Bad Dream

Chapter 13 : Hidden thrill

It's Sunday when Salem comes and hands me a plate of food ,I scrunch my nose and refuse my stomach turning at just the smell. "You haven't eaten anything all week , Ambrose is getting really angry that you are putting on this immature ploy". I stand up and quickly fall on the floor. Salem comes rushing over , "I am okay , honestly just a little dizzy". Even so when I stand again the world spins and my head and heart pound. I feel bile come up my oesophagus and I soon find myself head over the toilet bowl emptying my already empty stomach. "Salem please don't tell Ambrose about this, I don't want to seem weak". Salem grabs a wash cloth and wets it placing it on my head. " Your head feels really warm. Sahara if you are sick I have to tell Ambrose". I nod my head silently . Salem hands me the wet towel as he rushes out of the room . I stand at the sink and stare at my pale reflection . Yellowing bruises are still present under my eye from a week ago. I grab my tooth brush and try to take away the acidic taste in my mouth. I kneel on the floor feeling pathetic . Within these weeks any strength I had within me has vanished. I hear footsteps coming down the hallway ; Ambrose , Kassim and Salem are walking down the hallway . They stand in front of me , I look up from the ground .

"She is probably faking it"

"No I saw her, she fell then vomited . Kassim please, she is sick "

"Salem is right Kassim look at her she can't even lift her head properly"

"That's not my problem I have cooked food for her everyday this week and she hasn't even eaten it"

I grab onto the side of the bed and push myself up, "Guys I am fine seriously , I told Salem not to tell you Ambrose". Ambrose gestures to me to stand up, I reluctantly stand up and manage to keep my balance by leaning on the bed . "Come here" , Ambrose beckons me . I curse as I realize I may not be able to stay upright. With shaking legs I take tentative steps towards the trio. "I told you guys she is alright ,she is lying again" , Kassim coldly remarks. I turn to him and prepare to scold him however I don't get further than, "You bas-" before I collapse into Kassim's arms. I can feel the world spinning and hear Ambrose tell Kassim, "I am going to call the doctor and just because you were being an antagonistic smartass you can look after her until he comes". Salem and Ambrose leave , leaving Kassim sitting with me still collapsed in his arms. My breathing begins to slow . I can feel Kassim move my hair out of my face softly . His hand comes to rest on my cheek . I am shocked at his gentleness . I open my eyes , "I like you like this" , I breathe . I look at Kassim his expression looks irritated now, he goes to stand as I fall to the floor again. "Kassim , seriously why do you hate me so much? I don't know what I have ever done to hurt you ,whatever it is I am sorry". His expression softens and he grabs the wet towel still in my hands and wipes away the sweat forming on my forehead.

"Sahara I don't hate you. Being in this line of work being attached to people is dangerous. This is when we make mistakes ,thats what makes us so good we desensitize ourselves and leave things like feelings behind". I find myself sympathizing with a murderer, my mother would be so proud. I hear footsteps coming down the hallway again. The doctor arrives and Kassim and Ambrose help me to the bed although Kassim looks unsettled. Ambrose and Kassim are shooed out of the room by the doctor. I see the doctor open up his large suitcases and set up an intravenous line . The doctor silently draws blood and inserts a cannula in my arm . "Why have you waited this long to tell anyone you were sick?", the doctor finally speaks to me with furrowed brows. I look at him, "I know I have an infection somewhere but what else could I do? They think I am faking it to escape". This causes the doctor to look even graver and he leaves the room. Time seems to be slowed ,I feel the tension in my shoulders. I close my eyes as I feel myself drifting away . I am genuinely surprised when I wake up a few hours later ,the sky dark outside . An angry looking Ambrose stands next to me with the doctor . "Oh good she is awake". The doctor gestures for Ambrose to sit .

"Ambrose , all of you are extremely lucky that Sahara isn't dead right now. She has a severe blood infection ,I believe it probably came from her wounds acquired over the past weeks. I am disappointed Sahara, that you knew just how dire this infection was and told no one". I look away from the doctor as he tells Ambrose how I am going to be treated.

I don't notice anything except Kassim walking down the hall towards me . He enters the room and stands next to Ambrose. He is really quite good looking. His dark eyes hold mystery and I can't help but stare at his heart shaped lips . What am I doing? Oh god I am really in trouble, is it too early to have Stockholm syndrome or am I just so sick I am hallucinating . How is this possible? . He looks at me and I feel my breath catch . I close my eyes to try to slow my heart rate back down so as not to trigger the machine.

The doctor leaves , promising to come back tomorrow to check up on me and to administer further treatment . Ambrose walks him out. I am left again with Kassim. "I appreciate you caring for me despite the fact I am sure I drive you all insane". I smile at him and surprisingly he smiles back and sits on the bed next to me . "Well I don't hate you that much, none of us do. You are right though ,you are driving us all insane" , I grab a pillow and playfully hit him with it . He is laughing as he stands and looks down at me, "For the first time though I don't think thats a bad thing". He walks to the door with a smile on his face.

As the door closes I realize for the first time just how trapped I am.