Episode # 5:- (Unfamiliar Surroundings.)

"She has endured a lot. Mentally, she is completely drained. We can't say when she will wake up," Saraya heard a voice and tried to open her eyes but failed. She had been hearing random voices for a long time. Every time she tried to see who was talking, she couldn’t open her eyes.

The next moment, Saraya felt a terrible pain in her head. She felt a bit calm when a hand caressed her head. She tried to touch the hand but couldn’t raise her own. Her entire body felt heavy, as if she had been hit by a truck.

"Argh," Saraya groaned in pain while trying to open her eyes. She kept a hand on her eyes and opened them after a while. After blinking several times, she looked around and found herself in an unfamiliar setting.

"Hospital?" she murmured, looking around again to make sure. It looked like a hospital, but not a usual one. It had a homely feeling instead of the sterile smell of medicines and equipment.

"Who brought me here?" she muttered. Suddenly, all the past events rushed back into her mind.

"Austin… Justin?" she said in a horrified tone, expecting the blood-stained surroundings. Instead, she saw clean, mirror-like floors and spotless walls.

"They'll kill me; I need to go," she murmured in horror and tried to get up. Suddenly, she realized wires were attached to her body, with a machine beeping loudly.

"Ahh!" she screamed as the door opened and someone hurried in.

"Stay away!" Saraya said, but then realized it was a doctor wearing a white coat.

"But what if she’s one of them, pretending?" Saraya murmured in fear. "I need to go," she said to the doctor, tears flowing continuously.

She tried to remove the wires, but the doctor stepped forward and stopped her.

"Dear, you are weak," the doctor said. Saraya shook her head.

"No! They killed my brothers. Please, I need to go," she cried, trying to push the doctor away.

"Saraya," she heard a familiar voice while pushing the doctor.

She looked toward the door and found Vidhant standing there with a worried expression.

"Please tell her I need to go," Saraya said, joining her hands in front of him. Vidhant immediately came near her.

"Shh, relax. Everything will be fine. Just relax. Your body needs rest," Vidhant said, wrapping his arms around her securely.

"They both needed a chance, but they died before hearing my answer. Please, Vidhant, I need to go. Austin and Justin died because of me," Saraya sobbed, trying to unwrap Vidhant’s arms, but he tightened his grip and signaled the doctor.

"We’ll go, but first, you relax. You woke up after ten days," Vidhant said, trying to calm her. Saraya cried hysterically, her thoughts filled with only Austin's and Justin’s faces. The doctor came forward and administered an injection.

"She is in mental shock," the doctor said to Vidhant, who was gazing at her sleeping figure.

"When will she wake up again?" Vidhant asked.

"In about five to six hours," the doctor replied. Vidhant nodded.

Five hours later:

Saraya woke up, calm this time, sobbing silently. She looked around and found nobody there. She silently removed the wires and tried to get up. Walking was difficult; her entire body was sore.

Holding onto the bed for support, she slowly moved toward the door. She peeped out and found the coast clear. She closed the door silently and walked in one direction. She didn’t ponder on why Vidhant was there—for now, she just wanted to leave.

She realized that Vidhant must have saved her from that horrible place. Otherwise, why would he be in the hospital? She wanted to thank him, but if she did, he might not let her leave.

Walking slowly, she entered an open area resembling a hall.

"The hospital was inside a mansion?" she murmured, realizing the hall belonged to a mansion or large house.

She walked forward, holding the wall for support, and grasped the corner of a long couch while taking a deep breath. Her eyes fell on a wall clock—4 o’clock. Early morning, that’s why nobody was around.

"Where is the door?" she murmured, looking around again. She stepped forward and found a door at the side of the hall.

"I hope this is the exit," she whispered while approaching the door. The hall lights were off; the only light came from the windows.

She tried to open the door but found it locked. Looking up, she noticed a latch. The bolt was too high to reach.

Saraya started feeling dizzy. She had eaten nothing for a long time, had just woken up after ten days, and walked more than her capacity.

"Need help, honey bee?" an intimidating voice came from behind, and the hall lights suddenly switched on.

Saraya turned with a jerk but immediately regretted it, feeling pain in her head.

"Are you okay?" a voice asked. Saraya opened her eyes, still holding her head. She saw Vidhant standing near her—but suddenly realized the first voice wasn’t his.

Her eyes fell on a person standing 20–25 feet away near the bar counter. He was a British man of around 24 or 25, radiating a daunting and powerful aura.

Saraya tried to figure out what feeling it was but failed, gazing at him from head to toe.

He had flawless skin and a jawline sharper than a paper cutter. His hair was jet black, falling over his forehead. His eyes were greenish-blue—or maybe of one color, but she couldn’t decipher it from afar. He was around 6’4” or taller, making her 5’2” frame look small. His face was blank, yet he gazed at her intently.

"Where were you going? I told you to rest. What are you doing here?" Vidhant asked in a complaining tone.

Saraya felt ashamed and opened her mouth, but a wave of dizziness hit her.

"Come here," Vidhant said, immediately holding her and taking her to the couch. Saraya’s eyes fell on the other person, now sitting on a barstool.

"Austin and Justin," Saraya murmured, a lone tear escaping.

"You need to eat something. After that, we’ll discuss everything," Vidhant said, bringing a plate.

Saraya wiped her tears and eyed the man on the barstool, sipping a drink and watching her.

She found his face familiar. "I’ve seen you somewhere," she murmured. He didn’t reply, just shrugged.

Thinking for a while, she looked again. "You’re the one who saved me from Peter that day? Your name is Phoenix, right?" she asked uncertainly.

His face seemed familiar but different today, so she wasn’t sure. He stared at her and finished his drink.

"No," he said in a single word, placing the glass on the counter with a blank expression.

Saraya frowned but opened her mouth to speak—then stopped as Vidhant returned with the sandwich.

"Here, eat this," Vidhant said, placing the plate in her hands.

"I want nothing. I want to leave," she said, trying to push the plate aside.

"Honey bee, to leave from here, you need energy. That’s only possible if you eat something," he said. Saraya quietly started eating.

He spoke with authority. Even if she didn’t want to, she felt bound to obey. Vidhant smiled, seeing her eat, and looked at him again—the man’s expression still blank.

"Can I go now?" Saraya asked after finishing the sandwich.

"Where will you go?" Vidhant asked. Saraya stayed silent.

"Saraya, your brothers came here asking for help. They wanted to save you because their father was going to sell you," Vidhant continued.

"For now, I won’t tell you the reality of the people who kidnapped you. You’ve already suffered a lot, and your brothers died saving you. I don’t want their struggle to be in vain. I’m sorry we couldn’t save them, but at least you are safe now," Vidhant said, noticing her silent sobs.

Vidhant felt pity seeing her condition and pressed her hand gently. Saraya’s heart ached with agony. What she had wished on her birthday and what actually happened—it all crushed her. Both were gone without hearing her.

After a while, her distress eased, and she felt calm. She wiped her tears and took a deep breath.

"Vidhant, what do I do here? I don’t want to be a burden. I know you saved me…" she began, but Vidhant interrupted.

"I haven’t saved you," Vidhant said. Saraya gave him a confused look.

"I thought you saved me because you are here," she said.

"I am here, but the one who saved you is none other than Soren Rafael Blackthorn," Vidhant said, signaling toward the man on the barstool.

"It’s only Rafael Blackthorn," Seb said sternly. Vidhant gave him an apologetic look, watching Saraya’s shock.

"Th…ank y…ou," Saraya stammered. Seb gave a stiff nod, circling the glass in his hand.

"VD, you go. I need to talk to her," Rafael said, still looking at the glass.

Vidhant nodded and stood, but Saraya suddenly held his hand.

"I…I…" she tried to speak but stopped, staring at Rafael.

His face was emotionless, yet something in his eyes silenced her. She let go of Vidhant’s hand.

To be continued…