*Luna*

My soul felt like it was on fire for the hundredth time after waking up. This time was worse than the time when Chase tried to molest me. Or when I realized what a jerk he'd always been. I knew I was still strapped to a bed in a mental ward, because the cells in my body crawled around like they couldn't find a place to settle. Maybe they weren't able to. It was like I was tied to a log that rolled over a campfire in circles, and my soul wasn't at ease anymore. And I kept feeling a wetness building up around my eyelids.

Tiny tears formed, with no way to stop them from falling.

They were tears of anger and fury—a fiery wrath of pain so potent that I could taste the bitterness in the back of my throat. Or maybe I just gnawed so much on the inside of my cheek and it was actually blood.

The memories of what happened at Liberty's house continued to hit me like a bomb blew up around me. I despised Chase now. I hated what he did. And I hated how he threw me in hospital where I have to pretend to be better for them so I could exit this place. I couldn't see Amir or sense him anymore. He couldn't connect to me because of the shit they were giving me. It was heartbreaking, not being able to gaze into his luminous eyes and see my companion. My true soulmate.

That's right. He was always my soulmate.

I wished that I did something about that sooner. I should've made up my mind about Chase and Amir a long time ago. But I think I'd always known deep down that Chase wasn't meant for me. There were signs everywhere, but I was stubborn, thinking that I could try to make it work with him. I was wrong. Dead wrong. And now Amir's life was in jeopardy. Whatever they inject into me was weighing him down, too, and that killed me the most by being in this situation.

And Amir was such a great person, planning to fly around the world to all the places I'd only dreamed of visiting. He wanted to do that for a wedding gift for me, and Paris was just the beginning. His heart and soul was the most beautiful essence I'd ever had the pleasure of being close to, and just thinking about him in his physical and mental state right now tore me up. All our memories and words that we ever shared together flew through my mind like I pressed the repeat button on my playlist. And there was no way I'd ever press the 'stop' button. If I would have known that I was being watched by Chase or anyone else, I would have been more discreet around Amir and Faisal.

I could see Amir smiling about it now. I scolded him a few weeks ago about not being discreet on talking to me in public, and here I am in a hospital because of that exact thing.

Why wasn't I careful?

I wondered how Amir was right now. God, that man was my life-source. I needed him like I needed the air I breathe, and nothing will ever take me away from him. Granted, we have our differences, and our personal spiritual differences, but none of that mattered when you know who your soulmate is. He believed Allah paired us together, and I am not in no condition to believe otherwise. Because whoever or whatever paired us two knew exactly what they were doing.

We were twin flames who shared the same soul, and lived in each other's as a whole. I thank my lucky stars he fell into my life. The Tethered Souls are paired and linked to humans all over the planet, and we are brought together for one purpose: unity. Racial and political division don't divide us, and we help our brothers and sisters like our lives depend on it.

Why couldn't everyone experience this gift?

Everything was still fuzzy as I opened my eyes. Just remembering Amir's voice, his sound, his companionship soothed some of the torment I was experiencing. I smiled up to the ceiling and thanked whatever being in the universe for pairing us. But after doing that, I remembered how I felt right after drinking my tea on the way back home and how Chase kept staring at me from the driver's seat. The whole time after the bathroom incident, I could see a smug look upon his face. I just didn't know what was going to happen next and what he was capable of. I was drugged, and I believe I was drugged before.

There was a bitter taste I had tasted before inside that drink, and that was how I recognised it. I didn't notice it before, but it was there, and I remembered now how often I tasted it. That taste was still fresh in my memory, and he'd drugged me many times since we'd gotten together. After a patient has taken a prescription medication for so long, they get used to it. Somehow, I never realized what Chase was doing to me until now. He must've altered the drug or something every time, and this last time he couldn't. We were on the road. There wasn't any time because we were heading home. Either way, I could see now that he never really loved me. If he loved me, then he wouldn't have done what he did to me. No telling if he sexually assaulted me in the past and he did something to my memory. I don't trust him for anything anymore.

I just want to tell Amir that I was sorry for choosing Chase over him. It doesn't matter if Amir didn't forgive or not, all that mattered now was to give Chase a peace of my mind and let him know we're through. He lost his family he had all these years.

Chase will have another thing coming to him once I leave this place. I hope he'll enjoy prison, because I'm going straight to the authorities and pressing charges against him.

I hear him moving on the other side of me, so I forced my eyes open, blinking roughly at the harsh light above me. For a second, I couldn't see anything around their bright glow, and I couldn't focus on their aura. I was used to everything having an aura. But then my eyes cleared enough to see the white ceiling between the lights. I sighed. Chase was like a fungus, never leaving my side.

"Great. You finally woke up."

Despite the burning inside my limbs, my body locked up at the sound of his voice. I kept my gaze away from Chase's, so he doesn't get the pleasure of seeing how pissed off I am at him. I was more than pissed, I was Carrie. He just fucked with the wrong woman. I couldn't even move my neck, arms, or  legs.

I just laid here like a useless shell as my body felt the panic inside my chest erupt like sparklers. The staff had each part of me tied up, and there was no room to even wiggle a little. A shudder of fear rippled through me as I listened to the sound of footsteps approaching the doorway. The same doctor from last time, Dr. Kim, with his dark hair slick back and a white coat lightly knocked on the door and slowly entered the room.

"Hello, Mr. Marquette." He shook Chase's hand. Then peered over his shoulder at me, nodding his head. "I see that Luna is awake." He then stepped away from him and stood next to my bed. I guess Chase stunk. I quietly snorted. "How are you feeling?" the doctor asked me.

How am I feeling? Like getting ahold of that narcotic I was doped up with and sticking it into both your asses. That's how I'm feeling.

I blinked slowly, wondering what I should say. "My body is numb," I croaked. My throat felt so dry. I couldn't even taste any spit, which sucked.

"It's the medication flowing in your system, but I'm sure you've realized that already." He motioned to someone who came in the room with him and had the nurse stand on the other side of the bed. "I had to sedate you the last time and we run some tests on you."

Tests? What tests? My heart rate just spiked as I stared at him and Chase, who now stood at the end of my feet with his arms crossed. Why was he still in here? Didn't he do enough damage to me already?

"I would like to talk to you without any problems, Ms. Carlyle. My staff will release you, but you need to promise me that you won't do anything stupid. You need to be looked over, and it's important. Do you understand me?" I nodded and lowered my gaze, sighing. If I had any strength left, I would make a run for it. "Do see the camera in the corner behind me?"

I peeked over and automatically felt like vomiting. I was monitored, probably for days, and no telling what they'd seen. Oh God. Faisal. He and I spoke to each other, and they'll think I was talking to myself.

Fuck!

This was bad. This was really bad. Goodbye plans to leave. I was doomed.

"Ms. Carlyle, I am Nurse Julia Smith," a brunette lady said, her hand on my left wrist. "I will loosen this side for you and your hand will be free. Then I will walk around to the other side and release your right hand. If you don't make any sudden movements, then I will continue and release your ankles."

"Luna." That was Rapist. "Please listen to them and cooperate." Oh, I will. But Miss Nice Girl won't be here for long. I nodded, going along with them. I just wanted to be free.

"Just so you know," Dr. Kim said, "I am prepared to use a tranquilizer as needed if things get out of hand. You weren't very well when you were brought in."

No shit, Sherlock. Of course I wasn't. I was given some type of drug that knocked me out for days. Then I was injected with the same one or another continuously. I don't even know what day it is.

And it affected Amir. So fuck off.

"May I ask something?" I don't see why I should be polite, but I need to make nice... for now.

"Go ahead," Dr. Kim responded, his hands down at his sides.

"What day is it?"

"Luna... it's best if you concentrate on getting better than worry about what day it is." What the hell? Just answer the damn question.

"It's Wednesday. June 5." Faisal. Thank God he showed up. My heart leaped. He even scared me a little. But I was so happy he popped by.

"So it's Wednesday?" I murmured, glaring hard at the doctor while Nurse Smith released my arms.

I laughed when I saw all three of them raise their eyebrows and glance at each other like I said something strange. Faisal told me the date. Ha.

"How did you know that?" Chase asked, shock written all over his face.

"Do you really want to know? Maybe I'm psychic."

He narrowed his eyes and looked away. He thought I was playing. Faisal was  standing near him, ready to knee him in his jewels. I would love to see that, but after I did it. I get dibs on kicking Chase in the groin first.

"It doesn't matter how you know. Let's proceed." Dr. Kim was just as eager to chat with me as I was with him. What the hell was I doped up with? Why am I always restrained? And where was that tranquilizer syringe that I could use on everyone in the room? "Now that your arms are untied, I want to stay clear we don't want to hurt you anymore than you already are. Can I count on you to cooperate, Luna?"

I didn't want to agree, but I also needed to move around for a bit. Faisal was in the room, so I felt better. He could listen in and tell Amir all about the crap I was going through. "Yes," I mumbled, nodding slowly.

"Great." Dr. Kim smiled happily, but it felt practiced and not genuine. I didn't care. I was just glad to finally sit up in my bed. "We don't want you to feel any pain or be more confused as you already are. That is not what this Institute is about. It's forty miles outside of New Orleans, and you may not like being institutionalize, but we do want you to feel comfortable. Well, as much as we can help you feel more comfortable. I want to understand more about what you've been through and are going through."

"You want me to relive some horrible memories that I once buried." Faisal laughed at my statement. He knew. I was glad he understood what I meant.

After the nurse released my feet, I let out a shaky breath and rubbed my ankles, making my way up my legs. My muscles were so hard and knotted, I would love to feel Amir rub them for me.

Dr. Kim placed a hand on my elbow, and I flinched. "I'm not trying to hurt you," he said, softly. "I was just trying to help you stand, if you feel up to it."

Given that my limbs and my entire body were weak, there was no way I was in any condition to refuse. I actually want his help more than Asshole, who wanted to jump quickly to my side. Chase hasn't heard a piece of my mind yet, but he will soon.

The doctor helped me with one arm and guided me up. I hadn't walked around in a week, and the narcotics in my system flowed rapidly. I clutched to the edge of my bed, keeping my breathing steady. Instead of hanging my head down, I kept it held high and focused, so I didn't have to look at any of these people. Faisal was an exception.

Thinking of him, he left.

Where'd he go?

I strutted over to the chair slowly, taking several deep breaths. The catheter in my pubic region dangled, so the nurse rushed over to my side and threw on some blue silicon gloves to help hold it up for me. Then she reached over and grabbed the liquid bag with whatever medicine that was pumping in my veins, settling it behind the chair.

"You're probably still dizzy, but it should pass. You don't have to keep everything hooked up. If you continue to cooperate."

I nodded, and slowly let my eyes travel the room, stopping at the bright light from the outside. At least I know it was daytime. Dr. Kim nodded to the nurse and motioned her to give me a cup with some clear liquid in it. I drank it cautiously, only to please them. Thank God it was only water. The coolness went down my throat and soothed the inside, but I drank it too quickly like I ran a marathon. I was that thirsty.

"So, Luna, I would like to speak with you about why you're here." He placed my cup back onto the end table, and then reached into his coat pocket, pulling out his notepad. "Will you talk to me and be honest? After that, I can show you to your new room."

"New room?" I murmured.

"Yes, Luna. You have a room on the seventh floor that's reserved for you."

"You're acting like I will live here for a while. I have a home. I want to go back to it, with my daughter."

"Well, Luna, I don't know of any other way of informing you this, but you are here for at least a few weeks. Maybe longer." What the fuck?

"Because of him?" I seethed through my teeth. "Get Asshole out of out of here, and you can ask me anything you please."

"Now Luna, you don't have to act like that," Chase replied.

"To hell I don't. You got me in here. I don't want you anymore, and you are punishing me. You're not the Chase I knew. You are the spawn of Satan."

He snorted and turned toward the wall, looking really riled up. He needed to hear the truth. He didn't like the truth. I didn't want him anymore, especially after what he'd done.

"Luna, just take a deep breath. Getting upset won't do any good." Dr. Kim was trying to play peacekeeper, but he doesn't realize what Chase did to me before coming here.

But I do as I am told and continued giving Chase the evil eye. "All right. Some progress has been made between you two. Mr. Marquette, if you could..." The doctor asked the nurse to excort him out, and I hopped up to give him a hug. I just wanted to thank him for getting rid of that virus.

"I don't want him to visit me while I'm here. He is not allowed to, nor will he be allowed to see Sarah anymore. Can you make that happen?"

I sat back down in the chair, and he pinched his lips in a straight line. "I can on him being a visitor here, but not for the request that has to do with your daughter. I can request a family court personnel to contact you, and then you two can go over whatever needs to be done."

I nodded. "Okay."