Chapter 18: The Friend and The Uncle

Bea's eyes flutter open, seeing as she was not at the warehouse or her own house.

Hearing beeping, she looked to the side, and she was hooked to a monitor and was dressed in a hospital gown.

She rubbed her eyes, sighing as she looked to see she was at a hospital, worryingly, Bea began unhooking herself.

Brian and Roman walked in, both seeing what Bea was trying to do, Brian quickly made his way towards Bea.

"Hey, hey, hey," Brian spoke softly.

Bea looked up at him, relieved that he was here now. "Uncle Brian." She started to become emotional. "What took you so long?"

Brian's heart broke, and hearing her say that made him feel worse, one for not believing in her when she told him that bad people were after her, and two was because had he not left, she wouldn't be in the hospital.

"I'm so sorry," Brian told her. He brings her in for a hug. "I should have been here."

Bea sniffles. "Well, you're here now." Bea pulled away from the hug, wiping her tears away. Hearing someone clear their throat, she turned her head to see Roman standing there with flowers in hand. "Uh, hi?"

Roman stood awkwardly as he held flowers in his hand, walking towards Bea, and handing them to her. "I hope this cheers you up."

Bea accepted the flowers. "Thank you."

Bea looked at Brian confused.

"Oh, Bea, this is my friend, Roman," Brian introduced. He looked at Roman. "Rome, this is niece Bea, Gabriella's daughter."

A smile made its way across Roman's face, as he instantly went to hug Bea. "Your Gabby's girl?" He pulled away from the hug. "Man, you sure do take after her."

"You know my mother?" Bea asked.

Roman scoffs. "Know her? Girl, I've always admired her while growing up, I remember she used to tuck me in bed." Roman looked at Brian. "Ain't that right B?"

Brian looked at him annoyed and disgusted. "Dude, that's my sister."

Bea also gave him the same look. "And that's my mother, I don't want to hear whatever stories you have about her if it's gonna sound nasty."

"See, even Bea doesn't want to hear that nasty talk," Brian said.

"Yeah, I want to remember my mom as a respectable woman," Bea said. "And you seem like the type of guy to show no respect towards any woman."

Roman rolled his eyes. "I guess your family genes are strong, considering you're acting like Brian over here."

Bea scoffs. "Please, if anything I get all my attitude from my mom than Uncle Brian."

Roman shook his head. "Nah, I think you got both, consider how you're acting right now."

Bea furrowed her eyebrows, she looked past Roman at the TV, as it was on the news. Roman and Brian noticed she went quiet. "What? What's wrong little B?"

Bea pointed at the TV, both Brian and Roman turned around, and their eyes slightly widened, but not as shocked as Bea was.

Bea grabbed the remote from beside her, turning up the volume.

The only thing that the women on the news channel could talk about was Bea and Brian's home.

The news was talking about the house that had exploded, and saying that they were. "It seems like a sweet little home was blown up today. Though never made complaints or calls to the police as they heard gunshots yesterday, hearing a lot of yelling. One even said that they saw a few men go inside the house, carrying guns as if they were military people or black ops. Though no further information about whose home it was has been revealed, it was said that there was lots of blood all over the furniture, though no bodies were inside."

Brian took the remote from Bea, turning the TV off. Bea sat there in shock.

"What the heck," Bea said. "Our house just got blown up!"

"That's your concern?" Roman asked. He looked at Brian then at Bea. "Are not gonna talk about how terrible the inside looked of the house? The blood is all over, furniture damaged?"

Bea tilted her head, looking at Roman. "I'm sorry who invited you here?"

Brian sighed. "Bea." She looked at him. "I need you to tell me what happened last night." She looked away. "Because if you don't, I don't know what to tell the cops."

"Tell them to mind their own business," Bea said. "This doesn't concern them." Bea briefly glanced at Brian. "Or you."

"Doesn't concern me?" Brian said. "Of course, it concerns me, I'm your guardian, and that was our house!" Brian took a deep breath. "Look, all I want to know is what happened and why you were attacked, and who attacked you." Bea still didn't answer. "Was it the bad people after you that attacked you?"

"I thought you said you didn't believe anyone was after me," Bea told him. "You called me delusional. Do you know how much that hurts to hear that you of all people say that to me?" Bea looked down at her lap. "You made me think I was crazy, and have self-doubt."

"Bea I-" Brian got cut off.

"Save it, don't you have a job to do for the police?" Bea asked. She received no response. "Just go and do your thing, I'll just stay here."

"No, I'm not leaving," Brian said. Bea grabbed the remote beside her and began pressing buttons. "What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to summon the nurse," Bea said. "But I can't figure out which button this is."

"No, Bea, don't-" Before Brian could finish his sentence a nurse walked in.

"What seems to be the problem?" The nurse asked.

"Nothing," Brian said.

Bea rolled her eyes. "The problem is that I want to get some rest, and he's refusing to leave."

The nurse looked at Brian. "I'm sorry sir, I'm afraid you must go, why don't you come back later? I'm sure with plenty of rest, she'll be in good condition to go home."

Brian turned to Bea. "I'll be back later."

Bea refused to look at him, as she looked down, letting her hair cover her face. "Whatever."

Brian sighed as he walked out with Roman following.

The nurse looked at Bea. "Are you okay sweetheart?"

Bea sniffles. "I'm fine, just tired." Bea laid down, turning to her side. "Can you turn off the lights please?"

The nurse nods her head. "Of course." She turned off the light. "Hit the remote button if you need anything."

The nurse left.

Bea silently cried.

༄༆꧁❁꧂༆༄

Shuffling could be heard as Bea opened her eyes, seeing as it was still dark in her room, she began to panic.

Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes. "Who's there?"

The room went silent, as Bea grew anxious, breathing becoming heavy, she grabbed her remote.

Just as she was about to press the button to call the nurse, the lights turned on.

"Surprise!" Amaya yelled.

Bea put a hand to her chest, relieved, she looked up seeing her room filled with stuffed animals, flowers, and balloons.

"Amaya, what are you doing here?" Bea asked.

"I came to see you silly," Amaya said. "I saw on the news about your house, and I was worried." Bea looked at her skeptically, knowing she was partially lying. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Bea told her. "I wasn't in the house when it happened I was here when it happened."

"Oh, thank God," Amaya said. "I don't know what I would do if something happened to you."

"We're not exactly that close," Bea told her. "You don't have to worry, I'm fine."

A man walked through the door, having slacks and a button-up shirt, wearing sunglasses. "Let the doctor be the judge of that."

Bea looked away from Amaya to the man. "And who the heck are you?"

"Apologies," The man said. "The name is Carter Verone."

Amaya nods her head. "He's my uncle."

"Oh," Bea said. "And why is he here?"

"Amaya was very worried about you," Carter said. "And I wanted to be there for her when she came to see you." Bea nods her head. "But if I may ask if you're not in the hospital because of the explosion, then why are you here?"

Bea looked down at her lap. "I have a medical condition." She looked up at Amaya and her uncle awaited her answer. "I tend to get seizures sometimes if I don't take my medication, and I forgot to take it last night."

"Oh, Bea," Amaya said. "I-I didn't know."

"Of course, you didn't know," Bea said. "I don't tell people these things because they would react the same way you reacted." Amaya frowned. "I'm not fond of being pitied."

"I don't pity you," Amaya said. Bea gave her a knowing look. "Okay, maybe I do, but that's only because I'm concerned."

"Yeah, well don't be," Bea told her. "This is nothing serious, trust me."

Carter's phone rang as he took it out looking over the caller ID, he looked at the girls. "I'll be right back."

Bea watched him leave in suspicion. "Your Uncle seems to be very..."

"Out there?" Amaya guessed. "Trust me he is, but he is also very busy and secretive." She looked down at the ground. "It surprised me that he decided to come to the hospital with me, he normally doesn't have time for me."

Bea gave her a sad smile. "I'm sorry."

"No, no, it's fine," Amaya said. "I don't mind being alone, it gives me time to think and do things without him getting involved with my life."

"Still, being lonely sucks," Bea told her. "I would know, since I'm lonely half of the time, the other half is spent with my stupid uncle."

"I take it you two are not on good terms?" Amaya asked.

Bea scoffs. "Nope."

"What happened?" Amaya asked.

"He hurt my feelings," Bea told her. "He said something hurtful and for that, I cannot forgive him."

"I'm sorry," Amaya told her. "I hope you two patch things up."

Carter came back in, looking at Amaya. "Maya, we got to go." Amaya looked back at him. "I got some stuff I need to do, and I can't leave you by yourself."

"Then send Miles," Amaya told him.

"I gave him a day off," Carter said. "Come, you can visit your friend tomorrow."

Amaya looked at Bea who nodded her head.

"Go," Bea told her. "I'll be fine."

"If you say so," Amaya said. She leaned in and hugged Bea. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye," Bea said. She watched as the two left her room, letting out a sigh. She closed her eyes momentarily as she felt at peace, but that was short-lived when she heard her phone ring. She looked at the caller ID as it was unknown, picking it up, she puts it to her ear. "Hello?" She received no response, only silence and the sound of someone breathing. "Is anyone there?" Her eyes softened in hope. "Momma? Is that you?" She heard a muffle of sounds. "Momma, please answer me if that's you?"

The other person hung up as Bea stared at the phone, tears welled up in her eyes as it leaned back further into her pillow, closing her eyes.