Open Heart {Under Revision}

Chapter 38- Remember me when the Sun goes Down

Dr. Ramsey filled Arnold about everything that happened at warehouse and I listened to their curbed speculations. Our bag full of unknown-most-probably engineered plants were in rigorous need for analysis and since it couldn't be couriered to States without having inquisition flagging us down or plants themselves withering away from their parent bodies, the decision was made to have Alma Garza Res Centre do its molecular deconstruction. Dr. Ramsey knew a colleague who worked in that field and luckily happened to be a visiting researcher in their MolBio department.

Arnold promised to deliver authorities an anonymous tip and just in case they weren't keen on busting the drug cartel—it'd be sent to international jurisdiction.

Too tired from adrenaline drainage and aftermath of a psychedelic drug attack, it was an effort to keep my lids open hence I defected to a considerate quietness on our ride back. Dr. Ramsey as usual busied himself in some work but...there was something different about him. Or maybe it was how I perceived him now, having accepted that I loved him. The feeling was terrifying—something much deeper than anything I've ever experienced in my life. It created a profound awareness of raw, incomprehensible emotions that threatened to question my resolve, making it nothing but unstable umbra. It was akin to beautiful disaster walking to wreck my heart but at the same time, it felt like waking up after an eternal slumber. An unsettling peace.

How much of I knew him? Enough.

At some point, I actually dozed off—only to wake when our vehicle stopped moving. When I uncluttered from that shuteye, I found Arnold studying me from driver's seat.

"Have we reached?" I asked, my voice dripping with grogginess. Another fallout of that diabolic drug.

Arnold nodded. "We have. And this car's not mine so we need to bunk out."

Then I felt someone's absence and snapped up in the back seat. "Where is Dr. Ramsey?!"

He wasn't here...but he was there moments ago. Minutes ago...I sensed him—he—

The agent arched a brow at my mortified face. "Ramsey went to deposit those samples you guys brought right in middle of traffic. The man never wastes any moment, does he?"

Stupid girl. My mind scolded. Always dropping the façade in front of people.

"Oh." I murmured and looked out of window to well-lit entrance of Celestial. "Alright. What time is it?"

"Half past 8."

I checked the schedule in my phone and sighed. "No point going back to convocation tonight."

Arnold clicked his tongue, directing a serious stare. "And I'd advice you against it and considering what you just faced, pull on curtains and get a good glorious shutter."

"No further encouragement needed." I stifled a yawn and got out of car. Arnold and I parted in hotel's lobby and there was nothing else between me and bed. The doctor part of me did flash a warning to read out signs of that drug but once again, my lead-heavy bones won and before I could debate on running for a blood test—my mind drifted off into darkness with nothing but realizations of the day.

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Dreamless nights were a blessing for me.

My dreams often ranged from mostly-peaceful to bone-jarring traumatic titters— you could guess which among both was prevalent. During my adolescent years, night terrors had become a part of my living. They never stopped even when I jumped to different locations. I used to wake up, drenched in sweat and tears, misery ripping out from throat. Added to that, my lower half was unusable—nowhere to run. The nightmares at one point became so worse that I was prescribed hypnotics for two years before my mother forced me to abandon them in fear of becoming dependant. The withdrawal was severe, every day a skull-fracturing headache but I made it out.