Chapter 6
Courtney couldn’t understand why Hayden wasn’t dead. When the peacekeeping forces rescued them, she had clearly seen him lying in a pool of blood, shot
At that moment, she could have saved him–but she didn’t.
To Courtney, Hayden was the enemy, a member of the terrorist organization. She had been desperate to escape. That was why she had left him. behind.
From that day on, the look of desperation in his eyes as he pleaded for help had haunted her nightmares.
“Courtney, you can’t escape.” Hayden’s voice was low, almost predatory, as if he wanted to eat her alive.
Summoning courage from who–knows–where, Courtney seized the moment when his guard was down and bolted for home.
Serene Cove was an old apartment complex for government workers and their families. It had no elevators, and her family’s unit was on the third floor.
The sound–activated lights flickered on and off as she ran frantically up the stairs. For a moment, she forgot her parents were gone. Subconsciously, she still believed home was the safest place she could be.
She pounded on the front door, her mouth open, but no sound came out. She wanted to scream for her parents, but she couldn’t
Her mutism had started the day she witnessed a colleague being shot in the head right in front of her. The memory of those ruthless terrorists killing her coworker for trying to escape was etched into her mind,
Footsteps echoed up the stairs behind her, and Courtney broke down in silent sobs. She still couldn’t scream.
Dad, Mom… save me. Courtney screamed in her mind as she banged on the door, but no one answered.
The scorch marks on the door reminded her of the truth she had been trying to deny. Austin hadn’t lied–her parents had already gone.
“Go ahead, scream, Courtney. Shout for help. Let’s see if anyone comes to save you,” Hayden taunted, stepping closer until she was cornered Overwhelmed by terror, Courtney had only one thought: escape.
“Courtney, if you’re scared, cry out!” Hayden pressed her, as if forcing her to speak was his only goal.
But instead, Courtney ran toward the stairwell window. She would rather die than fall into his hands.
Just as she reached the window, Hayden grabbed her, pulling her into his arms.
His voice sounded almost panicked. “Damn it. Courtney! I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted you to talk.”
He pulled down his hood, frantically trying to explain himself. But Courtney, trembling uncontrollably, couldn’t hear him. All she could think about was dying
“Courtney, your medical team being captured by Lucas wasn’t an accident!” Hayden shouted anger flaring when he realized she was still determined to end her life.
Courtney froze, her thoughts spiraling as she slowly turned to look at him in disbelief. She had no idea what he mean
“Back then, Lucas’s organization had a massive outbreak of lung disease. You and your teams were experts in the field,” Hayden began again. “Ti out that someone from your hospital leaked the information to Lucas, which is why-
found
Before he could finish, a voice echoed from downstairs. “Courtney? Courtney, are you here?” It was Austin, shouting anxiously. When he realized she was missing, he must have guessed she had come back here,
“Courney, don’t trust anyone from your hospital, Hayden warned, frowning. Then, without another word, he leapt out of the stairwell window. It was the third floor, Courtney stared in disbelief. He was insane.
“Courtney Austin rushed up the stairs, breathing heavily. The moment he saw her, he pulled her into a tight embrace. “Courtney, I’m so sorry. Let’s go home.”
Courtney
stood there, numb, shaking her head slowly. That wasn’t her home anymore.
Seeing her tear–streaked face, Austin raised his hand and slapped himself hard. “I’m sorry. It’s all better.”
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It’s all my fault, Courtney, Hit me if it makes you feel
He kept striking his own face, again and again, as if he wouldn’t stop unless Courtney told him to
She didn’t stop him, but her own emotions finally broke free. She burst into loud, uncontrollable sobs, crying so hard that it felt like her entire body might shatter.
“Courtney.” Austin cupped her face in his hands, his eyes lighting up with a mix of worry and hope.
Her crying, no matter how anguished, was a sign of progress. Austin, a neurosurgeon, had consulted with his colleagues in psychiatry after Courtney developed reactive mutism.
“Courtney, I’m sorry” Austin said, his voice trembling. Your return caught me off guard. Please, give me time to fix everything. I promise I’ll make sure you’re never hurt again.”
His voice broke as he hugged her tighter. “You have no idea how much you mean to me.
Courtney cried so hard that her vision began to blur from hyperventilation. Hearing him say she was important felt like a cruel joke.
“Courtney, let’s go home. I have so much I want to tell you. His voice cracked with emotion, and maybe he was sincere–but Courtney no longer wanted to hear it
Hayden’s words echoed in her mind. Don’t trust anyone from your hospital.
Her team’s capture, the five years of suffering her parents‘ deaths–all of it, every piece of the nightmare she’d endured, hadn’t been a random tragedy. It had been deliberate.
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