Is this destiny?

~ Los Angeles, undisclosed location ~

Sarah is drifting in and out of consciousness. Sometimes she hears indistinct sounds, sometimes there is someone's voice, but most of the time it's just her thoughts.

'Shit! Why is my hand hurting this much!'

She tried to move, cry, inhale… nothing worked. She can't move a muscle, but somehow, she is hearing some faint sounds… a man talking to himself. Or maybe on the phone…

"Yes, boss… this specialist is no good… tomorrow another one will arrive to look at her arm… yes, boss I understand… permanent nerve damage is not acceptable…"

Man's voice faded away and she was back to the silence in the darkness.

'Look at someone's arm? Permanent nerve damage?'

Sarah remembered that her arm is aching… oh, not anymore. Now it's numb. Her whole body is numb…

'Who was that person? Who is the boss he spoke to?'… and her thoughts were lost in the darkness.

…

Sarah's mind stirred again. She wondered, why is so difficult to open her eyes? Why can't she move? Where is she?

She felt pushing on her abdomen, and man's voice reached her: "It was done, just how you requested… The procedure went well… Yes… There should be no complications… it was only seven weeks along…"

The voice faded away and she was left with her thoughts.

'Was he talking on the phone? What was seven weeks along?'

Sarah wondered why she feels pushing on her lower abdomen, tugging on her back, and as if someone is moving her.

"A bit higher…", it was a female voice this time. "…there, now it will not drip…"

Sarah wanted to ask, what is going on? What are they doing to her? Is this real, or is she dreaming? And the darkness enveloped her.

…

There was some commotion around her. She could not make out who is saying what… several voices, overlapping… and then it was quiet…

"Yes, boss… He is one of the best in the field… No chance to fix her left arm… Yes, boss… I understand… What about the boy?..."

The voice dimmed but Sarah's thoughts were still present. Was he talking about her arm? No chance to fix it? What happened? And who is the boy?

Sarah vaguely remembered evening on the street, Aiden calling her name while pulling her toward him… and gunshots. Aiden! Where is he? Is he the boy that man mentioned? What about him? Sarah faded away…

…

Sarah felt movement. Is someone moving her again? No, it does not feel like it… They are small, persistent, jerking movements... Is she in some vehicle? There is a faint sound of a car engine. Yes. Definitely a vehicle… moving…

"After all this trouble, Boss does not want her…", a male voice said.

"With a ruined arm, she is useless. But too bad for the boy…", a female voice said. "He is very handsome."

"Hmph!", male voice said grumbled. "He will serve as a reminder what happens to the ones who don't obey the boss."

Sarah was sure that she frowned. 'Are they talking about Aiden?' She needs to make sure. She needs to open her eyes and see what is going on!

"Hey, she is moving!", male voice exclaimed while panicking. "Give her another dose! If she wakes up, we are in trouble!"

Sarah felt stinging pain in her right arm and then everything was dark and quiet again.

…

~ Los Angeles, LA Medical Center ~

Monday, October 28

10:03 AM

Sarah heard whispers which became soft voices. Like someone is talking while trying not to wake up another person.

"I feel useless…", it sounded like Edward.

"Don't say that. We narrowed down to three locations. If they were not released, we would find them within hours.", Stella comforted him.

Sarah tried lifting her eyelids like so many times before. And this time she managed to allow a spec of light to come in. Her eyes shut reflexively, it's too bright.

Sarah let out a barely audible whimper.

"She is waking up!", Sophia's cry was followed by a wordless commotion in the room.

"Sarah, can you hear me? How do you feel? Can you move?...", Sarah was confident that this barrage of questions came from JoAnna. She does not need to open her eyes to recognize that voice.

A warm hand caressed her forehead, moving her hair away. Based on the touch, she can tell it's her mother.

Sarah made another effort and managed to open her eyes halfway. She saw number of circles in front of her, blurry and merging at first. She understood those are heads of people hovering above her.

Sarah wanted to smile, grateful that finally that creepy nightmare is over. But… why is she numb, and she can't move... and why are all of them gathered around her if that was just a nightmare?

Her eyes closed and images flashed in front of her eyes… dark street, Aiden holding her, gunshots…

Sarah's eyes sprang open.

"Aiden!", her voice was hoarse, and it was painful to talk.

"Shh…", JoAnna tried to calm her down. "Take a sip of water."

"You have no idea how worried we were.", Sophia had difficulty holding back her tears while watching Sarah take sips of water with JoAnna's help.

"Yes, she just woke up…", Sarah's attention got drawn to Felix who informed Jeff about latest development over the phone.

Edward is on the sofa next to Felix, looking her way with a relief obvious on his face.

Sarah can see through the window that it's daylight. Last thing she remembers is that it was Thursday evening, Evalina shot at them. She recognizes interior as one of the VIP rooms in LA Medical Center. So… she ended up in a hospital. Was she out the whole night? Where is Aiden?

Elanor and Oscar entered the room.

Sarah can see they are worn out even though Elanor did her best to smile.

"We are glad you are awake. We were all worried sick.", Stella said from the side while still caressing Sarah's forehead.

Sarah looked at all of them and her sight fell on her left arm which is in some mix of a bandage and cast. Is it possible that all those voices she heard were not part of the dream, but it was real?

"What happened? How long was I out? Where is Aiden?", Sarah wanted to ask more questions, but her throat didn't listen, and she started coughing. Painful coughs.

JoAnna gave her more water.

"You were shot. It's Monday morning. Aiden is… in the next room.", JoAnna responded.

Sarah processed the information with difficulty, but the most important thing is that Aiden is in the next room. Both of them are safe.

"I know that I was shot. It was Evalina.", Sarah said.

"We know.", Stella responded. "We have Alexander Pavlov who helped Evalina approach you. But we can't find her."

Sarah frowned. "Alexander?"

Stella smiled. "Rest now. It's most important that you recuperate."

"I want to talk to him!", Sarah told Stella.

Stella's smile didn't fade. "He is not going anywhere. Take your time to get better."

"I want to see Aiden.", Sarah demanded.

"He is not awake. You going there won't make a difference. Rest now, you can see him later.", JoAnna commanded.

Sarah shook her head rejecting to rest. She has so many questions. How can she rest? "What happened to my hand?"

"The bullet shattered your bone and there is nerve damage. I was waiting for you to wake up in order to do more tests.", JoAnna explained.

Sarah held her breath. It's just how that man said. "Do the tests now. I won't rest anymore. It seems that I'm out for days…" Sarah remembered, and her eyes landed on Sophia. "The kids, how are they?"

Sophia showed an encouraging smile. "They are fine. They all wanted to help find you, but now they are settled when we told them that you are back. We will arrange for them to visit you later."

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