Chapter 8: Pieces of a Puzzle
N A O M I
"It's alright. I'm here."
"I'm scared...someone please save us.."
"Don't cry. We'll be safe."
"Do you seriously think that someone will save you? Keep dreaming!" I heard multiple gunshots at the same time.
"Don't touch her! I'll kill you!"
"Silence, kid. It's not like this little girl will see me."
"Sister! Stop it!" I heard gunshots again and the sound of a whip, hitting a skin.
"Kristine! Where are you? Kristine?"
Why is it so dark? What was that dream? Why does it feel so real? What the hell is going on? My mind is so messed up when I suddenly felt a hand, holding my left hand. I even heard the voice of a man. Wait. Is he singing? Why is the voice so familiar?
[Hold on by Chord Overstreet]
Loving and fighting
Accusing, denying
I can't imagine a world with you gone
The joy and the chaos, the demons we're made of
I'd be so lost if you left me alone
You locked yourself in the bathroom
Lying on the floor when I breakthrough
I pull you in to feel your heartbeat
Can you hear me screaming "Please don't leave me"
Hold on, I still want you
Come back, I still need you
Let me take your hand, I'll make it right
I swear to love you all my life
Hold on, I still need you
A long endless highway, you're silent beside me
Drivin' a nightmare I can't escape from
Helplessly praying, the light isn't fadin'
Hiding the shock and the chill in my bones
They took you away on a table
I pace back and forth as you lay still
They pull you in to feel your heartbeat
Can you hear me screaming, "Please don't leave me"
Hold on, I still want you
Come back, I still need you
Let me take your hand, I'll make it right
I swear to love you all my life
Hold on, I still need you
I don't wanna let go
I know I'm not that strong
I just wanna hear you
Saying baby, let's go home
Let's go home
Yeah, I just wanna take you home
Hold on, I still want you
Come back, I still need you
Why does his voice sound so sad? Why do I feel like hugging him so much? What's up with me? I suddenly felt a warm liquid on my hand. Everything is so dark, when will it brighten up?
---
Everything was covered with light, as I open my eyes. I let my eyes adjust to the light before scanning the whole room. It looks like I'm in the hospital, the walls are white and there is a small sala set in front of my bed. There are also some fruits and flowers on the table right beside me.
The door suddenly swung open and Ares entered. His face brightens up the moment he saw me, then he quickly went out of the room. He looks tired, what happened though? My friends came in, one-by-one. My uncle and the four jerks also came. Two nurses and a doctor also entered the room and checked me up.
"You're awake!" They said in unison, then hugged me tightly.
"Can't....breathe.." I said, and they quickly let go.
"You were sleeping for two weeks, we missed you!"
"What? Two weeks?! How is school?" I asked, panicking even if I still feel weak.
"Calm down. Let the vice president handle it. You should rest first," Uncle said, scolding me.
"Why should I trust that vice president? She clearly hates my guts, and is probably celebrating right now!" I frustratingly shouted. I also tried to get up, even though the part where I got shot is hurting.
The nurses stopped me though. "Miss Shiba, you are not allowed to go to school. You need to rest for at least one week. Your body is quite weak, so recovering will take time," The doctor said.
"Do what the doctor said," Dad sternly stated the moment he opened the door. Wait...why is he here? Don't tell me, he cares?
"Everyone, out," He said and my friends left with the doctor and nurses. "Rude," Uncle said, before leaving.
"What do you want to happen. You're the only heir of our family. Take care of yourself, and stop saving others. You're not a superhero, and your body is weak," He said. He looked calm, but based on his choice of words, he is probably mad. Can't you genuinely care for me, dad?
"So you only cared about me, because I'm the heir?" I'm really disappointed. I thought, for once, he is treating me as his daughter. I thought he was scared of losing me because he loves me as his daughter, but that was another misunderstanding. I'm hurt by my expectations once again.
"Give me a reason, why I should care for you, other than you being the heir of our family."
"I am your daughter! Don't you even love me?!"
"Do I have to love you? You're only a tool to continue my legacy."
"At least treat me as a human! I have a heart, dad! Why are you always this harsh on me?!"
"You're nothing, but a tool, Naomi. Know your place. Rest now, I can't have you dying before me," He said, then left.
What did I do for you to treat me like this, dad? Why do you only see me as a tool? Why can't you see me as your daughter, or even as a human?
"Naomi? What happened? Why are you crying?" They quickly flooded me with questions. I didn't notice them entering, just like my tears flowing, so I quickly wiped them.
"You know, the usual," I said, then smiled.
"Rest first, we will handle the student council," Alexa said, and I nodded in agreement.
"If you have to be my substitute just to secure my position, do it. I can't have that vixen taking over my position."
"Oh, right. How are you guys? What happened?" I asked them.
"After you were shot, Adonis panicked, and he left his comrades. We got a few cuts and scratches, but nothing critical. Everyone got caught, except for Adonis. David was also saved," Kyousuke narrated.
"How about the ball?" I asked. "It was canceled. We will have the ball in the next two weeks, with the newly chosen event. So, you will have a week to prepare for the event and ball." Thea answered, and I nodded in approval.
"Any news about the fire? I'm sure that was not a normal accident."
"About that, it's still under investigation. But, we found out that it was intentional. Also, a student that is part of the event team, was found dead in her dormitory. The cause of death is poison. The victim of the fire is still unconscious, and is admitted here," Julia reported.
"By the way, where is Ares?" I asked when I noticed his absence. "Probably blaming himself for what happened to you," Elijah answered.
"What the heck? Why would he blame himself? I chose to push him, that idiot," Before they even answer, we heard a knock on the door, and Ares entered.
"The victim of the fire was dead. The cause of death is poison. The nurse who poisoned him was also found dead in her house. Cause of death is suicide."