Chapter 15 Find Her

Chapter 15 Find Her

…

Her baby's wails echoed with the wind. 

Inside the sandstorm, her scream for help was heart-wrenching.

Violet's heart grieved, her hands grasping onto nothingness.

Struggling to get a hold of her daughter, she scurried on the hot desert sand, calling out for her.

Miracle!

Where was she?

Her tiny figure was like the fleeting breeze, disappearing the next second it came. 

Mimi-

Violet's lungs were once again stuffed with dust, her scream reduced to rapid sobs. 

Her head rolling from left to right rapidly, she thrashed on the soft surface.

Something was grabbing her hand,

Someone was holding her…

Was it her daughter?

“Vi…” But it was a male voice. “Violet… please wake up.” 

He stroked her hair, his reassuring words floating into her ears. “You'll be fine… relax, Vi.”

Violet woke up with a start. 

Her eyes snapped open and the white ceiling came to her vision. 

Her chest heaving up and down, she panted heavily. 

Streams of sweat rushed down her forehead. Her eyes swept across the room and they fell on him.

Asher.

Using his hankie to wipe off her sweat, gloom washed over Asher's expression. 

He stroked her hair gently. “You scared me, Violet.”

Her brows furrowing, Violet looked around the room. 

She was alive!

They must be inside the Island's clinic.

Which meant,

The sandstorm and the sounds of her daughter calling were only a nightmare.

Violet was safe.

Mimi was safe too. 

But why was the space beside her empty?

Wasn't her daughter supposed to be beside her? 

A new kind of apprehension building up, Violet turned to the man, her dread returning. 

“Where's Mimi?” Hesitantly, she whispered. 

Her eyes were clouding with tears again.

The foreboding feeling was coming back. 

Asher's gesture as he looked down and sighed heavily increased Violet's fear. 

His words weren't assuring either. “Mimi will come soon.”

What did he mean by that?

If her daughter was coming soon, why did Asher look sad?

“Don't lie to me.” Violet could feel her cheeks getting wet again.

No, she wasn't crying.

Her daughter was fine. 

Maybe Asher was speaking the truth.

“Have you found Mimi yet?” She added. 

Yet, 

Asher only avoided her gaze. 

Shaking his head, he replied, “We're still searching for her.”

Still searching?

Violet's gaze strayed to the window. 

In the dark sky, there were only a handful of stars.

The sky was so dark and still. 

How many hours had passed?

Mimi went missing in the afternoon…

No!

Violet sprang up, about to jump down the bed.

Her heart racing again, she didn't want to imagine…

She couldn't imagine what happened to her daughter.

“Vi… stop being stubborn.” Asher held her down, ceasing her movement with his strong arms. “You're sick. Please don't stress yourself-”

“I might as well die if anything happens to her!” Violet wept in his arms, her heart aching. “I'm a bad mother, Ash.”

“Don't speak like that.” Asher stroked her hair, and murmured, “You'll be fine. Mimi's gonna be fine too.”

How?

When her baby was still out there?

Violet doubted that. 

It was nighttime already.

Mimi must be in danger-

She must be starving! 

“Believe me, Ash.” Violet pulled away from his embrace. “I- I'll find Mimi. Just let me go- let me look for her.”

“Violet, no-”

Asher grabbed her arm and she pushed him away. 

Cursing under his breath, Asher held her down, his tone harsher this time. “I won't let you go out there. Your life is also important to me!”

Her life?

Only her life?

Her eyes clouding with more tears, Violet's lips trembled. “What about Mimi's life? Isn't it important as well?”

“Don't misunderstand me, Violet.” Sighing helplessly, Asher softened his tone. “Mimi's like my own daughter.”

“Then let me find her.”

“No! You'll stay here.” Asher tucked her in bed. “It’s for your own good.”

Violet was tired of arguing.

Her heart felt weak,

She didn't know if the pain in her chest was only due to the asthma or Mimi's disappearance. 

She longed to find her baby. 

“Stop overthinking, okay?” Asher went on. “This Island is mine. I'll employ more search parties and make sure they check every spot in the morning.”

Morning?

That was too long. 

What if the sandstorms started again? 

What if those people didn't search hard enough?

What if they couldn't make it to this Island?

Yet, 

Violet nodded obediently despite those wary thoughts.

As Asher leaned downward and kissed her forehead, he whispered, “I’ll take care of some business at the Villa. Will return later.”

“Sure.”

Violet nodded, giving him the go-ahead. 

She remained lying like that until his figure disappeared,

Until his footsteps faded away. 

Then she sprang up and fled the ward. 

Taking the back exit of the clinic, Violet hurried before anyone saw her.

Then she came out.

A wide Island, vast and dark, stretched ahead of her.