To Mark Her

The deafening sound of thunder claps echoed across the city, shaking the very building she sought refuge in. Penelope, feeling a chill run down her spine, hurriedly made her way to the nurse's dormitory. She quickly closed her umbrella, leaving it dripping with rainwater. Her white nurse uniform clung tightly to her body, completely soaked. Aware of her tardiness, she worried about the potential reprimands from Miss Cathy, the strict dormitory supervisor. With a sense of urgency, Penelope hastened towards the direction of the room, silently hoping that no one would witness her arrival. Just as Penelope took a few steps forward, a sudden darkness enveloped the dormitory as the lights went out. Nycophobic and now panic-stricken, she frantically rummaged through her bag, her trembling hands desperately searching for her cellphone. Her heart raced at an alarming pace, causing dizziness to wash over her. However, before Penelope could retrieve her phone and use its flashlight, a scream lodged in her throat when she noticed a figure approaching her. Without warning, the figure lunged towards her, covering her mouth tightly and hastily pulling her towards the corner of the dimly lit hallway. She fought with all her might, her heart pounding, thoughts swirling in her head, tears welling up in her eyes. She was determined to break free from the grasp of this mysterious intruder. "Shh!" a hushed voice pierced through the chaos. It belonged to a man, and the sound intensified her panic. "I'm not going to hurt you, please. Just help me," pleaded the man, his tone weak and filled with desperation. For a fleeting moment, Penelope found herself frozen, unsure of what emotions to embrace or how to react. "I'm going to remove my hand from your lips, please don't scream, okay?" the man said again, his voice filled with urgency, as Penelope remained silent, trembling in his arms. "I... Kunt... Breeef..." she managed to say, her words muffled by his hand. Confusion knitted the man's brow as he tried to decipher her words. "What?" he asked, slowly releasing his grip on her mouth. Penelope let out a sigh of relief, distancing herself from the man and patting her chest gently. "I couldn't breathe properly, that's what I was trying to say. You held me tightly on my nose too... You're so huge!" she blurted out, throwing a glare at him, still filled with unease. "I'm s-sorry," he whispered, his words barely audible. Penelope's eyes widened in shock as she watched the massive man slump to the ground. Yelping, she instinctively reached out to help him, her concern overpowering her fear. Penelope's mind raced with different thoughts, envisioning the consequences of being discovered in this situation. She and a strange man, alone in the ladies' dormitory - it was a scenario that could have serious repercussions. The fear of being thrown out of her school and the only place she called home loomed over her like a dark cloud. What was she going to say? How could she possibly explain this peculiar and compromising circumstance? Sighing, Penelope picked up the man's hand, trying to feel his pulse, but he snatched his hand away from her as soon as her touch made contact with his skin. "I'm bleeding, I was shot. Please help me," the man pleaded, his words filled with urgency, leaving Penelope with no choice but to lend a hand. Rubbing her temple in frustration, she finally decided to help this dying stranger. "Let's go to my room. I'll try to stop the bleeding. Can you walk a little? Because man, I don't think I can carry you," she said, rising from her position and attempting to assist him. However, to her surprise, the man pulled her closer, holding her firmly around her waist, and then... sniffed her. Penelope was startled, wondering if he thought himself to be a dog. Before she could inquire about his actions, he held her even closer, clutching onto her as if afraid to let go, and began to work on moving forward. Penelope was grateful they were in the dark, relieved that the man couldn't see her flushed face. If he could, it would surely be the most awkward day of her life, with their bodies pressed up against one another. Try as she might to create some space between them, the man would only tighten his hold with a groan, making her cheeks burn even hotter. Leading the way to her room, Penelope stole furtive glances around the hall to ensure no one was in sight. Once inside, she released her hold on the stranger and fumbled for her keys in her bag, eventually unlocking her door. Just as they entered, the lights unexpectedly flickered back to life. It was as if the universe itself was conspiring to make their encounter more peculiar. Penelope slowly guided the man to her medium-sized bed, carefully removing his shoes. With a determined look, she then moved to boil some water, her mind racing with thoughts on how to assist him. Luthan opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on the petite young nurse who scurried around the room, gathering supplies to treat his wounds. He couldn't help but notice how her clothes clung to her body, accentuating her figure. Luthan gulped uncomfortably, unable to tear his eyes away from her. He observed her long, blonde hair that continually threatened to obstruct her vision, watching as she tucked it back behind her ear. Just as Penelope turned to attend to him, he quickly shut his eyes, pretending to be asleep. He could hear her footsteps stop beside him, and an overwhelming urge to open his eyes washed over him. But he didn't want to discomfort her. "Mister?" Penelope called out, her voice filled with concern. When Luthan didn't respond, she leaned in to feel his forehead. At her touch, Luthan felt as though he had been electrocuted, causing him to freeze. His breath became ragged as he swiftly grabbed her hand, unexpectedly startling the young nurse. Instantly, he regretted his actions. The scent of her lingered in his senses, and his animal instincts yearned to pull her close and take her to bed. But he knew he couldn't give in to those desires. They were strangers, and she would surely be frightened. Additionally, he was badly wounded. Luthan noticed the young nurse's beautiful green eyes, adorned with golden rings, widened in surprise as she stared down at him. Her lips, full and pale, tempted him to pull her towards him and kiss her. Fear gripped him at the thought, and he quickly released her hand as if it had burned him, shifting away with a groan. This was not a good situation. Penelope stood frozen in place, watching Luthan with a bewildered expression. What was wrong with this man? She had tried to touch him, only for him to pull away each time. Did he think she wanted to seduce him? Seduce a wounded man? And why had his breathing suddenly become ragged? It worried Penelope deeply. She didn't want anyone dying in her room, especially not a stranger. Standing erect, Penelope frowned as she assessed the situation before her. "Uh, mister, I think I'm ready to treat you now, but please bear in mind, I'm a student nurse in the final year and I have just a little experience in this. Or we could just get you to the hospital," she suggested, her voice tinged with concern. "I'll contact my dorm supervisor." Nodding, Luthan allowed Penelope to begin. "Do you want me to inject anesthesia? I got one, you're lucky," she offered, hoping to ease his discomfort. "No," came the short reply, surprising Penelope. Undeterred, she got to work, her movements careful and deliberate. With a gasp, she successfully pulled out two silver bullets, her eyes narrowing at Luthan, whose breath was growing shorter by the second. "Are you a criminal?" she blurted out, her curiosity getting the better of her. Luthan's eyes snapped to Penelope, and a small smile cracked on his lips. "Are you scared? Don't worry, little nurse, I'm not one," he assured her, his gaze momentarily lingering on her lips before he quickly averted his eyes. Before Penelope could utter another word, a knock landed on her door, causing both of them to stiffen. Her eyes slightly widened as she swiftly rose to her feet. "s**t! This is trouble," she muttered under her breath, her nerves escalating. "Penelope?" Miss Cathy's voice rang out from behind the door, causing sweat to build up at the back of Penelope's neck. "You need to hide in my dresser. She would come in here," she whispered urgently, her eyes conveying her worry. "Penelope?" Luthan slowly repeated her name, recognizing it. He was starting to feel better, but he wasn't ready to reveal his quick healing abilities to the young nurse. Instead, he gave a weak nod, indicating that he understood her instructions. Penelope moved with her surgical blade toward the door with fear and anxiety building up. She threw a glance to Luthan, who was slowly making his way to her dresser. Penelope gave him an encouraging nod and watched as he closed the door to her wardrobe. Then, she gulped and began to unlock her own door. Before doing so, she unbuttoned her gown, trying to convey that she was about to change her dress. Sneaking her head out, Penelope was about to greet Miss Cathy when she noticed the two strange tall figures standing beside Miss Cathy. A chill ran down her spine, causing her to straighten up. She saw Miss Cathy scrutinize her, making her gulp nervously. "Dear, we are in search of someone..." Miss Cathy started, her voice slightly hesitant. "What's that smell?" one of the men interrupted abruptly. Before Penelope could answer, the sound of numerous objects crashing in her room filled the air. Penelope froze in horror, her face draining of color.