Looking for the Light Through the Darkness

Chapter 41: You Hurt Me

Point of View: Sang

Waking up, I shift a little in bed, the comforting warmth of the covers making me want to stay curled up forever. After the nightmare, last night, I had barely been able to sleep because my stomach was in knots. Thankfully somewhere, around in the early hours of the morning, I was finally able to pass out. That however didn't last long because the knots in my stomach returned and awoke me once more.

Trying to get comfortable, I shift carefully in the large bed, however, I notice that there is a presence missing. When had Victor left? Letting out a muffled whimper, I slowly crawl out of the covers holding my stomach as I make my way to the door. "Victor?" I call out quietly unsure what time it is.

There is no response to my quiet call. Unsure as to what to do, I move back into the room and wrap my sash around my eyes before I press my hand against the wall and slowly begin to guide myself to the stairs and then down to the first floor. My feet hitting the cold wood flooring makes my stomach flip slightly and I force myself to stop and take a deep breath.

But what has me more concerned is the total amount of silence in the air. Nervous, I take a slow breath trying to determine where every one is and I freeze. The air is filled with a number of different scents mixed together. I smell the familiar scent of moss and berries but the scent of a rich musk, ginger and cedar, spring soap, and ocean waves wafts through the air as well.

When had the other's come in? Why was there no talking or laughter?

These questions hang in my mind causing my anxiety to kick up. Stepping forward, I ignore the sick sensation in my stomach as I move into the kitchen where I can now hear the soft tapping of fingers. Yet still no one called out to her to say good morning. No one said hello.

Did something happen? Did I do something wrong?

Unable to stand the silence any longer I take a slow breath. "Hello?" I call out, my fingers tangled up in the shirt Victor had given me to wear. Maybe they hadn't noticed me come down, I thought to myself but that still didn't explain the silent atmosphere.

"Pookie?" Dr. Green's voice greets me but I can tell something is off. His voice is very soft and I can hear the exhaustion clearly laced throughout it. Frowning, I make my way slowly through the kitchen and to the living room where Dr. Green's voice came from. As I approach, I notice a few things, the clicking sound of what seems to be a laptop stops and someone on the couch shifts toward me. Unsure what to do, I pause when the soft scent of ocean waves washes over me.

Silas. Unsure of myself, I stay still as he approaches me. Feeling the wood floor vibrate, I can feel his approach before he slips his hand into my own. Smiling softly, I squeeze it a little and allow him to guide me to the couch. Curling up in the corner, I am able to relax just slightly, my stomach feeling better now that I am sitting. But the deadly silence from before continues and I begin to tremble nervous as to why everyone is so quiet. Silas seems to sense my discomfort as he lifts me into his arms. "It's okay." He whispers softly.

Adjusting myself on the couch, I look around the room nervously. "What's wrong?" I whisper unsure what to say and how to clear the air. My body continues to tremble nervously and Silas's hand squeezes mine.

"We just want to ask you a couple of questions Ms. Sang..." Surprised, I turn toward Mr. Blackbourne who is sitting directly in front of me.

"What ever I can do..." I whisper nervously biting my lip hard.

"Easy..." Silas whispers but I am far to scared about what is about to be asked to calm down.

"Ms. Sorenson... we understand that you showed Victor your eyes last night." Mr. Blackbourne starts and instantly I freeze. What had he said? Last night he said it was okay? Did something change? Did they really disgust him? "You also talked to North last night after you had a nightmare." Mr. Blackbourne continues. Frowning, I am unable to see where this conversation is headed or how this matters. "After you called Mr. Taylor, Ms. Sorenson, Mr. Taylor checked in on you via camera. All of our apartments have a number of different cameras throughout." Pausing, Mr. Blackbourne allows me to soak in the information.

So that means that North also saw me without my sash on. Swallowing hard, I force a weak breath before fidgeting slightly. "Okay." I whisper trying hard to keep a calm atmosphere about me. So North knows what they look like and he hasn't said a word since I walked into the room about them. But he is sitting in the room... I hope.

There is another moment of silence before Mr. Blackbourne clears his throat. "Mr. Taylor noticed that the scars were a bit different so he took a picture and sent it over to Dr. Green." I can't even begin to process what Mr. Blackbourne is saying but I nod anyways trying to get through this conversation. So now it is Dr. Green and North have seen me without my sash. "Ms. Sorenson did you know that the scaring around your eyes could have been prevented?"

I can't breathe. The air just stops in my chest and my brain shuts down. The scaring on my eyes could have been prevented. The sentence echoes in my ears over and over again. Rushing to stand up, I push through Silas's hands and toward the kitchen as nausea hits the back of my throat. Hitting my foot hard against the step down into the living room, I tumble onto the hard wood floor.

"Miss Sorenson!" Mr. Blackbourne calls out but the hands I feel on my body aren't from Mr. Blackbourne but are from North. Struggling, I move away from North's arms and stumble into the kitchen. Grabbing the trash bin, I lean over and throw up everything in my stomach. Someone's hands are pulling my hair out of my face but I don't want anyone touching me. Pulling away, I slowly sit down on my knees trembling as more waves of both nausea and anxiety hit me.

"Baby girl drink..." I fee a cup in my hand and I quickly bring it to my lips and take a large swallow. The cool water instantly settles my nausea but my breathing is a mess. Exhausted, I slowly begin to feel my strength leaving my body as I take slow deep breaths.

Feeling someone's hand on my back, I pull away slightly not wanting to be touched. "Sang..." North's voice is clipped and I can hear the obvious pain in his voice. "Please don't pull away. Sang baby what's wrong?" I shake my head slightly unable to respond and suddenly there is a hand brushing m hair out of my face.

Trembling, I pull away from the touch but someone's hand catches the back of my head holding me still. "Sang." Stunned, I hold still as Dr. Green touches my forehead and then my neck. "Owen she has a fever."

"I'm fine please let me go." I whisper tugging out of Dr. Green's arms. I am in no mood and too shaken to sort things through.

"Pookie?" Dr. Green actually sounds surprised and I move away from him.

"Please call Gabriel... I want to leave."