Lying on the cold floor, staring at the ceiling, tears stream down her face. She is naked, wounded, and scarred.

Empty.

She feels like a withered leaf, falling in the desolation of autumn.

Expression: nonexistent. Emotion: nonexistent. Thought: nonexistent.

All that remains is a body, a vessel, lying lifelessly in the small room.

She is alive.

Yet, inside, she has already died.

The future is a blur to her, let alone the present. Her past is a painful memory, filled with acts that have pierced her heart. The cage that holds her captive feels tighter with each passing day.

She has surrendered her life, shutting down everything within her.

She has pleaded, cried, and fought. But she is weak. She cannot even protect herself, cannot even take care of herself.

She gazes at her bruised hand, tracing the scratches, handprints, and bites that mar her body. Her fingers brush against her swollen cheek, her lips stained with blood. She traces her breasts, bearing the repulsive bite marks. Silent sobs wrack her body. She no longer recognizes herself. Her skin feels tainted, too defiled to be called skin anymore.

She feels dirty, tainted by her own existence. She is nothing, a helpless stray wandering the streets. Her mind is vacant.

Zero.

All she can hear are sick grunts, words that reduce her to nothing more than a whore. Worthless.

Even lower than a stray dog.

I love you... You are mine... Don't you dare think of leaving me! You will always belong to me! No one will ever love you like I do! Only I can love you like this!

She screams, her voice tearing through the air. Clasping her ears, she shakes her head violently. She rushes to the bathroom, gripping the edge of the sink. She empties herself, her insides pouring out.

Slowly raising her head, she gazes at her reflection in the mirror. The blame weighs heavy on her, blaming herself for not taking action sooner.

"If only..." she mutters, her finger tracing her swollen eyes. Now she despises herself. Sickened by the sight of the disgusting girl standing before her!

You're so stupid! You knew you could take action, but you allowed yourself to be subjected to that monster! Now, you're nothing but worthless. Do you think you can find happiness like this?

Just fucking die!

She smashes her fist into the mirror, shattering it. Blood drips from her injured hand as she stares at her bloody knuckles. A thought crosses her mind.

And it becomes the only way out.

Her one-way ticket.

***

Sorn rushes inside, a sense of urgency in his movements. He clenches his fist and heads straight to the reception desk, sighing deeply as he impatiently waits. Way stands close behind him, wearing a worried expression.

"Excuse me?" Sorn calls out.

"Yes?" the lady at the desk responds.

"Gia Esmeralda Hunter?" Sorn's gaze falters slightly. Way presses his hand to his forehand, their eyes meeting briefly.

"Apartment 5B. Can you tell us your relationship with her?" the lady inquires.

"Family," Way answers.

"Alright then. But only for an hour," she replies.

Both Sorn and Way quickly leave the counter, heading straight to apartment 5B. Sorn's hand shakes as he opens the door. Inside, Gia lies on the bed, sleeping peacefully. Tamara and Uyana are by her side, their eyes red and swollen from crying, holding each other tightly with Lilac nestled in Uyana's arms.

"Mara, Yana..." Sorn says softly.

They turn their attention to Way and Sorn.

"She might be assigned to the psychiatric ward. But Yana refused to sign the consent form without Gia's approval," Tamara explains. Sorn watches Gia with glassy eyes.

Way steps closer to her, gently taking her bandaged wrist in his hand, his gaze filled with despair. He intertwines his fingers with hers.

Sorn gazes at his brother, fully aware of how worried Way has been about Gia since Uyana's call. Now is not the time to let jealousy consume him. Everyone needs Gia, and Gia needs them.

Slowly, Gia opens her eyes, her gaze unfocused. Way crouches down, his eyes fixed on her.

"Hey... Are you awake?" he offers a helpless smile. She looks at him, tears streaming down her face as she tightly grips her fingers.

Sorn looks away, unable to hide his jealousy. But he knows he needs to be there. It's crucial to show how much he cares for her.

"Gia..."

Suddenly, she pulls her hand away.

"Go away!"

Her voice sounds stern. Tamara reaches out to touch her other hand.

"G?"

"Go away! I said leave!!!" Uyana jumps from her chair, alarmed by Gia's sudden loss of control. Way takes a few steps back, his confusion evident. Sorn swiftly grabs his brother.

"G... it's us," Sorn says in a gentle tone.

"Go! Go!!!! Leave!!!" Gia starts throwing objects at them. Uyana quickly presses the nurse button.

"Please, leave," Tamara pleads.

"But..." Way starts to protest, but seeing Gia in such pain breaks his heart. He locks eyes with Sorn, who nods, encouraging him to follow him out of the room.

Soon, a doctor and nurse enter, swiftly taking charge of the situation. Gia starts to calm down gradually. Uyana and Lilac are crying in Tamara's arms.

Way can only watch from a distance, tears streaming down his face. It hurts him deeply to see someone he loves so much suffer like this.

"Sorn..." he calls out to his brother, their eyes meeting. Sorn, too, looks devastated.

"Let the doctor handle it. Let's go to the cafeteria," Sorn suggests to Uyana and Tamara.

***

"I can't believe she would take such a risk..." Uyana says, her voice filled with disbelief. She takes a sip of her coffee while watching Lilac sleep in the stroller.

"I can't believe it either. This isn't like her," Tamara adds, her voice tinged with concern.

Sorn looks down, lost in his thoughts, while Way sits on a bench outside the hospital building, trying to find solace.

"How did you come to know her?" Sorn asks, breaking the silence.

"Miss Kat, her neighbor, returned from a trip and noticed Gia's front door wide open. When she entered the house, she heard water running from the bathroom. That's where she found Gia with her wrist cut. The tub was filled with blood..." Uyana's voice trails off as she breaks into sobs.

"The doctor mentioned that she had numerous signs of abuse on her body. She's traumatized too. She kept screaming and calling out Way's name..." Tamara explains, her eyes turning towards Way in the distance.

"What does this have to do with him?" Sorn asks, his gaze fixed on his brother.

Before Tamara can respond, the doctor approaches them.

"She's stable now, but she needs Miss Valot," the doctor informs them.

"Alright," Tamara responds, leaving the group to go to Gia's room.

"How is her condition?" Uyana asks, her voice filled with concern.

"It's uncertain at the moment. However, we will provide her with the best treatment possible," the doctor responds before excusing himself.

Sorn and Uyana share a glance, knowing that all they can do now is wait.

Only time has the power to heal wounds.

***

"I'm sorry, Mara..."

"It's okay. You need to rest," Tamara reassures her. Gia looks at her with a sense of sadness.

"Mara, I need to go away. Away from everyone..."

Tamara chuckles, thinking Gia is joking, but her laughter fades when she sees the seriousness in Gia's pale face.

"Don't talk like that, Gia... I know you're stronger than this," Tamara tries to comfort her.

"I don't want to put you or anyone else in danger anymore! I'd rather be alone! I feel like I'm putting all of you at risk, and it's only a matter of time before you all get hurt!" Gia rants, her voice filled with anguish.

"No one is going to get hurt like that, Gia..."

"You don't understand! You never will! I... I almost got him to kill Way... Who's next? Yana? Sorn? You?" Tamara tightly grips Gia's hand.

"Nothing is going to happen to us, I promise. We will catch him, no matter what. Please..."

"I've made up my mind. I'm leaving..." Gia declares with determination.