2408

MARTHA'S POV

I had typed 2408 before I realized what was going on. The lock to Jonathan Ferran's phone is my date of birth…like what in the never ending universe of impossibility? It seemed he realized he had not given my question proper thoughts before blurting the answer away and he looked away. I wanted to ask him why but seeing the state he is in, I decided against it and stood up from the ground as I typed the emergency number for ambulances in Naylatan.

We were soon rescued and immediately Ferran was lifted to a stretcher, he passed out. I followed them to the hospital and there I used Ferran's phone to call Michael of what had happened, so he could relate it to my dad and Seth. Calling my dad should have been the more effective method but Michael was the best shock absorber than anyone in my family. They would also relay the message to Ferran's family.

I sat in the hall that led to the ward where Ferran was kept and a kind nurse brought me a big blanket to cover my shaky and cold self.

After some minutes, I heard a hurried marching of about eight pairs of feet. I looked to the direction of the stairs and knew the persons, who sounded like an army invasion were. They were my family.

The first to arrive at the top of the stairs was Seth, behind him was Lily, followed by my dad and Michael. Marcus and Daddy Two came last.

I stood up from the chair I was seated on and ran over to my dad, immediately I sighted him. He opened his arms and engulfed me and that was when I truly broke down. I did not want to do that…not in a place where many people were. Not just my family members but the family members of people who were in the hospital, as well as medical personnel but I did not feel embarrassed in the slightest. I needed some sort of comforting feeling to make me truly believe that I was still alive.

Some minutes ago, a bomb was in the same car I was in, precisely by my foot and if I was two seconds late in grabbing it and flinging it from the car, I would have been shredded to smithereens. I would not have been with my family anymore. I was so close! Death felt real and so tangible. The vehicle dancing between life and death and constantly tilting me towards death was not the greatest of happenings anyone would have wanted.

I could not be bothered about the fact that my leg was yet to heal completely as I ran to my dad with all my might.

"Dad!" I said as my arms circled his waist.

"My baby girl!" he said as he hugged me, ptighter. I took in that comforting, fatherly gardenia scent that he alone could give and inhaled it deeply. As my lungs were filled with it, my hormones were freed and I cried a river. I remember worrying about sweating so bad today because I hurriedly chose a hoodie but looking back, it probably was the right choice. A flimsy sport material would have been more problematic than helpful today.

"My child!" said my dad, again and I heard the quiver in his voice. I'm sorry for making him this way and I'm sorry for being weak at this moment.

My dad unclasped his arms from around me and moved me a little to check if I was hurt anywhere. At this point, everyone gathered and they all had worried and concerned expressions on their faces. I remember when they had this same look, not too long ago…because of me still. Lily placed a hand on my shoulder and I turned to her and we hugged. I placed my face in the crook of her neck and said, "I'm sorry for making you worry again!"

"Don't do that Martha" said Lily and because of how she sounded, I knew that she was also crying. I removed my fave from the crook of her neck to look at my brothers, Daddy Two and Marcus, who were looking at me tentatively and with so much gentleness in their eyes. I'm sure my eyes were a brilliant red and very puffy as a bubble from phlegm left my nose as I cried on.

Everyone got their turns in hugging me before we went to sit on the benches that were provided.

I sat between my brothers as both of them were holding my hands. We intertwined our fingers as Daddy Two asked me, "what happened? If you can, tell us everything that happened in detail!"

I cleared my throat due to all the weeping I had done and was about to answer when we heard feet marching up the stairs. Our eyes went there and the steps revealed Mr Jonathan, his wife and two bodyguards.

"It is your fault you bitch!" said Mr Jonathan's wife, immediately her eyes landed on me. She threw her purse at me and before anyone could block the attack, it landed on me. She was so swift and I was just too weak and fatigued to duck. Nobody expected that and so no one was alert.

Her husband held her arms as she tried to come towards me.

"You lured my son, why? Isn't it enough that the organization is in jeopardy because of your sorry ass! You just had to drag my son into all your drama and problems, you witch! You have been nothing but trouble!" screamed Mrs Jonathan.

Tears gathered in my eyes and my body began to shake. The last statement rang in my head, "you have been nothing but trouble!"

It had been a long time since someone said that to me and I thought it had ended with my aunt.

"You would not speak to my daughter like that!"

"You would not speak to my sister like that!" My dad and brothers said simultaneously.

"Stop it Elsa!" shouted Mr Jonathan at his wife. What did she mean by the organization is in jeopardy because of me? The organisation is fine! Or is something bad happening and I am not aware!

"Let me be Jonathan! If something happens to my child, I'll personally wring the neck of that bitch myself!" said Mrs Jonathan.

Everyone began to speak at the same time and my brain turned fuzzy. I covered my ears as more tears came out of my eyes. Everywhere became brighter and I swayed and lost my footing.

I was falling and I hoped someone would catch me. I was right and wrong at the same time…I was not just caught by someone but by many hands and I smiled.

"Martha!", "Martha!", "Martha!"

I heard my name called repeatedly and I saw their faces gathered above me, just before I slipped beyond my consciousness.