Midnight doesn't last forever. [slow updates]

• Chapter 15.

-Erica-

“It was recently discovered that the C.E.O of Blackwell Investment Corporation, Mr. Joseph Blackwell who was missing for almost a year now, has been found alive in a health centre situated in Hertfordshire. According to the reports provided by the emergency physician Dr. Gerald Maloney, Mr. Blackwell is in a fair condition but hasn’t recovered from a severe head injury that might have caused his death and is still in coma. Let’s take you to the Kingston Hospital where Joseph Blackwell has now been admi-” I switched off the television and went towards my mother, who had now got normal after an hour of sobbing.

Seconds after my mom’s call, all of us rushed to the hospital without knowing what the news might be. My heart was continuously praying for it to be a good one as I didn’t want to even think about permanently losing my father. It wasn’t long enough when we were standing in the parking lot of the huge hospital. I had picked up Tyler in my arms and could hear him chanting a hymn. Clearly he was wishing for what I was.

“Everything will be fine Ty.” I whispered, patting his back as he nodded but continued praying. Harry, Louis, Liam, Danielle, Eleanor, Mrinal and Candice followed us in a comforting silence. I never asked them to come along, but they were willing to, not just for supporting Tyler and me but because my friends knew my father really well and that’s the kind of impression he had imprinted on everyone’s heart that everyone cared for him. That’s what made him completely different from Frank, the knobhead.

“Joseph Blackwell?” Harry asked the receptionist in his deep voice which seemed to crack a little. Dad was a father to Harry too, just like Anne never distinguished between Gemma, Harry and me; dad always treated Harry as a family. The pain in Harry’s voice was clear as glass.

“Room 317.” She looked up, her eyes slightly widened on seeing so many people together.

“Thank you.” Harry replied and started pacing towards the room. All of us followed him. On reaching closer to the room I saw those familiar slightly tousled raven colored hair. What was he doing here? As I was about to question him I saw Doniya and Ashley too. Was I dreaming? Why were they here? As far as I remembered it was only Zayn who knew dad and not Doniya or Ashley.

“Erica…” My mom sobbed even harder on seeing me. I let Tyler go and hugged her tightly.

“What is it mom? Is he alright? Where’s he? Can we meet him?” I shot questions at her but got no reply. My knees had gone weak by now and I wasn’t able to control my emotions, I started bawling as if I had lost him. Suddenly I felt two strong arms grab me from my shoulders, I looked over my shoulder to find Liam, smiling at me with concern all over his face. He might have seen how fragile I was and by now mother’s silence was killing me. Pulling away from her, I went to the large glass window to see my father lying on a white bed, peacefully. He was the palest shade of pale, the needles from the apparatuses sticking in his skin. I sighed heavily in relief on seeing him alive.

Harry stood next to me with Tyler in his arms as he saw dad lying in the room. He smiled a little and turned his face to me.

“He’s safe Erica, our prayers have been answered.” Harry’s eyes turned glassy and so did mine. I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder as I watched my father breath. 

“How did you find him?” Frank entered the hallway with frowned eyebrows and gritted teeth. What the hell was he asking? By the sound of his question, it seemed as if he had something to do with dad’s accident and of him being hidden for a year.

“What are you doing here?” Louis placed a hand on Frank’s chest, stopping him from going any further.

“What?  My children’s father has been found, and that too alive, why would I not be here?” He jerked Louis’ hand off and started walking towards me.  His eyes were full of anger and fake concern as he covered the distance and stood facing me.