Chapter 16 Pushed Her Away

Chapter 16 Pushed Her Away

Dread coupled with fear washed over Violet, creeping into her nerves. 

The place was so dark,

It was hard to see what was ahead. 

The clinic's light only illuminated a small portion of the area surrounding it.

The lamp posts planted across the Island were very far away too.

Violet took a few seconds, taking in the vast emptiness.

Then she made up her mind.

Why was she standing?

Her fear was nothing in comparison with what her daughter might be going through. 

No matter what happened, she had to find Mimi.

What was the point of living, anyway, without her daughter?

Using the flickering lamp posts as her only source of light, Violet began walking.

The cold air bit her skin, and her teeth chattered. 

Having forgotten her shoes, the sharp sand pierced her feet.

“Vi!”

Violet halted. 

“Violet, where are you!!!”

Asher!

He'd returned.

Violet picked up her pace, almost running as his voice got nearer.

Once Asher saw her, he'd stop her.

He'd tell her not to search for her daughter.

But how could Violet remain still?

Asher was right. 

This was dangerous!

But Violet couldn't imagine a life without her daughter!

“Come back, Violet!” 

As Asher's voice became louder, more footsteps joined his. 

They were getting close.

No!

Someone flashed a torchlight across the area.

“Where is she?”

“I hear her breathing.”

“There she is!” Someone announced.

The flashlight flickered in her direction and someone managed to see her. 

Violet gasped, running faster. 

“What are you guys waiting for!” Asher yelled at the bodyguards. “Get her back!”

Like a thousand horses running, their hoofs echoing against the ground, the bodyguards' steps got louder. 

They were running as well, almost catching up with her. 

Violet was running out of breath. 

She was tired again. 

She couldn't let them catch her!

She might as well die here instead of letting them take her back.

What was the point of living when something must have happened to her baby? 

She couldn't find Mimi. 

She couldn't live either.

“Ms. Stuart, please stop!” One of the bodyguards called out. “You're endangering your life!”

But Violet didn't stop running.

She ran out of breath once in every few minutes, and she paused to catch her breath.

The torchlights flashed again. 

This time, there were three flashlights. 

Violet changed directions, running aimlessly around the Island. 

Then,

A dim light flickered in the distance. 

It was so tiny that she could barely glimpse it. 

But the light got bigger as Violet got nearer. 

It wasn't a simple lamp post light after all.

It came from a mini building, illuminating the balcony.

Violet stopped and squatted behind a crate. 

If she continued running, she might fall dead on the spot. 

Her lungs were filled with hot air. 

Her chest ached, the sharp pain spreading across her body. 

Shutting her eyes, Violet took in a long drag of the air. 

The bodyguards' rushed footsteps approached.

Violet held her breath as the torchlights continued flashing around.

“Where did she go?”

“I thought I saw her running over here.”

“She must have headed to the east!”

“There's only water there!”

Suddenly, a huge splash resounded in the area.

Violet thanked her stars. 

“No! She must have fallen into the sea!”

“We have to get her out!”

“Let's hurry!” 

Very soon, the bodyguards' footsteps faded away. 

Violet remained hiding behind the crate, her back pressed to the wall. 

A sharp pain stung her leg. 

That was when she realized something. 

Her leg was bleeding. 

Violet winced, reaching out to pick out the tiny glass shard from her flesh. 

Extremely worn out and thirsty, she dragged herself to her feet.

Violet looked inside the house. 

The doors were wide open and the lights were left on. 

Was there no one in there?

Fearing the bodyguards would return after not finding her in the sea,

Violet limped inside the place. 

But something stopped her,

A tiny voice that sounded familiar. 

“You pushed me away, but now you saved me, Daddy… Do you like me or not?”