Chapter 4

When she slowly opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the ceiling, which appeared a bit blurry. She was confused, and she turned her head to the side, only to find her aunt sitting nearby.

"Welcome back. But for now, just relax, because you have a lot of explaining to do," her aunt said before leaving the room, her voice and expression filled with anger.

As she tried to piece together her memories, her head throbbed, making it difficult to recall the last events before everything went dark

"I was trying to escape, I remember trying to shape-shift, and then..." She began to explain as she sat on the bed, her back against the wall.

The door suddenly swung open, revealing the doctor who had been monitoring her condition without her consent.

"Don't be too hard on yourself, and don't strain your mind trying to remember. It's important for your mental well-being," he reassured her as he approached with medical instruments to check on her.

Ava inquired, "Could you tell me how I ended up here? Do you have any idea who called my aunt?" The doctor, in response, first observed her before using a stethoscope to check her heartbeat.

He began to explain, "A good Samaritan brought you in very late last night. He claimed not to know you, but we used your cellphone to contact someone familiar." Ava attempted to speak but was interrupted by the doctor, who gestured for her to lie down before resuming his explanation. 

Ava sighed, realizing that her phone had no password, making it easy for them to access it. She muttered quietly, "Janet is going to kill me," as tears welled up in her eyes. Meeting Horland had felt like a dream, especially after he had rejected her. She now regretted returning to Lyconia.

The doctor tried to console her, "The best thing to do now is to get some rest and not think about it too much. Your aunt will come around."

Ava's voice cracked as she continued, "You don't get it, do you? I ran away from home to a very far away place, and now I'm walking back to my present situation. How do you expect me to cope, doc? How?" Her voice grew louder before she lowered it to a whisper as tears streamed down her face.

The doctor responded calmly, "I know how you feel. I don't know what you've been through, and I don't know what might be causing this trauma, but I'm telling you that you have to take it easy. Only then can you be fine. You'll be discharged by evening or, if you prefer, you can close your eyes and get some rest while I see your aunt."

Ava, still tearful, asked in surprise, "You mean Aunt Janet is still around? I... I thought she left."

"Her medication will take some time to work, so it's essential that you provide the necessary funds for her treatment and medications," the doctor informed Janet. "She's asleep right now, but she should be discharged by this evening. Make sure she gets some rest and doesn't worry too much."

The doctor walked back to his office, leaving Janet with her thoughts and concerns about Ava's condition.

"I'm sorry, but there's no indication of pregnancy. She seems to be suffering from some emotional distress and shock," the doctor replied.

Aunt Janet sighed with relief, thankful that Ava wasn't carrying a child during such a difficult time. She knew they had other problems to address, but at least that wasn't one of them.

"Thank you, Doctor. I appreciate your help and understanding. We'll make sure she gets the rest and care she needs," Aunt Janet replied, grateful for the doctor's assistance.

The doctor nodded and excused himself to attend to other patients, leaving Aunt Janet alone with her thoughts about Ava and the difficult situation they found themselves in.

The doctor nodded and handed her the discharge papers and medications for Ava. "You're welcome, and I hope Ava gets well soon. If you have any concerns or questions in the future, don't hesitate to contact me. Take care."

Aunt Janet thanked the doctor once more and headed to Ava's room to prepare to take her home.

Ava continued eating her chicken stew in silence as they drove back home. The air in the car was thick with tension, and Aunt Janet seemed to be avoiding eye contact with her. Ava couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt and anxiety about the situation.

As they arrived home, Ava noticed that Aunt Janet was still not speaking. She decided to break the silence. "Aunt Janet, I'm really sorry for everything. I shouldn't have run away. I'll make it up to you."

Aunt Janet finally glanced at her, and there was a hint of disappointment in her eyes. "Ava, we'll talk about it later. Right now, you need to rest and recover. We'll sort everything out."

Ava nodded, realizing that her aunt was still upset with her but willing to give her a chance to make amends.

"You can go into your room. I'll be back soon." Was all Aunt Janet said to her as she left without any comment.  

Soon a knock landed on the door Ava rushed to the hospital as she had been waiting for her Aunt and she was unable to sleep.

"I won't allow you to leave again this time without my consent." I had to charge data this time around with a thicker chain having a wolfsbane which cannot be broken easily even on a full moon.

"Why are you doing this aunt? I'm sorry." She pleaded but it all fell on deaf ears. 

"I've trusted you enough and I won't let you end up like your parents. Talking to you will be of no use. And you will be here till when I realize that you are ready to change. You will resume your therapy session again!" She shouted as she chained her to the wall. 

Her situation isn't getting any better. And it is just the beginning.