"I can't believe you told the police not to investigate an attack on you, Keziah."

"I didn't say that."

"That's precisely what you said."

"No. I said that it was more likely to be a robbery. I told them I didn't think anyone was out to get me, and I saw targetted for my car and valuables. Which, of course, I would like to get back."

"It was more than a robbery. They chased you into the forest, and they could have killed you if they had found you."

"They did find me. I know you are convinced otherwise, but those men only wanted my valuables?"

Keziah thought back to how she searched for her phone after waking up. It had been in her pocket when she fell, but when she woke up, it was gone. It wasn't in her pocket or anywhere on the surrounding ground. She was doubtful that it had fallen at any time while she was running.

"They took my phone but left me in one piece."

"How can you say that? Look at yourself."

She didn't need to. Even after a week of leaving the hospital, she was still a mess. It was genuinely surprising how one fall created so much damage. The hit to her skull had been fixed with surgery, but she was still advised not to do any strenuous work. Her arm was in a sling. The bruises on her face had turned from an unsightly green to a faint yellow. They would soon fade, but the cuts on her legs and arms were yet to heal fully. She smiled at her sister, who carefully fluffed the pillows on her back, her face screwed up in concentration.

"Do I look that terrible?"

Her sister's eyes softened. "No. Still as pretty as ever, only...you know...run down by a bus."

She chuckled and immediately groaned. "Ah. What did the doctor say about making me laugh."

"He never mentioned it. How does that feel?"

"Better."

"Do you need an extra pillow? Another blanket? Are you warm?"

"Better."

"Hmm. I'll go see if your lunch is ready."

"Thanks."

Kingsleigh nodded and left shortly after. Keziah swallowed at the dryness in her mouth. She gently reached for the cup on her nightstand and took a satisfying sip. It was nice to be back in her room and bed. After the fear and panic had settled the first few days, she couldn't think like her sisters. If they were after her life, they had the chance to kill her, and they didn't.

"Hello." Kamari greeted from the door before coming in.

"Hey."

"How are we feeling?"

"Better. A little hungry, though."

"Kingsleigh would be up soon with your lunch."

"How's work?"

"Fine. We had to push our party back because of the incident, but everything is still on track."

"That's great. And the horses?"

"The vets have seen to them. Most of them were rented out three days ago for a show, but they are back now. Healthy and in one piece."

"Have we started getting more reviews?"

"Yes."

"Positive?"

"Ups and downs, you know how it goes."

"Which is in the lead."

"Positive."

Her shoulders sagged with relief. "And anything about Dad's case?"

"Nothing. Don't think about that now. I am only answering your questions because I know you'll go bananas if I don't. I am not trying to encourage you."

"I appreciate it all the same. And in return, I'll be an exemplary patient."

"That's what I like to hear."

"Food's here."

Kinslegih walked in with a foldable table. She adjusted the legs and sat on the other side of the bed. Keziah chuckled, waving the spoon at her sisters with a threatening scowl. She scooped some soup and leaned forward, slurping it between her lips. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't too hard.

"Tastes good?"

"Delicious." She hungrily slurped some more.

"Someone's ravenous." Kingsleigh laughed.

After she ate, her sisters left her to rest. She was awakened hours later by her phone ringing. Disoriented, she looked around for it, slapping around the side table until she felt the cold screen on her palm. Sighing, she slid her finger across the screen and leaned back on the bed, answering drowsily.

"Yeah."

"Sorry?" Her eyes opened. "Were you sleeping?"

"Dimitri?"

"Sorry. I should have known you'd be resting. Forgive me."

"It's fine."

"I saw your sisters bring you home earlier. I guess...I just thought now was as good a time as any to call. I should have called tomorrow or something."

"No. No. It's alright. Really. What's going on?"

"How are you?"

"Fine. Better than before. My sisters told me that you helped with the search and that you were the one who found me. Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me. I didn't do anything ten other people weren't ready to do. I was calling to see how you are. Seeing as you are back home."

Keziah bit her lip nervously. She wasn't sure what to say. She didn't remember seeing him when she was lost, but her sisters had told her he was the one to find her before she lost consciousness. At the time, it made her warm to think he had cared enough to come out and look for her. Now, on the phone, she couldn't bring herself to ask why he did it in the first place. She didn't want him to think she was getting ideas.

She wasn't.

I didn't do anything ten other people weren't ready to do.

But...others didn't call.

Yet.

"Thank you. I also heard that the police stopped by your house. Did they..."

"They wanted to know about the visit to your office that day. I don't know if they have spoken to you to confirm anything, but I should say that I didn't tell them the actual reason I was there."

"They did." She muttered, looking out the window. She wondered if he was calling from his room. "I told them it was about business since I was a partner in your company."

"Alright. I'll let you rest now, okay?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"Keziah."

She perked up. "Yes."

"I am happy that you are alright. Truly."

And the line went dead. Keziah stared at the phone, her teeth gnawing at the inside of her mouth before she finally dropped it back on the bed. Suddenly feeling stifled, she painstakingly moved her legs from under the sheets. It was an arduous task, but not as impossible as a week ago. She grunted as she got her legs together and sat still for a minute to figure out her next move.

"What are you doing? When did you wake up?"

Kamari scolded even as she reached out her hand to help. Keziah held onto her tight, using her as an anchor to pull herself up to her feet.

"I am running low on air. I wanted to walk to the balcony."

"Alright. Gently."

"Thanks."

They made their way outside, and Kamari helped her to the chair. She then adjusted the sling to make sure it was in its proper place before taking a seat herself.

"Do you want something to drink?"

"No. The fresh air is nice."

"How did you sleep?"

"Short." She looked over Kamari to the mansion below, the closest house to theirs. "As soon as I am better, I'll try and get some more rest."

"That's good." Kamari sighed and looked at the mansion, as well. Not noticing Keziah's already intent stare. "I guess now is as good a time as ever to tell you that the Volvas came over."

"What? When?"

"Last night."

"What did they want?"

"The same thing their sons wanted, I guess."

"to find me?" Keziah scoffed.

"No. To be cordial, at least, while you recover. Every one of our neighbours knows what happened. I guess it's their attempt at a show of goodwill."

"Did you buy it?"

"They didn't sound insincere if that's what you are asking, but I couldn't get behind it. No."

"And...what about when their sons asked."

Kamari thought about it for a bit. "I don't know either."

"Do you remember how we were when we were little? That house was another house on the street. The same as any. We waved at other kids and entered houses with not a care in the world."

"It would have been the same if that girl had not died."

"Hmm."

"And maybe that wouldn't have been for the best."

"What do you mean?"

Keziah tore her gaze from the house and looked at Kamari. "If it had not happened, we might have grown up convinced those people were friends. We would never have known what Mrs Volva felt towards our mother."

"Mother always told us about it, you know."

"Then maybe you understood because I didn't. I thought she was seeing things or was too paranoid. Mrs Volva was always so cheerful and kind. How could she be malicious." Keziah laughed. "Now she comes to our house, and we can't even decide if she is being truthful."

"I would have preferred not to learn the lesson with Dad's life."

"Yeah. Me too."

"And still, we are no closer to this thing than when we arrived."

"The problem is we don't know where to look. Dad wasn't sentenced based on nothing. The girl worked in his company. She was fired days before. He was at the club and seen talking to her in the place where she was killed."

"I know. I know."

"Focus on getting better first, okay? Let's keep negative thoughts out of your head. I'll grab my manicure set."

"What would that do for me?"

"Give you some pretty nails, and we can have frivolous conversations about nothing." Kamari patted her shoulder as she left, screaming, "I'll be back."

It didn't take long for her sister to return. She was followed by a few maids who helped her carry in a stool and a table. Kingsleigh popped in to see what the commotion was about and joined them without question. Keziah smiled as her sisters helped prop her leg up on the stool and pulled the table closer so she could rest her hand against it without too much effort.

"Please bring some juice for us," Kingsleigh asked one of the maids as they left the room.

"I have been thinking we should go around the town on Saturday. You should be moving, anyway, right? Maybe stop by a few stores, check out some restaurants, visit some pools."

"All in one Saturday?"

"No. Often on Saturdays, if it's okay." Kamari smiled. "Something to do as a family that isn't fighting with neighbours or working. Since we came, it seems to be all we have done."

"I could use a little tour of the area that has nothing to do with work."

They both looked at Keziah. "Why are you looking at me?"

"Do you agree?"

"Of course I do." She laughed at Kamari's question.

"But plans have to end around four because I have a party to attend this Saturday."

"You can not be serious. You just got out of the hospital."

"I would be fine enough to move on Saturday." Keziah winked as she repeated Kamari's words. "I am not expected to be there, but I want to be. Iman invited me, and she has been a crystal among coals."

"If it's Iman, she would understand that you can't make it," Kingsleigh said, painting her own nails with less skill than Kamari.

"She does, but I want to be there anyway. It's in a week. I'll be fine enough."

"Fine, but probably not a good idea to wear heels, even if your movement improves."

Keziah nodded, "Agreed."

"And your dress needs to be readjusted because your sling has two weeks left in it."

"That's fine. You guys can help me choose that because I haven't even had time to pick a dress."

"Right. You were in the hospital."

"We got it," Kingsleigh assured. "Who would you go with?"

"Myself."

"You don't get to bring a plus one?"

"Are you offering?"

"Yes. Iman is the host, and you don't know many people there. I am sure you wouldn't feel comfortable asking them for help if something goes wrong with your sling or other injuries."

"And?"

"Someone you know should go with you. Kamari, me, or maybe someone you fancy that you haven't shared with us yet."

"Then I'd take you. Let's leave together and allow Kamari to be alone with her husband."

"Fair." Kamari agreed.

"But you are coming as a plus one, not a helicopter parent. If you so much as hover, I am sending back."

"Yes, sir." Her sister saluted, and she grinned.

"But seriously," Kamari whispered as she slipped Keziah's hand into her LED lamp. "You don't have anyone you're dating?"

"No. Why?"

"You've been daydreaming lately."

"Excuse me?"

"I noticed it, too." Kingsleigh supported. "Hence why I made the joke that obviously went over your head."

"Excuse me!"

"Hey, we are just saying what we see," Kingsleigh said. "I have seen you a couple of times when you are by yourself. You zone out, and then when you come back to yourself, you try to shake yourself out of the thought."

Kamari scoffed and shook her head vehemently. "You are both overthinking. I was probably thinking about our parents."

"As lovely as that is, I don't believe that's true. I know you're shy, but we are happy for you."

"There's nothing to be happy about." She tried to argue, inching to sit up, but Kamari's glare sharpened, and she relaxed back into the chair.

"Calm down. You don't have to tell us, and we won't pry. But it's the same look you get when you like someone. It's not new. You have it all the time. Kind of a telltale sign. Sorry."

Distraught, she looked between her sisters before submitting to silence. They were overthinking. She wasn't daydreaming. There was no one to daydream about. Ignoring their teasing smiles, she watched Kamari go on to paint her toes while steeling herself against looking at Volva's mansion again.