Chapter 16.

I can feel myself floating in an abyss of endless darkness. Wherever I looked there was nothing but darkness, trying to consume me completely, trying to gain control over my body, trying to eat me alive.

Wait. Am I even alive? Tough question.

I continued to float through this dark abyss, I had no sense of time.

How long have I been here? One hour, two hours, a day, week, months? I don't know.

Will I ever get out of this unknown place? Honestly, I have no idea.

What are my parents doing? Are they safe and sound? And what about Ryan and Mia, Niel and Ken, Hadley and Vince, Kate and Mr. Daniels? But most of all what about Norman? Is this all because of him? I'm not blaming him for the attacks but it was his club anyway, there has to be something wrong with either his business....or him.

Melissa, you should not be thinking these things about your benefactor who sponsored you for a full-ride scholarship to college.

But still, I can't help but think about the reason behind these vicious attacks. Well, I can't do anything but think these days.

Is it something to do with the Mafia or is it the work of some rival company who wanted to sabotage Norman's name or was it a conspiracy planned by Norman to claim the insurance money?

There are many reasons but I find these three relevant.

But the main problem is when will I be able to get out of this place.

Suddenly I felt a tingling sensation on my chest and a faint voice saying something in a really low voice, sounding almost gibberish and I was unable to comprehend even a single voice through the voice was strangely familiar, warm just like the feeling of the sun on a cold winter morning. I don't know how but I had this strong urge to unveil the identity of the person behind the enchanting voice but first of all, I need to get out of here if I want to discover the owner of the voice.

I continued to float through the dark abyss but this time with a new determination, determination to get out of here, determination to find the owner of this beautiful and enthralling voice.

I suddenly felt myself moving upwards and the tingling sensation on my chest disappeared and was replaced with a weight. The weight on my chest continued to get heavier and heavier till I felt myself getting suffocated under the weight.

I was struggling with the strange weight on my chest when I heard the faint whispering getting stronger and clearer and pretty soon I can faintly make out the words he was speaking.

"I know...I'm bad.....you deserve someone better.....someone, that can share his everything with you....most importantly someone who doesn't endanger your life with his mere presence..but I am selfish.....I cannot endure the fact of you being with someone who isn't me, this simple thought kills me and all I see is red...I will try to woo you, I will pursue you till the end....but if you still refuse to be with me...I will back off...I will stop corrupting your life with my damned existence.....I will make sure that your life, your future would be untouched by my sins of the past.....I will make sure that your loved ones are safe and sound....even that bastard....that you will eventually come to love...just wake up love....it's killin' me to see you like this....it pains me, even more, when I know that I'm the reason why are you here....in this condition...I just..."

The opening of the door made him stop his hearty speech.

Don't stop, please go on.

"Mr. Blackford, you are still here?" The shrill voice of a female asked the person who was

talking to me previously.

"Yes, I was...uhh...just leaving anyway...Have a good day Mrs. Davis," he said quickly and then I heard the door being opened and slammed shut faintly.

I tried to open my eyes but was unable to do so, it felt as if my eyes were clamped shut with some kind of strong adhesive.

You can do this Melissa. One more time Mel, but this time with more force and faith. I counted till 3 and tried once again, I put my whole strength in this action and...Viola....finally I was able to feel some sensation in my eyelids and a few moments later my eyes fluttered open.

I was nearly blinded by the bright light seeping in through the pale peach-colored curtains. It took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the brightness but still, my sight was a bit hazy and blurry.

My eyes scanned the whole room trying to find some form of life. The female with the shrill voice was facing away from me when my eyes fell on her. I rested my head on the pillow as I patiently waited for the dirty blonde-haired woman to turn around, and when she finally did turn around, a loud gasp escaped through her parted lips.

"Hey mom," I croaked out as I tried smiling at her. She immediately ran out of the room, banging the door loudly behind her, without even replying to me but a few seconds later a young man walked in through the door, clad in a doctor's coat, and my mom and a petite nurse following right behind him.

"How are you feeling today Miss Davis?" The young doctor enquired as he pushed the glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Thirsty," I croaked out painfully. My throat was as dry as the Sahara desert.

"Get her some water," the doctor ordered the nurse and she quickly scurried off to get it.

She handed me the glass of water and went to check the vitals.

I finally felt at ease when the cool water went down my throat generating a cool and soothing sensation.

"What happened?" I questioned.

"Well Miss Davis, you have been unconscious for the last two weeks due to massive blood loss caused due to the cut in your stomach. It took us 25 stitches for it to seal completely. But thankfully you are okay," he responded as he adjusted the stethoscope around his neck which he had used to check up on me before.

"Everything looks normal for now, I will check up on you later," with this said he walked out of the room with the nurse following behind him like a lost puppy. My eyes followed him till he disappeared behind that door and then I finally diverted my attention back to my mom who was standing beside my hospital bed like a beautiful statue, staring down at me, deep in thoughts

Should I call her?

But she looks deep in thoughts.

Oh fuck this, I am calling her.

"Mom, are you okay?" I all but yelled at her and this seemed to work as she snapped out of whatever trance she was in. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes as she blinked rapidly to stop them from rolling freely down her cheeks. She lunged at me, wrapping both of her hands tightly around me as she cried her heart out, throughout careful enough not to hurt me. The tears that came out from her eyes completely drenching my light blue colored, may I add 'hideous' looking h0ospital gown, as she poured her eyes out.

"You *hiccup* don't *hiccup* know how *hiccup* worried *hiccup* we were. You *hiccup* gave *hiccup* us *hiccup* a *hiccup* heart attack *hiccup*, " she sobbed out.

I had no idea what to say to her, so I resolved to just patting her back lightly as I waited for her to calm down.

After she was finally calm enough to talk, she immediately demanded to know what happened, so I proceeded to tell her all the prior events that eventually led me to this condition of mine.

Before I know it, the sun was already setting and the nurse barged inside my hospital room, informing my mother that the visiting hours are over and she needs to leave.

"Okay honey, I will see you in the morning, and please try to sleep. I know you have been unconscious for days but you still need to rest if you want to recover quickly," she said as she got up, adjusting the strap of her handbag on her shoulder as she leaned in to kiss my forehead.

"Goodbye mom, and please call me when you reach home," I said to her.

She gave me a small smile and whispered a low 'I will' before walking straight out of the door.

I decided to lay down for a while but before I know it I found myself slipping into oblivion.

My peaceful slumber was broken by the click sound generated while opening a door and then slowly slamming it shut and a pair of heavy footsteps paced across the room and making the sound I can tell that they are coming close towards my hospital bed. The footsteps finally halted and I can tell that the person is standing near the head side of the bed.

"I know you are awake Melissa," I heard a deep, smooth, velvet-like voice addressing me.

I slowly opened my eyes and saw Mr. Blackford leaning towards me.

OMG!!! What should I do now? Think quick Melissa. What is he doing?

"Norman."His name escaped smoothly and naturally from my lips. His name on my lips felt so unfamiliar yet so right.

"I'm sorry Amore Mio," he breathed out the words, pain laced on every single word that came out of his mouth.

"It's not your fault Mr. Blackford, you can't help it if your enemies targeted your business, after all, you are the man that everyone envies," I said, trying to lighten up his mood as I felt him squeeze my hand that was engulfed in his big, large ones.

"If only I have been more careful and used more security," he started but I interrupted him saying "it's okay, I'm okay. Everything is fine. What matters the most is that there were no casualties except those goons. Everyone is fine, I'm fine. Please Norman, don't beat yourself over something that was completely out of your control. Nobody could have foreseen this."

Throughout this whole ordeal, we both have unconsciously has moved close, too close. Now I can feel his warm minty breath fanning over my face.

"Norman." I start but he interrupts me by pressing a finger against my lips, pulling away he trails his thumb over my slightly parted lips as his warm chocolate brown eyes stared deeply into mine. My breath stopped completely when his lips finally descended on mine. His arms wrapped tightly around my waist, preventing me from falling back onto my pillow as I lost all control over my body. He pulled me even closer, which was quite surprising to me as every part of my body was already pressed against his.

His plump warm lips were now pressed firmly yet gently on mine. His kiss was gentle yet so full of passion. My hands unconsciously traveled up behind him, tangling them in his silky locks as I slowly moved my lips against his. The intensity of the kiss was too much, it felt as if every single cell of my body which had been dormant for the past seventeen years has suddenly come alive, and all of this happened because of this single man, standing before me was none other than Norman Blackford.

After what felt like years but we're only a few minutes, we pulled away from each other, my lips were swollen lightly as I panted heavily but he didn't seem to be fazed at all by the lack of oxygen. He was breathing normally but his lips were swollen and had turned a beautiful shade of scarlet.

My mind was foggy, it felt as if every sane thought has escaped from my mind. I must have looked like someone who has just finished running a cross country race as my cheeks were flushed and I was panting heavily. He once again pulled me close and pecked my lips once, twice, thrice, and then finally pulled away.

Gathering all the courage inside me, I finally looked up at him and I was astonished at the amount of love, passion, and adoration his eyes were holding.