Chapter 14 No Longer Breath

Chapter 14 No Longer Breath

Lost in a daze, Violet stared at the shoe. 

Mimi. 

Where was her baby?

Where was her other shoe?

The sandstorm…

Did it take her away? 

A sharp pain gripped her chest, and a sob tore from Violet's throat.

No!

“Vi…” Asher squatted beside her. “Please calm down.” 

His tone wasn't as energetic as before. It had zero hope in it. 

Asher hugged her. “It's just a shoe… she must have misplaced it.”

The shoe had straps. 

It would be hard for Mimi to remove it on her own. 

Misplaced it?

In this vast place?

“What happened, Ash?”

“Have you seen her yet?”

“Where's Mimi?”

“Violet, what's wrong? Why're you crying?”

The others joined them, throwing questions after questions. 

Right. 

Where was Mimi?

Where did the sandstorm take her?

Violet shot to her feet, breaking out of Asher's embrace. 

Frantically, she ran around the Island as if she'd lost her mind. 

No! 

Mimi had to be here somewhere.

Her baby had to be alright. 

Where was she!?

“Mimi!!!”

“Violet, please stop it!” Asher caught up. He hugged her tightly, restricting her movement. “Please let's go inside. Another sandstorm is on its way.”

Another sandstorm? 

No way!

“What about Mimi?” Violet sobbed. “We have to find her!”

“Of course.” Asher used his thumbs to wipe her tears. “I've informed the bodyguards to search for her. Don't worry.”

But Violet's worry only increased, her eyes sweeping around the place.

Her baby…

When would the bodyguards find her?

What condition was her daughter in?

“Mimi's gonna be fine, Dear…” Violet's mother came and hugged her. “Please stop crying.”

“There aren't many people on this Island. She won't get lost, okay?”

Her grandparents reassured;

“Besides, Mimi's smart. I'm sure she'll seek shelter.”

Mimi's smart, but she was only a kid. 

Caught up in this kind of situation, she'd be afraid.

Violet couldn't even imagine her daughter's fright, being faced with such a huge sandstorm.

“I'll join the search party,” Her Uncle, Liam, volunteered. “We'll find her soon.”

“I'll join them too, Vi… please stop worrying,” Asher said. 

Violet wiped more tears from her eyes.

She was at fault.

How could she let Mimi out of her sight?

How could she let her wander off?

If anything happened to her baby, she was never going to forgive herself.

Reluctantly, 

Violet followed her family inside. 

But then, her lungs were stuffed once more. 

In an effort to let out the dust, she coughed rapidly. 

Yet, she couldn't breathe no matter how hard she tried. 

The dust was suffocating her too much. 

“Oh, my God!”

“Violet, are you alright?”

The rapid cough sent Violet to her knees, her body weakening. 

“Hang in there, Dear.” Her mother held her. “Don’t rush it. Breathe slowly.”

“What's happening?” Asher returned. 

Her mother's voice was frantic. “Violet has asthma! Someone, get her inhaler!”

“She has asthma!?” Asher exclaimed. “Do you have her inhaler, Freya?”

Their voices were like air breezing past Violet's ears.

She tried to grasp onto what they were saying to no avail. 

Her lungs were completely stuffed. 

It was as if something heavy was being pressed to her chest. 

Amidst all that, Violet felt lightheaded. 

As if floating in the air, her life flashed before her eyes. 

“Where the hell is it!!!? Damnit!!!” Asher's loud voice was the only thing she registered. 

Whatever was Freya's response… it wasn't a positive one. 

The family's noises got louder. 

They called out to her constantly.

Violet could no longer breathe.

Was she going to die?

No!

Mimi!

Finally, someone pressed the tiny bottle onto her lips, urging her to inhale it. 

But Violet felt nothing. 

“Damnit!!! It's finished!” Asher's loud curses echoed, the last thing Violet could register.

She couldn't breathe!

She was going to die!