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Word Count: 1530

~Kezziah

I was hardly concentrating on my sandwich at lunch.

Etta was compensating for my lack of conversation, chattering on about her latest dose of medication. Something about how she had hallucinated about a boy she had a crush on joining her in bed. Melena seemed to disregard her, while Amilia reprimanded her for her foolishness. The pecking order within this group seems to shift between Amilia and Melena being on top. I can't decide what's going on between them.

"Did you hear about the two girls in the gym room this morning?" Etta asks excitedly. Those deep blue eyes often gleam, I've noticed, when she's gossiping. "Both in different medication, but both are now bedridden."

Melena shakes her head. "Those two bitches deserved it."

Amilia nods in agreement. "They really had a lot to say didn't they? Possibly the two most jealous of you, Kezi. Apparently your attention from Alden has made you the target of many girls jealous.

I sigh deeply. If only they knew his attention was something that I didn't want. He won't see my brand, I won't let him.

"Either way, they didn't deserve what happened to them," I say dismissively, hoping they would just give up on this conversation. I truly couldn't care less about what happened to them, I just want to know how, and why.

"You should," Melena says, tossing an apple between her palms. "

I swallow my opinion. Who knows who would hear around us if I admitted I had witnessed it. And for one, I would never tell them my assumptions. What that nurse had said to me left an imprint on the forefront of my mind, refusing to be brushed away. Did she have something to do with it? If so, why? As far as I'm aware, no one here is my friend. I wouldn't even consider the three girls at my table allies to any degree.

I scramble to change the subject, in case I'm questioned. "I know I have no backbone to share my story on how I met Time...But I was wondering whether or not one of you would like to share with me."

It's a risky request, but at least their attention is off the two girls from the gym room. They all exchange glances, unsure of who should volunteer.

"Melena has a great story!" Etta says cheerfully, fully aware the jade eyed girl had no plan on sharing anything with me.

Out of all these girls, I'm most curious about Melena's story. He marked her lips, which is one no one else shares with her. Alden should have been curious, about her, not me, although I am aware of what Time did to me being in the Alpha's best interest to know. That doesn't mean I'm going to tell him though.

When Melena says nothing, her glare like a searing hot poker focused on Etta, the Love Pack member speaks up. "Time kisses Melena to brand her. And she kissed him back, because she so desperately wanted it."

I've noticed Melena's short temper, so when she abruptly stands and walks away, I'm not surprised. I watch her departing back. Time manipulated her. I know how that feels.

"Etta," Amilia scolds. "Was that truly necessary?"

Ignoring Amilia, Etta turns to face me. She has a big mouth for gossip, which is the primary reason I won't ever trust her. Perhaps she doesn't mean to be that way, but it's unnerving. I'm afraid if I speak to her about my past, she would be quick to feed that straight through to the Alpha.

"Melena, as you can tell was so beautiful before Time branded her. She knew that, so she used to her advantage. Time noticed her arrogance, and put an end to it with a single kiss to her lips. Now she is branded until Alden can remove it," Etta explains to me.

"I expected nothing less," I say simply. As much as I'm curious about what Time did to other girls, I don't want to fuel Etta's fire.

"As you can see, she's still pretty bitter about it," Amilia says, getting her two cents in.

I don't blame her for it. I would be too if Time had branded me in such an exposed place. I'm lucky where mine ended up, hidden safely under my clothes, away from Alden's prying eyes. When I dress in the morning, I always ensure to face the camera in my room, so he can't see. Just in case he does happen to check those cameras.

After lunch, I was sent back to my room to laze about and think about how much I hate this place. And that nurse. She hasn't come in since, but I want to talk to her. Hopefully I'll be able to when Sermon isn't hanging about.

After awhile of lying down, drawing circles and shapes around a notepad, I got up to pace, the left side of my body going numb.

However, the more I pace, the worse it seems to get.

Suddenly, stabbing pain creeps into my rib cage, wrapping itself around my heart. The medication. It's doing something to me, and I'm not sure what. Clutching my chest, I stumble to the door, twisting the knob only to find out it's locked. Banging on it, I cry out for help, waving up at the camera in case someone was watching.

It's seems to only be getting worse, and eventually it becomes so bad, I can no longer beg for help. I lumber to my bed, and collapse onto it, praying for the pain to diminish.

And it does, as I fall into unconsciousness.

***

When my eyes open, I'm unsure if I'm stuck in a dream state or reality.

My vision swims with colour, what looks like a face leaning over me. I grasp out at it, a hand slipping into mine. I can hear someone saying something, but it's incomprehensible to my buzzing ears. They squeeze my hand some more, and then place something icy cold on my forehead. It quirks me right back into full consciousness.

I'm in an unfamiliar room, white cot bed already out beside me and in front of me. No one is around, except for someone sitting on the end of the bed.

Cian.

He looks grim, staring at me while I sit up. Stress in the form of shadows under his eyes taint his complexion. I've never seen him look anything other than arrogant. Either he cares that I'm in some sick state, or something isn't going his way.

"What happened to me?" I question. When I look down, cords are strung to me, needles sunk under the surface of my skin. Whatever happened, I'm not well. I remember the pain, before I passed out. How long has it been? A window to my right suggest it's some time at night, or early morning.

Cian sighs through his nose. "You're dying, Kezziah. I'm keeping you conscious right now with magic. So you'll take this pill."

I glance down at the pill. It's the same blue pill he had given me to take, however, I had smuggled them under my bed sheets and never thought about it again. Now I stare at it, wondering whether I should trust Cian.

"You has a heart attack. Take it."

I still stare at it wordlessly. I'm going to die, and this might be my only chance of survival. So without thinking about it anymore, I take the pill and dry swallow it. Cian seems to visibly relax as he watches me take it. His pay check, at the end of the day, relies on my survival.

"You're going to go back to sleep now. The doctors won't know any better," Cian tells me as he gets to feet. Just as he says those words, I can feel unconscious search for me again, and immediately take me.

***

The next time I woke, I wasn't sure I was awake at all.

My eyes refused to open, but it seemed as though I could hear everything around me. Voices, all unfamiliar muttered around me. I could feel people touching me, pulling at tubes attached to me, adjusting the needles. I feel no pain. None at all.

"When will she wake?" I hear someone ask. The voice sounds familiar. It soothes my fear, allowing me to settle. It's so warm and rich, and I know for memory it's Alden.

"Well Alpha," someone else else replies. I'm assuming it's a doctor. "I would assume she will wake soon. It seems we have a miracle on our hands."

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