Blair jolted awake as if waking from a long dream when she opened her eyes. Blair felt her body hurt all over the place. She couldn't even move her hands freely. Blair glanced at her tingling hand.
"Where am I?" Blair thought, trying to sit up straight.
"Are you awake, Miss? Can you hear my voice?" A nurse suddenly approached and checked Blair's pulse and the pupils in her eyes.
Blair felt uncomfortable and scared. She brushed off the nurse's hand and inched away. "Tell me, where am I? What happened to me? And the wolf? Then what about the two men in the rest area?"
The image of pieces of skin and flesh torn apart by a huge wolf instantly made Blair nauseous. She could still clearly see the pained face of the man pointing the dagger at her.
The nurse tried to calm down when she heard Blair's jumpy and incoherent statement. The nurse was aware of the condition of the patient, who had just woken up from fainting and was traumatized by accident.
"Take a bed, Miss. Your condition has not fully recovered," said the nurse. "Do you remember what your name was? Where do you live?"
"Why?" Blair shouted. "Is it important? Are you sending me back to those who kicked me out?" Blair's eyes filled with tears.
"You had a traffic accident, Ms. Can you remember what your name is?" repeated the nurse to get information from Blair. "You've been unconscious for two days since arriving here."
Blair was silent and tried to remember the details of the last incident. She doesn't remember having an accident. She only remembered the two men and the wolf who wanted to attack her.
The nurse kept talking to make Blair regain her memory. "A road user brought you here. There are no serious injuries, just some bruises and external injuries. Other than that, you're fine."
"My baby?" asked Blair, who immediately panicked as she felt her belly with the hand still attached to the infusion hose.
The nurse smiled kindly. "Luckily, your baby is fine, madam. So rest and wait until the doctor comes to check before you get out of here."
Blair breathed a sigh of relief. Slowly but surely, the previously closed memories returned to Blair's mind. The last incident that still lingered in Blair's mind was the light of a vehicle speeding toward her. Then she didn't remember at all.
"Maybe that night I was really hit by a vehicle? However, I was lucky because it was only a minor injury."
She looked down and saw her still flat belly. She kneaded the hospital gown and thought that soon her belly would swell.
"Nurse?" said Blair.
Almost on her way to the doorstep, the nurse finally turned to Blair. "Is there anything you need, Miss?"
"W-what about the hospital bill?" Blair was terrified.
"The man who brought you here has already paid all the bills."
"What? Who brought me here?" Blair was very curious. If social services or police officers brought her here, she had to leave before they realized Blair's identity as a pregnant homeless teenager.
"A man who brought you here. Don't you remember the details of what happened? We have contacted the police. I am sure the information you provide will help you escape this complicated situation."
Blair fell silent with a pale face. "The police came here?"
Immediately Blair's body shivered violently. She tried to act friendly in front of the nurse until she left.
"No way," Blair screamed to herself. "I have to get out of here! They can't ask me about anything. I don't want to end up in a social service shelter. Even though I saw the murder that night, I can't say anything for the safety of myself and the baby."
Blair rubbed her belly gently.
"That night, I was just lucky because a wolf appeared. I don't know what would have happened without the wolf."
Blair immediately got up quietly. After making sure no one else was entering the treatment room, Blair pulled out the infusion hose needle and quickly dressed.
She opened the small cupboard at the side of the bed. It turned out that the nurse had indeed kept Blair's dirty-looking and worthless things there. However, those were the only items Blair had at the moment.
Blair changed into a hospital gown with her own clothes that felt too big on her body. The clothes she got from donations at a homeless shelter. Blair couldn't choose. The only backpack she had, she slung on her back. She had to sneak around before opening the door, so she wouldn't be caught.
Just as Blair came out, at the end of the hall, she saw two police officers arriving with the nurse. They headed to the room where Blair was being treated. Blair immediately hid her face and turned to find another way to escape.
"They can't find me!" mumbled Blair. "They can't take me anywhere. I didn't want to be separated from my baby just because I was underage and deemed incompetent to have a baby. I have to go and hold on for this baby."
Blair walked as far away from the hospital as she could. She didn't want to be recognized by anyone or be seen hanging around there. Until the afternoon, Blair was still walking along the city sidewalks. She was sure she was still in a state not far from the woods before she was attacked by two foreign men and a wolf.
"I'm so hungry," thought Blair. She sat on the overhang of a nearly closed shop and drank the water she got from the garden. "Why didn't I put the food at the hospital in the bag? Now I don't have a penny to buy food."
Blair bit her lip and looked down the street she was currently on. The town was tiny, and there weren't many people moving around.
"How can I earn money here?" thought Blair.
The girl walked a little further until she arrived at the underground station. Blair stood at the top of the steps that led to the underground station. Blair noticed a street musician playing the violin. Walkers and rubber users occasionally threw coins at the man's violin case.
Blair continued to watch the man without saying much. Half an hour later, the street musician began to stop playing his violin. He collected the gift money from the violin case and started to leave the station. The violinist walked past Blair.
"Wait, sir!" Blair scolds.
The street violinist in his fifties with silver hair covered with a hat turned to Blair. He smiled warmly. Blair could feel the gazes of people like him who were used to living on the streets. They try to avoid trouble.
"Excuse me, sir, are you going home?" Blair asked hesitantly. "Was my question impolite?" she thought.
"Yeah, it's time to go home, young girl. I've been playing the violin down there too long and am so tired. Do you need anything from me? Or… have we met before?"
Blair was so nervous that her palms were sweating. She rubbed her palm against the surface of the shirt before saying shyly.
"Can I rent your violin for the next few hours?"
The man frowned. "What do you mean by renting my violin?"
The man's smile faded. He stared coldly at Blair from head to toe before starting to sneer.
"Oh, apparently you're a tramp too? Even though you are a tramp, you should have the capital to survive. Do you think you can take this one and only violin from me? I won't let it go." Then the man tried to turn and walk away from Blair.
"Wait, sir!" said Blair. "I didn't mean to snatch or steal the violin from you. I told you I'll rent it for the next few hours."
The man grinned mischievously at Blair. "I thought you were better at any other game than the violin. But, well, why not? How much will you pay for my violin?"
"How about two Coll for every hour? I only need three hours. Do you mind?"
"Three Colls are too cheap. Tsk, how about you just hand over your body, and I'll pay you 10 Coll/hour?" he whispered into Blair's ear.
"10 Coll?" thought Blair. She gulped and glanced at the man beside her, who continued to grin mischievously at Blair.
Blair was sick of hearing the whispers and tone of the stranger's voice. She was also disgusted by his condescending and belittling gaze. Blair was sick of all the boys who just wanted her body.Unknowingly, Blair had pushed the man, almost tumbling down the stairs. The underground station is deserted. Blair panicked. She almost screamed when she realized what she had done could result in the man being injured if he did fall down the stairs.Fortunately, the man soon controlled himself. He didn't roll to the bottom of the stairs where he might break his bones. Only the man's violin fell, and he was furious. The man immediately got up to take his violin and headed towards Blair, still frozen with a pale face."Damn little bitch!" cursed the man. "You have ruined my only violin. You have to take responsibility. No matter what happens, you have to pay for it with your body tonight."Holding his broken violin tightly, the man glanced around at the empty state of the station. Blair became
"Miss, it's me!" scolded Axel, who was already standing at the end of the alley while putting on a worried face."Stay away from me!" Blair shouted. "Do not come close! I will scream if you do something bad to me. I knew from the start that you weren't helping me. There are no perfect humans in this world."Blair gasped."I realized that after I became a bum," Blair thought later."Wait, Miss. You must have misunderstood me. I didn't mean to hurt you or want to take advantage of you. But, yes, I did follow you for one reason.""What do you want from me? I have nothing, sir. I don't even have a penny to eat. If what you want is my body, I assure you before making that decision, you will regret it."Blair's voice trembled softly. She was terrified. She tried her best to keep the tears from falling. Blair had to cling to the wall between the two alleys where she was currently hiding."I'm not following you to hurt you but to help you," Axel said in the gentlest tone possible so as not to
Blair has no choice, and she accepts Axel's invitation for dinner. They sat opposite each other on one of the benches with a beautiful view of the river at night. Blair felt a little safe because she wasn't alone. Several other people were also sitting, enjoying the view of the river at night.The corner of Blair's eyes continued to be wary of her surroundings. She found two men dressed in all black who had knocked Blair out of fright. They stood not far from where Axel was."Who are they?" Blair asked. "Your hitman?""They're just my assistants," Axel said calmly. He opened the food bag and handed Blair a sandwich. "Sorry if they scared you earlier."Blair gritted her jaw. She still clearly remembers how two men pointed daggers at her in the rest area for witnessing a murder. At this time, Axel's two assistants also reminded Blair of the two criminals."You can't fool me, Mr. Barney. Tell me, what is your aim?"Axel didn't seem to hear Blair's words. "Are you okay with this? I had th
"What?" Blair shouted in great surprise. She wanted to make sure that what she heard was not wrong.Axel was still sitting comfortably in his chair. He put one foot on top of the other while leaning back confidently."You can stay with me," Axel said very calmly and confidently."Are you crazy?"Blair gulped and stared at Axel in disbelief."How can he say inviting strangers into the house so casually?" thought Blair."Do you actually want something from me? I believe the demand to pay the debt is just an excuse to ask for something more from me. What is your real aim?"Blair was absolutely terrified. She was not ready to hear the confession of the rich man in front of her. Blair didn't want to get involved with anyone right now, let alone influential people."I can live on the streets and survive for myself and the baby in my belly. I can do anything; sing, play music, or whatever. I'm sure I can survive like the rest of the homeless. They have even lived on the streets for a dozen y
"Carlos, let her go."Axel ordered his two men to get out of the way and let Blair go. Blair, ready to fight, finally just quietly walked away from Axel. Before leaving, Blair glanced at Axel and nodded her thanks."Ranty, wait!" said Axel. He seemed very reluctant to let Blair go that night. "Please reconsider my offer. Save my business card if you ever change your mind or need help. Feel free to contact me whenever you need it.""Well, I'll definitely contact you when I have enough money to pay off those debts, for sure."Axel looked grim, looking at Blair's back as she walked away. The two bodyguards stood near Axel and mumbled something."Should we keep an eye on that girl like before, Boss?""Not. Tonight leaves her alone. I'm afraid she'll be suspicious and even more distrustful if she finds out that you keep following her."It was really late at night. Blair had no more chance to find a bed tonight. She returned to the station. Blair had time to pick up used cardboard from the
"Get out of here, you damn bum!" shouted the train attendant at the next station.The man pushed Blair off the train because she couldn't show the ticket or pay the fare.Blair walked away, shaking violently. She hugged herself with her arms crossed over her chest. Blair lowered her head to avoid the scornful gazes and scorn of the people at the station."I was lucky they didn't take me to the police station. I might be thrown in jail or sent to social services if that happens. Then they'll know I'm a pregnant teen dan homeless."Blair stood behind the massive pylon supporting the underground platform. She leaned against the pole, and her body slumped to the floor. Blair crouched down, hugging her knees. She was literally sobbing like crazy."What should I do from here? This city is very unsafe for me. The man kept chasing me. I have to go to Washington, DC, soon, but what can I do without money? I've lost the savings, the backpack, and the old blanket. I can't possibly survive tonigh
Blair actually stopped. Her body froze and didn't move at all. While one foot had stepped onto the bus stand."Miss, wait!" reprimanded the officer.Blair didn't dare turn around or look away. The officer walked over to her and bent down to pick something up behind Blair. He handed it over to Blair."This is your ID that fell. You should be more careful. Without this badge, you won't be able to attend Doctor Axel Barney's seminar today.""Lucky!" thought Blair.Blair lowered her head as she accepted the badge from the officer. She thanked him before getting on the bus and mingling with the other students.Blair crumpled the badge and quickly tucked it into her trouser pocket."I'm sorry," thought Blair. "Whoever among you loses this badge, I am forced to borrow it. I really need it to go in and meet Axel today."Blair sat in the very back corner where no one was. She tried to avoid contact with people on the bus. The bus drove to a hotel where the seminar was to be held.The bus carry
"What's going on here?"The two men guarding the ballroom's entrance and Blair turned together in the direction of the voice. Axel Barney stood there, accompanied by his two handsome bodyguards."Mr. Barney?" said one of the receptionists. "I've asked this girl to leave, but she refuses and insists on waiting for you here.""You don't have to worry, Mr. Barney. We will take care of it," said another officer. "We apologize for the disturbance.""What do you think you're doing?" Axel hissed at the two officers. "This girl is my guest. I was waiting for her arrival. You've been rude to my guests."The two officers stuttered and stared at each other in disbelief. They immediately lowered their heads to apologize repeatedly to Axel and Blair.Axel turned to Blair and approached the girl."What is it?" Axel's tone turned soft in an instant when he faced Blair. "Did something happen? Did they hurt you?"Blair was relieved to have met Axel. She shook her head and said, "I'm fine."Blair glanc