Audacity

Storm attempted a smile, hearing the relief in Lucy's voice. She also heard the scurry of Justin's feet as he came to her side, touching her forehead.

"I am fine guys." She said, proving it by opening her eyes.

Earlier, when they had been debating over the state of my health, she had tried opening her eyes, checking to see if there would be any needles pinching the top of her eyes and brain. But there had been nothing. The last of the symptoms, apart from the weakness and pain in her joints, was over. Now she could bask in the euphoria of seeing her friends so happy that she had overcome again.

Lucy hugged her first, but Justin pushed the former away gently.

"What are you doing? Have you forgotten that the doctor had said that she needed maximum care? You are resting your heavy weight on her." He reprimanded, and Storm snickered, much to Lucy's demerit.

Lucy pouted her lips as she stared between the both of them. "But I didn't put my entire weight on her. It was just a surface hug."

She folded her hands dramatically across her chest.

"Whatever." Justin blurted, returning his attention to Storm. "How are you doing girlfriend?" He asked, touching her cheeks softly.

"I am okay.'' Storm replied, attempting to sit up, but failing.

"You should have said something, Storm. Here, let me help you." Justin muttered, holding her gently by the back and arm, such that she could sit up without much trouble on the bed.

But when she sat up on the bed, her eyes landed on Kaden who was resting his back on the wall, staring right at me, his eyes clouded with sorrowness. And even though she called it bluff and fake, she couldn't help but admit that he was still looking so handsome, clad in those shorts and slightly oversized polo.

"What are you doing here?" She asked him, whilst Lucy slipped pillows behind me.

"Shouldn't you have someone waiting for you back home?"

"Storm…" Kaden started, stepping closer to her bed, but Storm waved him off, not wanting to hear more lies. His audacity alone was sickening.

"Get out.'' She started calmly, shocking Lucy who stopped what she was doing and darted surprised glances between Storm and Kaden. Justin wasn't concerned as he didn't know who Kaden was.

Kaden paused then in his movements, taking his lips in.

Storm knew he was deciding on whether he should listen to her or stay.

Well, that was his own business. She thought. She wasn't going to give him a choice.

"Get out, Kaden!" She shouted this time around, killing two birds with one stone.

She knew that Miranda was not far away from her room.

Instincts.

If Kaden wasn't going to leave on his own accord, then Miranda would help her with that, whilst fuming over her own anger.

"Hey man, I think you should leave.'' Justin said, leaving her side, and walking to stand in front of Kaden. "You can leave by the window as you had come, or you can leave through the front door. Your choice, man. But you have to leave. Your presence is distressing her, and that is not beneficial to her. I don't know what's going on between you two, but if you care about her a little, you would leave her now. Later, you both can sort out whatever issues you have."

Kaden nodded slowly, turned around, walked briskly toward the window, and jumped off from it.

"What happened between you two? Yesterday, you both were hugging like long lost lovers, and now you are acting like enemies. What happened?" Lucy asked, sitting on the bed, her eyes stuck on Storm's.

"Nothing really. I don't want to talk about that. What is the time?"

Storm asked her friends, noticing the darkening of the atmosphere. Was rain about to fall?

"The time is 6:30pm.'' Justin replied, checking his phone.

6:30pm? Wow!

Storm remembered that the time had been around 9am when she had slept off after taking the drugs.

Time sure flies fast. She thought, feeling the urge to use the restroom suddenly. She touched Lucy immediately, winking at her.

"Justin, excuse us for a minute.'' Lucy said, understanding her plea.

Storm considered her a true friend. The understood her most of the time.

Justin looked at them skeptically, but at the last moment, he left the room.

Quickly, Lucy helped Storm get up from the bed. Her hand wound around Storm's waist, and she led her to the adjourning toilet in her room. She helped Storm to sit on the cistern, and when Storm was done, she still helped her to stand up and then led her back to the room.

"I feel like I have been hit by a big trailer." Storm muttered, slipping underneath the bedsheets.

"Don't worry you will be fine." Lucy said, taking Storm's hand in hers, and patting it fondly. "Just rest.'' She advised "I will go and get some food for you. Even though I believe you will have no appetite, you still need to eat. Don't worry, I will prepare my phenomenal noodles again." She promised, causing Storm to smile.

"Just tell Justin to come in and stay with me. I don't trust my health with my step family.'' Storm said, and Lucy nodded before walking out of her room.

**

-At Unknown PLace-

"His lycan should be dead by now. The collars were made with strong silver and vermin. He would be easier to kill ." The tall and lean man sitting on a rocky chair said, even as he peered closely at a painting which he had just painted. Across him sat a shorter man who was watching him closely whilst filling his glass cup with whiskey.

"I think you are right. So, should we go ahead with the plan?" The other man asked, drinking whiskey off the glass cup shaped like a horn.

"Yes. Kill all of them. I will send some of my men to you later. You can leave now. I can hear my mother coming." The first man said, standing up from the chair, dropping the painting brush on the table.

"Yeah, right. You do. Does the other part of the deal stand? I need to know." The second man inquired, desperation and longing gleaming in his eyes.

"Of course. Your earnest desires will be met once you perform your duty to me. I will make sure of that." The first man replied. "Now go. You should leave through the window. Mother is already here."