"Ms Bare," someone says, "how are you feeling? Blink twice if you can hear me?"

I nod my head before I can fully register the question I'm asked, but, although I do feel a little light-headed and my eyesight is a little blurry, I believe I am okay. The figure previously leaning over me moves away as I slowly sit up from this unfamiliar bed and look at my surroundings. I am not in my assigned room. Judging from the interior and outfits of the staff members, I am in the infirmary Aris mentioned when we first met.

I slowly sit up, closing my eyes for some seconds and trying to collect my thoughts. The last memory I have is of Aris and I fighting. He wants to sell Topaz.

"Where is my cousin?" I quickly ask as I attempt to stand up from the bed, but my attempt fails as a nurse gently pushes me back onto the bed, forcing me to sit on it once again.

Just as I am about to repeat my question, Aris and Saint walk into the room. I mentally thank the higher power for bringing Saint back to me. He can help me stop Aris from selling Topaz, and if Topaz happened to be sold last night, I'm sure Saint can convince Aris to get him back. I owe my cousin this much.

"Saint," I say as I take my second attempt to stand up from the bed, but the nurse, once again, gently pushes me back in order for me to remain in this seated position.

"You must rest." she demands.

I don't protest the nurse's instruction but mentally curse her as she walks over to another patient.

"Saint, I need your help."

"Willow." Saint walks closer to me with his hands held in the air as if he is surrendering. "I need you to calm down."

"What are you doing?" I ask. "I'm calm. I'm sorry for my outburst last night, but I need your help."

"You mean this morning? You're sorry for your outburst this morning. It's alright, Willow. I told Aris it's his fault for delaying giving you the cure." Saint lowers his hands as he continues speaking to me, seeming less frightened than when he first entered this room.

"No, I'm sure it was last night; that or a time before the sunrise. I know it was dark, but that's not the point."

"It was bright outside."

"Aris wants to sell my cousin in the black market's auction. I don't care how light or dark it was. Will you help me or not, Saint?"

"Aris told me about your outburst."

"Did you do it already?" I ask as I turn to face Aris. "Did you sell Topaz? Is that why you both look guilty? Is that why Saint walked in here as if I'd attack him?"

"Willow," Saint speaks as if he is choosing his words carefully, "I need you to calm down."

"Why are you here if not to help me? If there's anyone that should be sold, it should be Aris. Did you know he's an Iron Rod? I hit him on head with a chair, and he acted as if nothing happened. He didn't flinch. Did you know?"

"Willow, calm down," Saint repeats.

"Well, none of that matters now. It doesn't even matter if you sold Topaz. I only need you to get him back."

"Aris didn't sell your cousin," Saint walks closer to be and places his hand on my head. "You're burning up."

I quickly swat his hand away and address Aris, "If you never sold my cousin then I'd like to see him."

"I'm afraid I can't let you see him."

"Then you must have sold him."

"As my good friend, Frosty, said; I did not sell your cousin."

"I'd like to see him. I doubt you would have taken him home so quickly."

"I didn't take him home either."

"I—"

"Willow, Aris did not sell your cousin, because your cousin is not here. Your cousin was never here," Saint looks down at me with a worried expression. "and Aris isn't an Iron Rod. He's as weak as a new born. Anyway, you never hit him. He wasn't even around when you attacked his staff this morning."

I remain silent for some seconds, thinking about the best way to address this issue.

"Do you take me for a fool?" I ask. "I never imagined Topaz. It wasn't a dream. Why would you bring me here if I dreamed it all?"

"I can't tell you about your dreams, but I know your cousin has never been here. They said you woke up this morning and complained about a pain in your head before beating up a couple people."

"That never happened."

"Trust me, Willow, I wouldn't let them sell your cousin," Saint sighs. "Aris brought me here because he figured you'd trust me. Plus he said it might be better if you had a familiar face around."

I naturally stare into Saint's eyes. It's something I do when I try to figure out whether a person is lying to me or not. It hasn't helped much in the past, but I continue to do it regardless. They both look guilty, but I begin to doubt what they could be guilty of. Perhaps I did imagine it all. It wouldn't be the first time my mind played tricks on me.

I then look to Aris and realise there is no mark on his head. Even if he is an Iron Rod, whatever damage I inflict on him should show, and I do not notice the slightest bump on his head. I must not have hit him last night.

Besides, I'm sure Topaz safely returned home with Aunt Ankah. They probably left as soon as Aunt Ankah found Isiah. I try to take my mind off of Isiah, knowing my mother did what she had to do to ensure our safety. Aunt Ankah should be thankful. Perhaps she is now.

"Willow, everything you do here will be watched from now on. Even when you get the cure. Some people are afraid. You really hurt some of the staff," Saint says as he motions to a lady in a bed near me.

I begin to feel sorry, but I try not to let it show on my face. Someone needs to help me, and if that person is Aris, he needs to help me quickly. I never knew being Gifted would cause this much pain.

Well, I guess the issue isn't being Gifted. The problem is that I'm a defect. The problem is my body is fighting against my gift, trying to get me back to my original form as Topaz once called it; a form without a gift, and a form that is likely to leave me with a disability.

I begin to panic as I think of the cure the Black Market has and the effects the cure could have on me, but my panicked state subsides as I remember Saint telling me that it isn't necessarily a cure that I will be taking. The black market only has something to keep my infection at bay for some time before resulting in an unbearable pain that will consume me and cause my death.

"Okay, I'm alright with that," I respond to Saint's remark about me now being monitored. I'm glad his back. "When do I take the cure?"

"Aris says you'll be given it soon."

"Now," Aris speaks up. "I can't have you causing even more trouble."

"Now?" I ask.

I've prepared myself to take the cure knowing its effects, but for some reason, I become hesitant, and my hesitation is heard through my voice.

"You have nothing to fear, Willow. Well, I could always sell you if you no longer want to continue with our plans. You'll hardly bring in anything, but the money will be put to good use."

"He's joking," Saint says. I wish Aris wouldn't do that anymore.

"I want to continue with the plan. I just never knew I'd have to take the cure so soon."

"The faster you do it, the faster our plan can commence. You want your sister and your friend back. We can take you to Eve and get things started."

"Eve is here?"

"I wasn't twiddling my thumbs as I kept you waiting." Aris awkwardly smiles. "I had people bring her in last night. She's on Bunker Level Three. I must say she puts up a bit of a fight for an old lady, but never mind that. Let's get things going."

Saint then moves away from me and three muscular men, men I never noticed were standing at the back of the room, move close to me. Saint offers me a sad smile. I can't seem to understand him. He wants this for me. He said he wants a happy life for me; a life away from the Foster government no matter how short the life will be. Now, he doesn't look too pleased that all he wants for me is finally coming to pass.

"Wait," I say as one man holds down one of my arms to the bed, "I just need time to breathe."

"You're breathing just fine to me," Aris replies.

The second man then holds my other arm down, and the last man, despite my struggles, holds both of my legs down.

"Saint, have you heard from my father?"

"I haven't, Willow. I'm sorry."

"Nurse, if you please." The nurse previously ordering my rest walks over to me with some sort of tube or injection in her hand.

"We have a pill, but I wasn't entirely sure you'd swallow it. We've helped people like you before; they tend to change their minds in the last minute. I can't blame them. Death's a scary thought, so imagine the reality."

"Aris, stop," Saint says in a stern voice.

"I'm not changing my mind! I just need to breath!" I struggle against the men holding me down, but my struggles are no help to me. "Saint, please make them stop. I'll take the cure, but I need time."

I'm not sure if Saint would have done anything, but before he even gets a chance to say a word, I feel a slight prick on my shoulder as the nurse jabs the tool into my arm. My struggles stop. I'll die in a year. It only strikes me now that I'll die in a year. That's okay though. It has to be okay now.

"Now that that's done, we have a guest waiting for us. I won't be joining you, but Saint and a few members from my security teams will be there with you." Aris then turns to leave the room. "Saint, you know where to take her when she's ready."

I look at Saint before closing my eyes and taking in this moment; the moment when everything is about to change. Just as I open my eyes, I see Saint leave the room, following Aris' lead. I make no movement to follow him. I'll rest here for some time. I need time before I see Eve.