Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jerlina kept a safe distance from the professionals as they checked on him. She couldn't help but check his heartbeat placing her ear on his chest.

It was very low. And it made her cry some more.

He was fine just yesterday. He had such a strong heartbeat. Why is he like this now?

"Mrs. Fitzgerald," one of the doctors pulled her aside as they loaded the stretcher on the plane. "We already have a blood reserve. We'll ask you if it is needed. For now, we'll be taking him to the ICU. And since it is a very sterile place, you cannot be allowed inside. Kindly take this door..." she led her through another door.

"But my Joel..." Jerlina by now had almost completely exhausted and wasn't sure what was going around anymore.

But this lady seemed nice. And those doctors seemed professional. And generally, in hospitals, they won't let the attendants of the patients inside the ICU. 

"Okay," she nodded and got in through the other side.

But then she heard the sound of fighter jets and she stepped out. In the sky, four of the military fighter jets were flying and they were going in the direction of Peyton. 

She has never seen jets flying this low ever!

Are they coming for me?

"Leave! Quickly leave!" she shouted. But it seemed like the flight was ready for taking off immediately. She knew she has to take a seat first.

Was she sure Jeremy was totally safe? No! She couldn't see him and her heart was restless. 

What if they sneak him out while I am sitting here like a fool?

Yes, she thought that.

She was on the verge of getting paranoid as she had only a little of her rationality left to make her able to think clearly.

"Seat belt please," a hostess came to Jerlina with a smile and offered her a glass of water.

"Joel..." she pointed at the back of the flight. There seemed to be a partition between the two areas. Jerlina expected a small jet, not a Boeing 787 flight which was modified.

Well, whatever!

He's getting treated. They'd have given him water in the form of IV or something.

My Joel...

Holding the cup of water in her hand, she took a deep breath. She closed her eyes and Jeremy's fainted image came to her mind.

*Drip* *Drip*

Tears formed in her eyes and started dripping into the cup. 

What will I do if something happens to Jeremy?

Please be fine, Jeremy...

The flight took off and Jerlina wondered if the military Jets would attack them. She didn't think of snipers and that's what caused this misfortune.

She clarified her doubts and she was told that no military will touch them. 

She was relieved.

Well, Joel should be more heartbroken because he was attacked by one of his men.

Sitting on the seat, her mind went to that moment that happened. That guy was not familiar to her but the way others were talking to him the moments before him snapping made her believe that he was closer with Charlie.

Only when Joel hugged her, he snapped as far as she can remember. She heard a shout behind her.

'All because of her!'

Why? Because of everything that happened in Peyton?

It won't be wrong to blame it on me, though. I am to be blamed.

By the way, what happened in Peyton? Is everything settled?

I hope everyone's safe.

Joel... Joel... He pushed me and fell in the path of the bullet. 

How could he do that?

How much does he love me?

And how is he doing now?

She tried to stand up as the plane got to the altitude. But the hostess came to her with her smile.

"Do you maybe want to take a bath and change into a new set of clothes, Ms. Hopkins?"

"Ah...I'll take a pass. Can I get an update on my husband?" she stood up and she felt the whole world was spinning. 

"Ms. Hopkins...."

She saw the hostess reaching her with her hand, but it got blurry and slowly everything blacked out.

Joel...

-----

Gordon stood there perplexed. "What do you mean you cannot contact them? Send the jets and marines! Send the Navy Seals if it is needed! We want Jerlina Hopkins in our hands without even a scratch!"

It's not like he hasn't faced troubles worse than this before. Even the Grandsire was in greater danger than this in unusual places. 

But this time this is someone close to the Grandsire's heart and he didn't have the heart to break the bad news to him.

F*cking b*tch Metilda! EMP? Really?

Minutes passed and it became hours since he got any credible news out. The military went there half-hour after everything happened.

The riot was devastating and the members of the gang all fleed. Most of the guys who died were from two gangs and the ones from the town were mostly unharmed. The death toll of the people from the town was just three.

That can't be a big riot.

"Where is Jerlina Hopkins?" he screamed into his phone. "How could she disappear out of nowhere?"

But no, he couldn't get any news about her.

She went there, she left the town some said but there was no trace left. 

Technologies! We started relying on them too much and without it no one can function! 

How would they've found her in the old days without her phone GPS? Fools!

He walked to the Grandsire's room dragging his feet. He wished he had forgotten about her already.

"Is she coming?" he asked. His eyes were wide out of expectation and his lips had a slight curve.

"Sire... I..." he explained. 

"No! How can she disappear?" The grandsire started to panic.

It took a bunch of doctors to calm him down.

"Ah!" Suddely an idea popped into the loyal servant's mind.

"Volkonsky! Check out everything he did recently. Especially in A country near Peyton!"

Yes! The only solution is this!

Volkonsky, I'll surely get her from you!

-----

Jerlina woke up with a gasp. She looked around and she was in an unfamiliar place. She didn't know where she was but it seemed like it was noon already. The soft linen curtains were flowing and through the big glass window, she could see the sea. 

Where am I?

How could I sleep this deeply when...

Joel?

She jumped down from the soft bed and ran towards the door.

*Bang*

The door opened and in came that familiar figure.

"Step aside! I have to check up on my husband," she glared at the old man blocking the door with his cane.

What a bother!