She was brought into a room where she was being attended to by the the doctors. She kept her eyes opened even though they were so weak. After a while she was stabilised, a drip on her hand, monitors...beeping, all intact.
Erica walks in, the doctors, nurse and the maids that were in there bowed at her entrance.
"Who is she?" She asked as she entered.
"We don't know yet." The head doctor answered.
"So, you brought in a stranger?" Erica asked.
"Her pendant and her ring. She might be Mr. Yungie's wife….."
"She is dead okay. I am his wife." Erica fired back. "I need you to keep her in this state." she added and walked out.
Erica walked out, while they all bow at her exit.
Outside, Erica bumps into Ashley.
"I heard what happened. Who is she?"
"Someone who was looking for a job. I have told them to take care of her." Erica said smiling.
"Let me check on her." Ashley said as she walked over to the door.
"You cant, Simon, the head doctor said she needs to rest." Erica replied as she held Ashley's hand to prevent her from opening the door.
"Oh, when I get back then. Take care of yourself and my baby." Ashley said and hugs Erica.
"Yh will do." Erica replied.
Ashley was about to leave Eadlin enters, she greets him with a hug and then leaves.
"How is your friend?" Erica asked but Eadlin walked away without responding.
***
Back at the hospital.
Gabrielle stood exactly where she was.
Her question still hanging in the air.
"Who are you?"
Ariel didn't answer immediately.
She just looked at her and then let out a smirk…
"How about I show you." Ariel said then disappeared.
"You're asking the wrong question," Ariel said still not seen.
"Where are you?" Gabrielle cried out.
"In your head." Ariel replied, by this time Gabrielle was already feeling dizzy.
"I am Ariel, the assistant of the Queen Neta."
By this time, Gabrielle's body fell, but not on the hospital floor but ,
a different place,
It had red smokes all around, it does not have a floor
It gave an illusion of floating,
Gabrielle stands, she sits back, not falling, just floating….
She panics
"Where am I?" She asked and then let out a scream…."Help""
"You should be asking what you are becoming." Ariel voice echoed.
"Somebody help!" Gabrielle cried out again. Her voice echoed but it did not sound like anyone was close.
"No one can help you here. You and at the barrier of heaven and earth, magic and nature, life and death." Ariel replied.
"What?" Gabrielle cried. Her chest tightened, the rhythm of her breath became uneven.
"Just kidding. It is just the gate to another world. The world of magic."
Gabrielle still unease, tried to stand, although staggered a bit but was able to.
"Get me out of here Ariel." Gabrielle ordered.
"I will, eventually." Ariel said and then appeared at her front.
"You are magic, and I am now your assistant. I am to guide you on how to use your powers, grow them and not destroy yourself." Ariel said. "You can not understand everything now, but very soon you will just listen to me." She added.
"And why should I?"
"You are stubborn, then get out yourself." Ariel turned and then….she is gone.
"Heyyy…...Ariel, get me out of here." Gabrielle cried out.
Back at the hospital, in Joan's room, Joan sat on the bed, her back slightly supported by pillows. She looked so much better. A nurse stood beside her, removing the last line connected to her hand.
"You'll need to rest when you get home," she said. "No stress, no movement that's too much."
Joan nodded slowly.
"I understand."
The door opened. Mr. Julius stepped in, this time, his eyes were softer and he looked happier than the last time he was at the hospital. His bodyguard did not enter the ward with him but stood outside. The doctor followed behind him, flipping through Joan's file as he walked.
"She responded faster than expected," the doctor said. "We'll continue monitoring her condition, but for now, she's stable enough to be discharged. I would say it was a miracle. "
Mr. Julius gave a short nod.
"You'll still come in for checkups," the doctor added, glancing at Joan. "And we proceed carefully from here."
Joan didn't respond immediately. Her eyes had moved to the door, like she was expecting someone to walk in.
"…Where's Gabrielle?" she asked.
The nurse paused.
Mr. Julius glanced at the doctor while the doctor looked back at her.
No one answered immediately.
"She was here," she said. "She didn't leave. Did she?"
The nurse shook her head gently. "We haven't seen her for a while."
Joan's expression changed, she looked so confused and sad. "She didn't even say anything?"
Mr. Julius stepped closer. "Maybe she went home," he said calmly. "You've been through a lot. She probably didn't want to disturb you."
Joan stared at him for a second. Then looked back at the door but it was still empty.
"…She wouldn't just leave," she said quietly.
No one argued.
The room fell silent.
The doctor cleared his throat slightly breaking the silence.
"We should get you ready."
The nurse nodded and began arranging her things but Joan's eyes stayed on the door.
****
Meanwhile, in a dark room, empty but not completely, it has chains on the ground, some on used to chain some people to a wall. One of them moved slightly.
Clink.
The sound echoed softly.
Footsteps approached, slowly, each step gave it own beat.
A man stepped into the room.
Dressed in clean suits. He walked around majestically, suddenly….
He stopped.
He looked down, at a chains broken. He stepped closer to take a closer look to be sure he is not assuming things.
"…No."
The word came out low but sharp.
He bent, reached out and touched the chain.
It was cold, broken, though not forced open not cut neither snapped. The locks of the chains were carefully separated.
His expression changed.
"How is this even possible." He looked around…. "She's gone." He screamed angrily.
He turned, walked out rushing.
Outside the room, He pulled out his phone.
Dialed a number.
Waited.
The line connected.
"She's out," he said. "…someone let her out." He added. "Someone who is skilled."
Silence took over, the kind that carried meaning.
His grip on the phone tightened.
"Find her."
A pause.
Then his voice dropped slightly.
Colder.
Deep.
"And find whoever did this. I will confirm if she is home. Make sure no one else gets out."
The call ended.
He lowered the phone slowly.
Then looked back toward the room at the broken chain still swinging slightly.
Back.
And forth.
The man in suit, screamed and then…..
BANGGG!!!!
He hits the door angrily.
***
AT Gabrielle's house, she opened the gate then walked in so tired and weak.
She shut the door behind her as soon as she entered, like she was avoiding someone.
"Miss me?" Ariel asked.
Gabrielle squeezed her face like Ariel voice taunts her.
"Why are you here?"
"In case you think I like being stuck with you, well you wrong." Ariel fired back.
"Okay, I will listen to you. You know why? " Gabrielle continued as she arranges the house.
"In most movies that I have seen, if I listen to you and you help me go through all these, then I will be free from you."
"You wish" Ariel said laughing.
"You say?" Gabrielle asked pretending not to hear what she said.
" I have never seen a human live in a pigs house." Ariel scoffs.
"Make yourself useful."
Clothes, broom, mop,and other cleaning utensils
some floats in the air,
all working together in accord.
"How did you do that?" Gabrielle asked surprised.
"You are very strong at the same time very weak."
"Every action has a cost," Ariel said quietly. "You just haven't seen yours yet and that scares me more than anything. "
Gabrielle went silent.
For a second,
"That woman," Gabrielle said suddenly and sits beside her. "The one I saw… she was real."
Ariel didn't look surprised.
"She was," she replied.
"I helped her."
"Yes."
"So where is she now?" Gabrielle asked so curious
Ariel didn't answer.
"Did you make me do that?" She pressed on like she was suspicious.
And that silence that came after,
That was the answer.
Gabrielle's stomach dropped.