Hidden Scars

Chapter 7: A Bold Move

As soon as Lily left Valerie's house, she began her frantic search for the university. She knew she had to reach Mr. Harper as quickly as possible. With the letter tucked tightly in her pocket, she rushed to the nearest bus stop.

Unfortunately, the buses weren't running at that early hour. Undeterred, Lily decided to walk. She knew it would be a long journey, but she was determined to see it through. With each step, she prayed that she would reach the university in time.

The walk was arduous. The sun beat down on her, and her feet ached. But Lily pushed on, her mind filled with images of Valerie in danger. She imagined her friend trapped in her father's clutches, helpless and alone.

Hours later, Lily finally arrived at the university. Her heart pounded in her chest as she entered the campus. She knew she had to find Mr. Harper immediately to reach him Valerie's letter.

The University campus was vast and unfamiliar to Lily. She wandered aimlessly, her heart pounding with anxiety. She asked several students for directions, but none of them seemed to know where Mr. Harper's office was.

As the sun began to rise, Lily's energy began to wane. Her legs ached, and she felt a pang of hunger as her mind was racing with worry. She stopped to rest on a bench, feeling defeated. She had been searching for hours, and she was no closer to finding Mr. Harper.

She thought about Valerie, trapped in her father's clutches. She imagined her friend's fear, her loneliness, her hopelessness. Lily knew she had to find Mr. Harper, no matter what it took.

But as the minutes turned into hours, her hope began to dwindle. She felt a pang of hopelessness, a fear that she might never find Mr. Harper, that Valerie might be lost forever.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them back. She couldn't give up. Not now, not when Valerie needed her most.

As Lily sat on the bench, her head in her hands, a woman approached her. "Are you alright?" the woman asked, her voice filled with concern.

Lily looked up, her eyes red from crying. "I'm just lost," she replied. "I'm trying to find someone, but I can't seem to find him."

"Who are you looking for?" the woman asked.

Lily hesitated, not wanting to reveal too much. "A professor," she said. "His name is Mr. Harper."

The woman nodded. "Mr. Harper, is it? I believe he teaches in the psychology department."

Lily's heart leaped with hope. "Do you know where I can find him?" she asked.

The woman smiled. "Of course. The psychology department is over there, by the library."

Lily thanked the woman and hurried towards the department. As she walked, she couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude. The woman's kindness had given her a renewed sense of hope.

As Lily entered the psychology department, she was immediately struck by the calm and serene atmosphere.

The walls were adorned with colorful posters and charts, depicting various psychological theories and concepts. Soft, ambient music played in the background, creating a relaxing and inviting ambiance.

The department was bustling with activity. Students were sitting at tables, studying or chatting with one another. A few professors were walking around, interacting with the students. The overall vibe was one of intellectual curiosity and academic pursuit.

But Lily was determined to find Mr. Harper and seek his help for Valerie. So she asked a secretary for directions to Mr. Harper's office. The secretary directed her to a small room on the second floor.

When Lily finally found Mr. Harper's office, she knocked on the door. A moment later, she heard a voice call, "Come in."

She opened the door and found Mr. Harper sitting at his desk, reading a book. He was a tall, slender man with a kind face and piercing blue eyes. His hair was salt-and-pepper, and he wore a tweed jacket and a pair of khaki trousers.

There was something about Mr. Harper that made Lily feel immediately at ease. He had a warm and welcoming smile, and his voice was gentle and reassuring.

As he looked up from his book and saw Lily standing in the doorway, he put down his book and stood up.

"Hello," he said. "Can I help you?"

Lily handed Mr. Harper Valerie's letter. "Please read this," she said. "It's important."

Mr. Harper took the letter and began to read. As he read, his expression grew increasingly grave. When he finished, he looked at Lily with a serious expression.

"This is terrible," he said. "I never thought anything like this could happen. I have to help Valerie."

Lily nodded. "I know. She's in a lot of danger."

Mr. Harper thought for a moment. "I'll need to contact the authorities. This is a serious matter."

Lily's heart sank. She knew that involving the police would be dangerous.

"Mr. Harper," Lily began, her voice filled with urgency, "I know you want to help Valerie. But please, don't involve the authorities."

Mr. Harper raised an eyebrow. "Why not?" he asked. "This is a serious matter. Valerie is in danger."

"I know," Lily replied. "But involving the police could be even more dangerous. My friend's father is a powerful man. If he finds out that Valerie is trying to escape, he could do terrible things to her and her mother."

Mr. Harper considered Lily's words. "You're right," he said. "This is a delicate situation. We need to be careful"

Mr. Harper knew that Lily was right. Involving the authorities could be dangerous for Valerie and her mother. He needed to find a way to help her escape without alerting Marcus.

As Mr.Harper was thinking about the plan, he suddenly remembered that Lily must be tired and hungry searching for him.

So, he offered her a cup of tea and a sandwich saying, "You must be exhausted. You've been through a lot."

Lily smiled gratefully and accepted the food and drink. She took a sip of tea and felt a wave of warmth spread through her body. She hadn't eaten in hours, and the food was delicious.

As she ate, Lily continued to talk about Valerie. She described her friend's situation in detail, her voice filled with emotion. Mr. Harper listened intently, his face etched with concern.

When Lily was finished, Mr. Harper nodded. "I'll do everything I can to help Valerie," he said. "She's a brave young woman. She deserves a better life."

Lily smiled. She knew that with Mr. Harper's help, Valerie would be safe.

How was the chapter? Lily is a great friend, isn't she?

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