breathe, Harper."

I focused on my hands, taking slow, shaking breaths until they steadied. Then, I looked up to see Blake sitting on the bed beside me. I scanned the room again, trying to place where I was.

"We're at the police station," Blake said, as if reading my mind. I stared at her, confused, wondering if I'd spoken my thoughts aloud. She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

After a few minutes of silence, Blake spoke up. "So, do you know if you have any family?" I shook my head, unsure if I could trust her. What if she was like David?

Blake's expression remained gentle. "Okay, that's okay. What if we go to the lab and do a DNA test to see if you have any living relatives?" I raised an eyebrow, perplexed. What was a DNA test?

Blake noticed my confusion. "Do you know what that means?" she asked, her voice soft and patient.

I shook my head again, unsure of what to make of this "DNA test". Blake explained it in simple terms. "It means they take a little blood from your arm, and we run it through the system to see if you have any living relatives. If you do, we contact them and ask if they'd like to take custody of you."

My eyes widened in alarm. "They take what now?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Blake attempted to reassure me. "Oh, it's okay, it's not that bad."

I was having none of it. "Not bad? I'm going to die!" I exclaimed, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

My brain chimed in, mocking me. "Don't be dramatic, Harper."

I shook my head, trying to shake off the fear. Blake's voice cut through my panic. "Hey, it's okay? I'll be there if you want. I can hold your hand if you get scared."

Her words were meant to calm me down, but I was beyond consolation.

Will they restrain me and take the blood if I refuse? I didn't want to find out. "Okay," I muttered, resigned.

Blake smiled, revealing a dimple on one cheek. I stared, fascinated, and tilted my head. I smiled back, poking my own cheek where her dimple was. I had dimples too – two of them.

Blake laughed. "You've got dimples too, but you've got two. I've got one."

Dimples. My holes had a name, and it was a cute one.

Blake's curiosity got the better of her. "Did you know what they were?" she asked.

I shook my head, feeling a little embarrassed. "I didn't know I had holes. I saw yours first."

My voice trembled, and I wondered if I was really capable of speaking.

"Well, now you know they're not just holes; they're dimples, and they're adorable," Blake said with a smile, getting up from the bed. I looked up at her, feeling a sense of wonder.

"Let's go do the test, and then we'll come back here. Sounds good?" she asked. I nodded, still feeling a bit dazed.

I got out of the blanket, holding my arms around myself. I was still cold, and I couldn't seem to shake off the chill. I looked at the door, and Blake started walking towards it. I followed her, feeling a bit like a lost puppy.

As we walked down the hallway, I saw lots of people rushing around. It was overwhelming. I wasn't used to seeing so many people. They all seemed like monsters, their faces a blur.

We stopped in front of a door, and Blake knocked on it. A guy opened the door and told us to come in. I looked around the room, taking in the cabinets and the bed that sat up. It looked like some sort of medical room.

Blake came over to me after talking to the guy. I looked up at her, feeling a bit scared. "Hello my name Greyson can you sit on the chair?" Greyson asked, looking at me with a kind smile.

I looked over at the chair/bed and walked over to it. Blake picked me up and sat me down gently, as if she knew I didn't know what to do. I looked up at her, feeling grateful for her kindness.

I gazed down at my feet, kicking my left foot gently. My right knee ached, so I avoided moving it.  Greyson prepared a tray, covering it with a blue blanket. He approached me, sitting in his designated chair.

"Can you roll up your sleeve?" he asked, looking at me with kind eyes. I glanced at Blake, and she nodded encouragingly. I rolled up my sleeve, revealing unblemished skin. The bruises were hidden elsewhere – on my stomach, back, and legs.

Greyson lifted the blue blanket, revealing a blue rubber band. "See this? I'll wrap it around your arm," he explained, pointing to the spot. I looked at him, taking in his features. He appeared to be around 22, with piercing blue eyes that seemed gentle. He didn't resemble David at all, which sparked a glimmer of hope.

Maybe he's nice, I thought. Or maybe he's not. My mean brain chimed in, casting doubt. Greyson secured the rubber band around my arm, tightening it. I didn't like the feeling, but Blake sensed my distress.

"It's okay," she said softly, holding my other hand. This time, I didn't flinch as badly as before. I was starting to trust Blake; she seemed friendly and genuinely kind.

"Okay, I'll start. You can look at Officer Snow or anywhere else," Greyson in the white coat said. I watched as he reached under the blue blanket and pulled out a needle. My heart racing, I felt my hands begin to shake. I frantically shook my head no.

Blake tried to reassure me. "Hey, it's okay. It will be over soon." But she didn't get it. She didn't understand what needles meant to me. To me, they meant danger, control, and fear. I was convinced that they were going to use the needle to drug me, to take away what little control I had left.