Princess Lea (Part 1) Eng.

Chapter 21

The woman began to remove the children from their seats. She handed them to someone standing next to her. Lea checked the man's pulse; he was alive but unconscious. She carefully took his head and propped it against the back of the seat. She unlocked the door on his side of the car and turned off the engine. A man ran up and helped her pull the injured from the seat.

Samuel left the parking lot and headed for the highway, the fastest way to Lea's family home. He got worried when he saw the freeway jammed up, but he didn't want to wait for it to clear up. Three ambulances and two firetrucks had broken through ahead of him. He pulled over to the side of the road, got out of the car, and ran to the front of the line. From a distance he could see Ned's car. He ran up to it, but there was no one in the car. The car did not appear to have been involved in the accident. After a while, Ned caught up to him.

– It looks like she's all right – Samuel looked around but there was no sign of the girl.

The ambulances drove away one after the other with their sirens blaring.

– I'm fine – Lea repeated, so far no one had noticed who she was, she was disheveled and dirty from the paint and dust that had covered her appearance a bit.

– You're hurt – the young medic said – I need to bandage this cut – he pointed to the wound on her leg.

The wound wasn't deep, but there was a lot of blood, and Lea didn't even have a feeling for it.

– Where are your boots? – he asked her when he noticed that she had bare feet.

– I have no idea – she said, trying not to look at him and covering herself with her hair.

Samuel didn't see her anywhere, and once he hit his forehead with his hand.

– We're on our way to the hospital – he announced – she must be in the ambulance. Call the emergency room and let them know who's coming in the ambulance – he instructed Ned to do so.

– Sure – Ned nodded and took out his cell phone.

Seven minutes later, the ambulances arrived at the hospital. Lea got out and was escorted by the paramedic to the emergency ward.

– And who do my eyes see – said Lora, who had just finished talking to Ned on the phone, the man was already on his way - come in - the woman pointed to a separate office, where Lea usually ended up to avoid messing up the ward.

Without a word, Lea went ahead. The woman led her into the office, closing the door behind her.

– I'm fine – Lea said – I was just helping with the accident.

– You look like you took an active part in it – the woman looked at her – you look awful – she took a gray hoodie and shoes out of the closet. She gave them to the girl.

Lea put on the hooded sweatshirt without saying a word and pulled the hood up over her head. Her shoes were half a size too big, but she had to wear them.

– Come to the station, we'll do some tests – Lora opened the office door.

– I'm fine – Lea repeated, but it didn't occur to her that the woman was just buying time, giving Samuel a chance to get to the hospital before Lea ran away. Samuel and Ned entered the ward just as they were leaving the office.

Lea could see from Samuel's face that she was in trouble, the man was furious.

– You have no idea how fucked up you are – he said to her – you can't just run off like that when you're under my care. I'm responsible for your safety. You can't just disappear!