The Missing Linck

• FOURTEEN •

Double update time!

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The piercing sound of a siren jolts me awake. I stare up at the stark white ceiling as I attempt to recall what happened. I'm in a hospital, that's pretty clear. But I don't know why I'm here. Then, I remember.

I flail my arms when I remember what happened. Someone pins down my arms as another pierces something into my forearm.

I attempt to yell when someone pats my shoulder.

"Relax, it's just a needle, Tasha," a patient sounding feminine voice says.

I force myself to cool down when I recognize the voice to be Quenna's.

After several more minutes of being prodded and poked, I'm allowed to sit up and I do. Quenna pops into my line of vision and sighs when she sees me give her a lopsided smile.

Well, Quenna is cute, I could watch her all day long. Her hawking nose and gliding cheekbones highlight her face and add to the aesthetic beauty of her. Plus her blonde hair is pretty much the same shade and length as mine, only mine is in curls and hers is in loose waves.

"Hello?" Quen says, snapping her fingers in front of my face. Great, I zoned out again. Pretty soon, I'll be friendzoned then.

"From the other side!" I quip.

She just rolls her eyes and looks around for signs of something I have zero idea of before urgently talking just loud enough for me to hear.

"Look, I really want to know what happened, but Reid and Mom told me not to ask you. They say you could get more upset when you remember it. This looks plenty fishy to me though."

Looking around, she further continues, "They say-"

She's cut short by the sound of nearing footsteps and pulls me in as if hugging me.

"I'm so glad you woke up!" she gushes loudly as she smoothens my hair back from my forehead.

"Quenna, you'll give her a headache, sweetie. Give her some air, for heaven's sake," a sickeningly sweet voice says.

I look up to see that it's Mrs. Lynnk. I tug my lips up in a weak smile and she tuts.

"You should be resting, Quintasha. Please lie back down," she says in a forced tone.

"But they said I could sit-"

"You need to rest," she says, placing emphasis on 'need'

"But-"

"Rest," she repeats, her tone instantly pushing me back as I lie down but not before noting the daggers that she shoots Quen with her eyes.

I close my eyes and pretend to rest. I'm watching them through my half-open eyelids now. I force my breathing to slow down to appear to be asleep better.

Shooting a look my way, Mrs. Lynnk rebukes Quen. Quen seems to have clearly been told not to worry me with any questions. And Reid? I don't know.

After what feels like a thousand years, someone shakes my forearm to wake me up. To make it seem more realistic, I let them shake me a couple more times before I open my eyelids as if shocked.

"Relax, Tasha, it's just Quen. Sorry for bothering you earlier. Do you need anything?"

I shake my head no.

"I-" and again she is cut off by her mother entering the room and tsking.

But before her mother can say anything, the door opens and shuts. A new wind blows in, carrying with it the scent of an unmistakeably masculine cologne. I recognize that scent. And my heart skips a beat.

"I'll take it from here, don't worry," he says in a gruff voice, lacking all the silkiness that I usually associate with his voice. I want to jump up and refuse but I seem to be somewhat pinned down.

Mrs. Lynnk nods and steps out whilst Quen blows me a kiss before she steps out. Well, tries to. Reid pulls her back by her hand. When she raises her eyebrows at him, he proceeds to explain.

"Are you two dating or something?"

"What?" Quen spits out as I give Reid an incredulous look.

"You know, all the -" he pauses when Quen and I take turns winking at the other.

"Okay. Stop," he exclaims before kicking a wall nearest to him and more or less pushing Quen out of the room.

He sits in the chair by my side and just looks at me with a carefully wiped out face. I glare back, hoping to get him to fess up. Useless.

He finally smirks knowingly and says, "It was quite fun, wasn't it? An experience of a lifetime!"

Air whooshes out of his lungs as a well-delivered punch reaches his mid torso.

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Hey! The usual jazz, plus a factoid that it's past 1:00 AM and I'm here writing this, after which I have a bucket load of work to do, then sleep and then get up at 6:00 AM 😭😭

Anyways, hope to update soon!

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