CHAPTER2
1081 Words
A tiny smile tugged at Anna's lips as she sat on the edge of her bed and gazed at the engagement ring on her finger.
Soon, her name will be Mrs. Mark Brown.
Still, it didn't seem real. To find out for sure, she squeezed herself.
Tracing the silky band, she relived the scene in her memory, where Mark had knelt down and placed the ring on her finger, his voice brimming with passion. Nevertheless, he had picked her. Despite his mother's protests.
She was startled out of her reverie by a sudden ringing sound from her phone.
She gave the screen a quick look.
Makky.
Her forehead furrowed. It was nearly midnight. Why would Makky phone her at this hour?
The answer button was swiped by Anna. "Makky?"
"Anna," Makky spoke quickly and breathlessly. "You must come to the hospital. Right now.
Anna's heart fell. "What? Why? What took place?
"What's happening over there?"
Makky said, "It's Mark." "He fell. He is not conscious. "He__ is bleeding."
Anna gasped for air.
Dropped?
She tightened her fingers on the phone. "What do you mean by he is unconscious?” where is his mother? How awful is it? "Where are you people at the moment?"
I just dialed 911; they are en route; please arrive. Makky yelled. "Be quick."
The call was cut off.
For a moment, Anna sat motionless.
Then she leaped to her feet.
She seized her car keys, grabbed her handbag, and ran out the door.
Anna hurried to the hospital on the eerily silent streets of New Orleans.
Her mind was racing.
Did Mark fall?
How? When he had left, he was all right.
Was he intoxicated? No, Mark hardly touched the booze.
Did he trip? That was nonsensical.
Her stomach twisted with a horrible feeling. She felt a knot in her stomach from fear.
There was a problem.
Her cell rang.
She gave the screen a quick look.
The caller is unknown.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She paused. "Who might it be?" She instructed.
Then responded. "Hello?"
Not a word.
A chilly, unsettling quiet.
Then a voice, deep and strange.
"Turn around if you love Mark Brown."
Anna tightened her hold on the steering wheel.
"Who is this?"
The voice laughed. "This is the only warning you have."
Her stomach fell.
"What on earth are you discussing?" She made a demand. "Where is Mark? Who are you?
Slowly and tauntingly, the voice said, "Turn around, Anna." "Or you won't see him ever again."
Click.
The call was cut off.
Anna gasped in short breaths.
Danger shouted in her mind.
She needed to see Mark, though.
She applied more pressure on the gas.
Her distance was just ten minutes.
She never did make it to hospital, however. As she got closer to the next crossroads—
Abruptly, a black SUV appeared.
Too quickly.
Too quickly.
Her gaze expanded.
Tires shrieked as she wrenched the steering wheel.
She was veered into by the SUV—
Her head struck the steering when her car and the SUV crashed.
Pain surged in her skull, causing her car to spin widely. Before Anna could comprehend what was happening, a hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her from the automobile.
The grasp tightened, and all her attempts to get free were in vain.
The SUV vanished after she was shoved inside.
Makky paced back and forth, her heels clicking across the hospital floor. The strong antiseptic smell and the stark white walls did little to ease her anxiety.
She looked at the clock and her nails dug into her palm as she gripped her phone tighter.
Anna ought to have arrived by now.
As she redialed Anna's number, her fingers shook. The phone rang and rang and rang before returning to voicemail.
Makky swallowed hard and murmured, "Come on, Anna." "You should be here already."
She looked at Mrs. Brown, who was sitting rigidly in a chair in the waiting area, her hands folded neatly over her lap. Since Mark was hurried into surgery, she had remained silent. Not even a tear.
Makky spoke in a strained tone. "As soon as the ambulance departed, I called Anna. "I'm on my way," she said. Why has she not arrived yet?
Mrs. Brown's face was still unreadable. "Perhaps she changed her mind."
Makky tightened her jaw. "No. She is not like that.
Mrs. Brown exhaled deeply and slowly. "Then maybe she got... delayed."
The emergency room doors flew open before Makky could react. A doctor emerged with a somber expression.
Makky felt nauseous.
The two women got to their feet right away.
The first person to speak was Mrs. Brown. "How is my son doing, doctor?"
The physician repositioned his eyeglasses. “Mr. Brown suffered a severe head injury due to the fall. He was stabilized by us, but—
Makky's breathing became labored. "But what?"
The physician let out a breath. "He's unconscious."
Makky stumbled.
Mrs. Brown hardly altered her face. "How long?"
The physician gave a headshake. It lacks predictability. Days, weeks, or even longer could pass.
Makky's legs became limp, and she clutched the armrest of a neighboring chair.
"But he's going to wake up?" She pushed.
The physician paused. "He has a high chance of losing his memory when he does."
Not a word.
Makky gave him a look. "Memory loss?"
The doctor had a serious expression. "He experienced harm to his brain. He can have trouble recalling certain people or events.
Makky's throat became constricted.
Mrs. Brown was uncannily composed. "You're suggesting that my son might not remember... anybody?"
The physician gave a nod. "It is feasible. Until he wakes up, we won't know the full impact.
Makky experienced nausea. What if he has no memory of Anna?
Her phone buzzed then.
She almost dropped it. The screen showed a name.
Anna.
She felt a wave of relief.
She responded right away. "Anna! "Where are you?"
However, Anna wasn't the voice on the other end.
A gruff, strange voice said. “If you care about your friend, don’t come looking for her.”
Makky felt her blood run cold.
She gripped the phone more tightly. Who in the world is this?
A low laugh. "Anna Jones is unable to attend the hospital."
After that, the line died.
Makky's heart pounded as she stood motionless.
Mrs. Brown watched her. "What's wrong?"
Makky's thoughts were racing. She had clammy hands.
Anna never arrived at the medical facility.
And that was ensured by someone.
- Writer
