I am gasping for air. My fingers feast on the swells on my neck as I struggle to make my way down the corridor.
My knees hurt. My whole body is trembling with the stings and ache caused by broken ceramic pieces dug into my skin. I’m bleeding. My lips part, releasing a sharp breath that morphs into a croak as I look over my shoulder.
Trails of blood paint the floor as I descend down the corridor. Trails of my blood.
I look back ahead of me. A loud hum leaves my mouth with each breath I take, hurting my lungs.
I need to get out of here. I need to get to a hospital quickly. My own body seems to be failing me and there’s nothing I can do about it. I have no strength in me at all to even stand properly. I’m barely maintaining a proper stamina while making my way forward.
A strained, prolonged gasp leaves my lips as I stand at the start of stairs.
My fingers rests on the railing at the start of the stairs as I try to walk down. I feel my feet slipping down the first step, missing its direction and slowly yet suddenly, my body falls down the stairs.
A loud scream leaves my lips as I tumble down, hitting every step till I land on the floor of the living room. My breathing seems slower and heavy. My vision is blurred. . . With tears or blood? That I do not know, all I know is that it’s difficult to see and attempting to move is just as unbearable.
Breathing is even worse. It feels like fire consumes my lungs and the burn is the worst kind for any human to experience. . . I won’t even wish this for my enemy.
A stifled groan rattles out my lips. Depends on the enemy.
My own body betrays me in the home of someone who doesn’t have a care for me in the world and even now, despite how much pain and anguish has been inflicted on me, I know he won’t sympathise and help me.
Killian would rather watch me bleed to death than lay a finger to save my life. The shards dug into my skin, inside my gunshot wound and beyond because of him proves it.
A wound acquired because of a bullet I took for him in the first place a very long time ago. Now I feel so stupid.
The graveyard silence in my environment makes me grimace. I can’t tell if my ears are deafening due to the ear-splitting tinnitus thundering across both ears or if no one has actually yelled out my name after hearing me scream.
I can’t tell if I didn’t scream loud enough to get the attention of anyone present inside this house or if me screaming was just a figment of my imagination.
Or there could just be one obvious answer; he and everyone around doesn’t care about me.
Painful lumps of saliva mixed with blood slid down my throat as I force my body to turn over, placing my arms in front of me as I scramble towards the sofa. Paraplegia. Even though I know I don’t have it, it feels as though a sudden paralysis has plagued the lower half of my body.
I reach out my hand to my purse which lays dramatically on the floor and manage to open it then take out my phone. My finger, quivering with soreness, makes its way across the numbers which appeared on my screen for me to unlock my phone. I hit the phone app at the bottom left of the screen and ring the second person in my ‘recents’ while collapsing my torso back on the ground.
I barely hear the phone ring despite knowing that it is. My ears prickle that much.
I can’t be here, my mind retorts as I lay on the floor. I shouldn’t spend another minute in this place.
My fingers grab my phone and purse as I struggle to move my feet, my blood stained hands strive to hold my body up despite the difficulty and my leg paralysis seems to fade. Despite my effort, my body can’t seem to stay upright as I stand.
A call comes this time as I throw myself forward to the wall, using it as my support. I pick up the call, hands shaking as it raises up to lift my phone to my mouth.
“Owen,” I call, my voice low as a whisper, crying for help. “Please help me.” I breath, reaching for the other side of the wall as I walk into the anti room. “I’m dying.” I manage to murmur, opening the door.
“Where are you?” The cold, stern voice of Owen rings in my ears, making my ear situation worsen.
“At Killian’s. Come pick me up. Please.”
The call ends. I hear my strangled breath as I push my body out the door, making my way forward to the gate. I can’t drive. I’ll have an accident if I do and that will leave me in a worsened state and I know for sure that S won’t think twice before choosing to make my life hell for acting out of accordance. He’d care for me with but with a touch of torment. I can’t afford that.
A car pulls in front of me, causing me to stagger backwards with fear. Someone comes out of the back seat and puts his arms around me. Just by the scent of his cologne, I can tell who it is.
His arms surround me, lifting my body up the ground, securely holding me in his arms as he helps me into the back seat. His body follows as well and the door slams shut as he makes himself comfortable, allowing me to rest my head on his thighs.
“Drive.” His tone is harsh as he addresses whoever is in control of the wheels.
“You didn’t take too long.” I mutter, gasping for oxygen despite the good ventilation the vehicle provides.
“I was near.” Owen responds warmly, a hand sinking into my hair as he runs his hand over my head in gentle pats. A wavering smile forms on my lips.
“Thank you.” I squeak, feeling at ease already. My body still feels as though a trailer landed on top of me but at least I know I’ll survive. I know I’m safe.
“Who did this to you?” Owen asks. His tone says it all, he knows but wants to have the benefit of the doubt. I don’t want to be the one to attest and confirm his disbelief. I don’t even know if this was my doing or Killian’s. I’m not sure who’s to blame.
“It doesn’t matter.” I sigh, feeling my vision leave me.
Owen’s hand stiffens in my hair for a second before resuming the pats. “You’re in safe hands now, Asami. I’ll treat you.”
Feeling my eyelids come shut, my body gives into the twinges all around my body. I hear my heavy breathing gradually cease. The smile on my lips wipes off as my brows creases but just for a moment.
In this ugly moment. . . I couldn’t have asked for more.