C H A P T E R F O U R -
H A N D P R I N T

Alicia sits on the hospital bed and winces as Nick stitches up the large yet shallow cut on the back of the head. The atmosphere thick with awkwardness. Alicia, although in pain is able to tell that there is some kind of history between Michael and Nick.

As worried as Michael was, he was reluctant to let Alicia be helped by Nick. In fact, it seemed as though he had hoped that she had been helped by any other doctor. The look of disappointment on his face when Nick had approached them will forever be ingrained in her mind.

As shocked as Nick was at Alicia for being all bruised up and discombobulated, Nick was more so confused at why Michael was the one to bring in Alicia. He wanted to know why Alicia and Michael were together. Had he ran into and found her this way or had they been together before her accident? Her bruises were a close second after thought.

"So, anyone care to tell me what's happened?"

Michael stayed silently sat on a stool in the corner as his eyes met with Alicia's. He wanted her to speak for herself. He didn't know if she was comfortable with him speaking on her behalf. He also wasn't sure if she'd even want anyone knowing of what Abel had done to her. She seemed embarrassed by the entire incident. Michael's was in fact right. Alicia didn't want anyone to know of what happened.

As hurt and upset as she was at Abel's attack, she didn't want anything happening to him. He was a hurt and confused man. This wasn't like him at all. He was a kind soul who never had a bad word to say about anyone.

Her mind drifted onto Mona and the many times she's spent over at her home. She remembers the kind and loving father Abel was to Mona. She was the apple of his eye and the love of his life.

She didn't blame Abel at all for what he had done. He hated her for what she did and she hated herself just as much. She felt as though she deserved the attack. In fact, she felt as though more should've been done. She felt as though if Abel wanted to kill her tonight, she would've let him. She would not have put up a fight. At least then, everyone would feel as though justice had truly been served.

"I-I fell down the stairs." She chuckled awkwardly as she cleared her throat. " Remind me never to drink this late at night ever again. I-I'm too clumsy for it."

Nicks eyes connects with Alicia's and he searches them for any sign of untruthfulness. Nick and Alicia grew up together. They were as thick as thieves in their younger years. She was always a terrible liar, and he knew this. It didn't take long for him to see that she indeed was lying.

"You're lying."

As soon as the bandaged was securely wrapped around her head, he sat on the rolling stool and rolled it over towards her. He grabbed her hands into his own and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Ally, you can tell me anything." He gives her a warm smile. "You know that right?"

Before Alicia is able to speak, Michael beats her to it.

"She just told you she fell. What's so hard to believe?" He harshly spits.

Nick snaps his head in Michael's direction and frowns. He stands to his feet and faces him. Michael does the same and takes a step forward. They're almost chest to chest.

"You shouldn't be in here anyways. You should be in the visiting area. Give myself and my patient some privacy. You're a stranger to her, remember?"

"How about you make me go into the waiting area."

Alicia is confused. She looks up at the two fuming men and tries to figure out what exactly is going on. How had this entire interaction escalated this quickly.

"Do you two know each other or something?"

Michael and Nick continue to stare at one another in pure anger. Not wanting anything physical to occur, Alicia slowly gets up from the bed and whimpers in pain as an unbearable pain makes its way to her head.

Both Nick and Michael move closer to her worryingly and Alicia frowns. She lifts up her hands defensively and keeps one hand firmly on the bed.

"I'm alright. I just need to get home."

"I think it would be better if you sta-"

"Yeah, I'll drive you." Michael cuts Nick off.

Michael walks over to the bed and takes Alicia's jacket in one hand and snakes his arm into hers. She holds onto him and smiles up at him. As she looks to Nick, her smile slowly fades. There's an unreadable look on Nick's face. She isn't quite sure of what to make of it.

"Nick, thank you so much for everything. I truly appreciate it."

"Anything for you." He smugly responds.

She takes her arm out of Michael's and slowly walks over to Nick to give him a hug. Nick and Michael's eyes meet and Nick smirks slightly. Michael scoffs and as Alicia steps back from Nick's hug, she looks back and fourth between the two fuming men.

"Have you two met before?" She awkwardly chuckles. "what's the beef?"

Nick scoffs out a laugh and shakes his head. Michael has no expression on his face. The two men once again give one another an intense death glare.

"We don't know one another." Michael spits quite harshly.

Alicia's smile quickly fades and she bites on her bottom lip. Michael snakes his arm into hers once again and leads her to the door. As they make their way out of the hospital, Alicia's head begins to spin with overwhelming thoughts and questions.

Why was Michael always so harsh towards her? He was always so helpful yet whenever he was around her, he seemed as though he'd rather be anywhere else then near her. She may have been a bit concussed, but she remembers that when he had came to her rescue, he had called her baby.

She could hear the worry in his voice. She saw the fear in his eyes as he looked at her. One would think that he knew her and loved her dearly. Yet he's stated more than once that he did not know her. How could this be? She felt it within in the depths of her being. Something about him was so familiar. Even with his arm intertwined with hers, it felt as if it belonged there.

She didn't know what to make of the altercation between Nick and Michael either. Why was everything so tense? They seemed to have a deep rooted hate for one another. What confused her the most was that they both denied knowing one another. When their interaction clearly showed her that they indeed had a history. Or maybe she was just overthinking things. She could have just been that out of it.

Soon enough, they make it to Alicia's vehicle and Michael helps her into the passenger seat. He makes his way around the back of the car, hops into the drivers seat and instantly speeds off. Alicia quickly puts on her seatbelt and eyes the side of Michael's face.

"Slow down Michael."

Michael doesn't pay her any mind and continues to speed down the uneven road. A long beat overtakes the car. The silence unnerving.

"He won't get away with what he did to you." Michael breaks the silence.

Alicia's eyebrows furrow as she eyes him. He takes a quick glance at her and then draws his icy blues back onto the road.

"Abel. He'll pay for what he did. I know you don't want anyone knowing about what happened, but I promise you. He'll pay."

Alicia quickly shakes her head. She turns her head and lies it against the passenger side window.

"You don't have to. I'm over it."

The car comes to an abrupt stop and Alicia screeches. Had she not been protected by the seatbelt, her head would've gone crashing into the dashboard. Alicia places a hand over her forehead and groans. The soaring headache coming back full force.

"Are you crazy?" She screams.

"Why do you always insist on protecting him?" Michael angrily asks.

Alicia's eyes widen. "What are you talking about?"

"Abel!" Michael's voice booms throughout the car. Alicia jumps at his sudden outburst.

"I- he's been through a lot okay. More than you'd ever know. He's not always like that." She begins to tear up. "He's a good person."

"Look at what he did to you Alicia! How is he a good person?" Michael scoffs.

Alicia isn't able to respond. She shakes her head and crosses her arms over one another. She bites her lip to stop herself from crying.

"You're so fucking gullible. You always have been." He angrily spits.

Alicia stares at him wide eyed before bursting out into tears. Frustrated, Michael starts up the car and continues to speed down the road. He ignores Alicia's wailing and soon pulls into the empty spot right in front of the diner.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure to leave the fucking pedophile alone." He says angrily.

Alicia turns to look at Michael in complete shock. he gets out of the car swiftly and slams the car door. Alicia jumps and watches him teary eyed as he marches down the road. Disappearing behind a concrete wall.

After several minutes of bawling her eyes out, Alicia dries her face and quickly exits her car. She slams the door, not even bothering to lock it and marches into the diner. Storming back to the kitchen, she stomps up the stairs and swings the door open. Richard, hops up from the couch and hurries over towards her. 

He had been waiting for her all night. He had called her over a dozen times and her phone had went straight to voicemail. She was an adult and didn't have a curfew, but that didn't stop him from worrying about her. He knew the issues the towns people had with her. He was worried that someone had hurt her.

"Alicia, where ha- what happened to your head?" The slight anger leaves Richard's voice and worry consumes him.

"Honey are you okay? What happened?"

Ignoring her father, Alicia walks into the direction of her room and slams the door in her fathers face. Richard continues to loudly question her as he stands in front of the door. Alicia, not in the mood to deal with anyone else for the night, sighs frustratedly. She walks into the adjoining bathroom and quickly turns on the shower.

She strips herself of her clothing, tossing it on the bathroom floor as she gets in. As the waters pours onto her head, Alicia breaks down. She shuts her eyes and sits in the corner of the cold tiled shower floor. She places her hand over her chest and begins to heave. So many unexplained emotions were flowing through her. She didn't know how to handle it.

As she cried, she felt an intense coldness on her chest and gasped. She looked down at her chest and gasped. She quickly stood up and turned the shower water off. She stepped out and quickly walked over to the sink and wiped the foggy mirror that hung above it with her wet palm.

There, clear as day was a large hand print directly above her left breast. She began to pace around the room and breathed in and out quickly. She could feel herself begin to panic. She couldn't breath. She couldn't for the life of her understand what was happening to her. She had came back to Roslyn to escape her terrible life, yet here she was. Trouble seemed to have followed her everywhere.

"What the fuck is happening to me?" She heaved.

She shook her head and tried her best to calm herself down. That's it. She needed answers. After what Michael had said to her, she for sure thought that she'd never want to speak to or seem him ever again. However, she knew that this was no coincidence.

Something happened to her that night when the diner was shot up. Something that he has been keeping away from her. She's going to confront him and demand answers. First thing tomorrow morning.

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Thoughts? I literally just finished this chapter in 20 minutes so excuse any errors.

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