19

"Nine, are you listening?"

I shake my head and turn to Kahiki.

"Am sorry, what did you say?"

"Are you okay? You seem out of it today, are you exhausted?"

"What? Exhausted? It's only the begining of the evening."

I bring the wine glass to my lips emptying its contents within seconds. Kahiki watches me with an amused raised brow before shaking his head and sipping from his own glass. Our conversation carries on through the night and his presence is enough to make me forget about all the worries in me. After our dinner, I bid him farewell and head home. The wind softly blows and I allow my mind to recall the events that had occurred.

"Despite everything, Kahiki managed to make those worries disappear for a little while and am really thankful."

I smile to myself and head down an alley. My footsteps echo in the silent night and I can't shake the feeling of being watched. I tighten my grip on my bag and quicken my pace through the path. A howl spreads through the sky and I freeze legs trembling.

"Must be some wild dogs."

Hard as I try to convince myself, the uneasiness in me only grows by the minute and I break into a run towards the exit. Two large wolves emerge blocking my path and I halt to a stop. I turn to head the way I just came through but a black wolf stands in the way. I anxiously look between the animals and up the two buildings searching for an escape route.

"Am trapped."

I back against the wall as the wolves all close in on me.

"Nice dogs. Don't hurt me."

One wolf jumps towards me and I instinctively dodge to the left missing its sharp claws by an inch. I quickly regain my posture and look around. Spotting a large chuck of wood, I pick it up and use it as a weapon keeping them at bay.

"Stay away from me!"

I swing the wood and strike one wolf and it steps back whining. The sound fills my ears and a force tightens in my heart.

"Focus Nine! This is no time to heed to an animal's pain. They are trying to kill you."

The wolves slowly back away from me and run out of sight. A loud thud echos around me as the wood falls from my shaking hands to the ground. My knees give way and I fall to the ground, my entire body trembling from fright.

"I escaped."

I sit for a while taking numerous breathes trying to calm myself when my phone vibrates. With shaking hands, I bring it to my ear.

"H- Hello?"

"Sister? Are you okay? ... Hello?"

I bring a hand to my mouth stiffening a sob.

"Sister? Are you still there? Sister?"

The phone slips from my fingers and clatters to the ground as I tightly hug my knees to my chest. A warm hand lands on my shoulder and I force my head up.

"Sister, you're trembling. What-"

I pull him into a tight embrace burying my face into his shoulder. His body tenses for a second underneath me before I feel his arms wrapping around me pulling me closer. After composing myself, I pull away from him and look into his eyes.

"Let's go home."

Unable to find my voice, I muster a small nod and he leads me out of the alleyway his arm wrapped around my shoulder. I lay on my bed lost in thoughts when a soft knock sounds from my door.

"Come in."

The door slightly opens and Black walks in a tray in hand. I sit up leaning against the wall as he sets the tray on my lap.

"How are you holding up?"

"Am okay, frightened but I'll be fine."

He looks at me and a sympathetic smile spreads across his lips.

"Thanks."

He simply nods and heads to the door.

"Let's talk tomorrow, you should rest. Goodnight sister."

"Goodnight Black."

The door closes softly behind him and I lay back down in bed. Exhaustion quickly overwhelms me and I soon drift off to sleep.

The shuffling of footsteps grow nearer and nearer and I don't stop running.

"I can't stop."

My feet hurt from the stony path but I ignore the pain and continue running away from my persuader. The footsteps grow nearer and when I turn to look, I trip and fall bruising my palms. I slowly stand up blowing on my hands. After the pain slowly fades, I dust my clothes and survey my surrounding. A huge tree stands and it's leaves reflect in the pale moonlight. Captivated, I slowly walk towards it and run my fore finger on the tree bark. The wind gently blows and the leaves rustle in rhythm and the anxious inside of me fades.

I slowly sit up in bed and feel my cheek wet with tears. I slowly wipe the tears away and look at my reflection on the bed mirror. I push the thoughts down and prepare myself for work.

"Good morning Star, how are you?"

"Nine!"

She throws herself at me engaging me in a warm hug. I pat her head and slowly pull away from her.

"I missed you so much."

"I missed you too, am sorry I didn't have time to come check on you after your doctor was changed."

"Can you be my doctor too?"

I gently stroke her hair and she closes her eyes.

"Am sorry but I can't rules are rules. But I promise to come check on you every once in a while."

"I know. I just miss your presence is all. I think it's because you're the only person close to a sister to me."

"Has the other doctor being giving you a hard time?"

"Not really, am just not used to him."

After chatting for a few minutes, I excuse myself and head out of the ward and to my desk. A letter lays unopen on the desk, my name scribbled on the top.