Don't give up on me.

THIRTY EIGHTH

Even in sleep or more like unconscious state, Johum's mind was still not at rest. She knew she was all alone and the pain that shot through her body made her feeling even worse. As soon as the pain medications wore off the dull throb in her head returned along with the pain in her ribs and the collarbone. Groaning, she opened her eyes and blinked them to adjust according to the dim light.

She instantly knew she was in a hospital. Of course she was, the dull beep of the machine beside her was enough to remind her of that. Exhaling slow breathes, she managed to get used to the pain in her ribs and decided to ring the bell for doctor because she seriously needed some pain medication right now. There was no one in the room except for her and that made her panic. How would she call anyone?

Johum lifted her hand to reach for the bed, or tried lifting but her heart started beating at a higher rate when she realized that her hand wasn't moving. She tugged at it softly before violently tugging. As panic overcame the pain in her ribs, she lifted her head and stared horrified at her hand, it was handcuffed to the hospital bedpost.

"What the..." She used her other hand to yank at the iron cuffs but it was no use, she was stuck. She couldn't believe they handcuffed her, it must have been Zayan's idea. Oh God! She yanked her hand, thrashing and nor caring if it was cutting through her wrist. Letting out a cry of frustration, she sat at her place ignoring the immense pain and sting that shot through her ribs and moved her hair away from her face. "I won't run you fuckin' bastards!!" She screamed, noticing that she was dressed in a blue hospital gown and attached to a bed like a mental person.

"Hi." Johum let out a small shriek in panic and turned her head towards the source of voice. Her heart jumped in her throat as she stared wide eyed at Ruya sitting on a sofa and rubbing her eyes. Has she been there the whole time? Trying to calm herself down in order to not freak out in front of her, Johum smiled.

"Hi, what are you doing here alone?" She asked, a genuine smile lifting up her lips as she watched the little girl struggle to get down from sofa. Ruya had a small cut on her eyebrow, meaning that she had really been captured by Domenico but otherwise she looked okay. She wasn't injured at all. The cut must have been from a fall or something.

"I left daddy's room and came to see you but I slept on sofa, accidentally." She rubbed her eyes and moved towards the bed. She struggled to climb up the bed so Johum gave her a hand.

"Daddy's room?" Johum's heart ached when she heard about him, remembering that he was shot and he thought it was because of her. Okay maybe it really was because of her but she didn't shoot him. Johum sighed.

"Yes, he was sleeping." Ruya shrugged, sitting cross-legged in front of Johum, besides her legs. "He looked tired so I came without telling him. How are you?" Johum's eyes softened as she heard the little girl's concern.

"I am feeling okay now. Are you alright, Ruya?" She asked, wanting to know that the girl was not traumatized by whatever Domenico did.

"Yes, the bad guy didn't do anything to me. I kicked him even." She stated, looking proud of herself, "And uncle Atesh was real ninja. He beat his ass to the moon." Johum chuckled and ran her fingers through Ruya's hair lovingly.

"I am glad. But you shouldn't be here without telling anyone." She caressed her hair softly.

"They won't let me come in," Ruya mumbled in confusion as her face fell, "so I had to sneak in with the help of Uncle Za'ir." Johum's eyebrows shot up.

"Za'ir?"

"Yeah, he was here but now he's gone." Johum swallowed, not understanding why Za'ir was here because a few days ago he hated her. She sighed, shaking her head to clear it.