IN HIS RUINS

POV - ARIEL

The weather had been too calm all day.

The kind of calm that makes your skin crawl.

The hospital loomed ahead. Big enough to swallow me whole.

I stared up at it. My face was still. My heart wasn't.

I took a deep breath and stepped inside.

I sat at reception, waiting for my father.

He'd been admitted years ago after collapsing at work. Dementia.

Since then, my paycheck disappeared before I even earned it. All for his bills.

The college fund I'd been saving? Gone.

Every birthday gift, every holiday, every "maybe next year" I told myself... gone.

Dad didn't even remember my name half the time. But I still came. Every week.

Because what kind of daughter doesn't?

I tilted my head back and stared at the ceiling.

On the outside, I looked composed.

On the inside, I was breaking.

The nurse came, calling me in. I followed her.

"Good day, Doctor," I greeted. He pointed to the chair for me to sit.

"Good day, Ariel. How are you?" he asked.

"I'm good. You?"

"I'm fine."

"So, Doctor... is there any progress with my dad's health?" I asked.

"I'm glad to tell you that he's improving really fast. Soon he'll be discharged," he revealed.

I exclaimed, "Wow, that's wonderful news, Doc!"

"Of course it is. For now he just needs to be monitored steadily before discharge," he stated.

"You can come back next week to take him home. You can go see him now."

"Okay, Doc. Thank you so much," I said, rushing off to see him.

The ward smelled like antiseptic and old food. Beeping machines. Muted TVs.

Dad was asleep in bed 4B. Thinner than last week. His hands looked like paper.

I sat beside him and held his hand. "Hey, Dad. It's me. Ariel."

No response. Just the rise and fall of his chest.

I whispered, "The doctor says you might come home next week. You hear that?"

For a second I thought his fingers twitched. Maybe I imagined it.

I stayed until the nurse called me back.

On my way out, a nurse called me back. "Wait, ma'am. You have to sign for your guidance and care attendance."

She said, so I followed her to the hall where I was before. She told me to sit in the waiting room, and I did.

Now I felt like the only one there.

I waited for almost 10 minutes, but the nurse wasn't coming.

Then I felt it.

Someone watching me.

Not a glance. A stare.

Like she knew something I didn't.

I shifted in my seat.

That's when I saw them. Two men behind her. Tall. Built. Solid like walls.

My stomach dropped.

The woman walked in wearing a fitted red dress, a black bag on her shoulder. The men followed.

As they got closer, my gut screamed _run_.

I shot to my feet.

I almost made it to the doors.

Until I heard it.

_Click._

A gun, aimed at my head.

"Stop right there, Miss Ariel."

I froze.

She knew my name.

I turned slowly, eyes wide. A gun pointed at my face.

"Who are you?" My voice shook.

"My identity isn't something you need to know," the woman said, smiling faintly.

"You won't live long enough to remember it anyway."

"What do you want from me? Why are you doing this?"

She didn't answer. She just gestured to the men.

I fought. I screamed. It didn't matter.

They threw me to the ground like trash.

The woman crouched and slapped me across the face. Pain burned.

Then the men joined in. Fists. Kicks. Everywhere.

I curled in on myself and screamed.

Then,

Movement.

One punch. A body hit the floor.

Another punch. The second man dropped.

I couldn't see clearly. But I felt him.

Cold. Heavy. Dangerous.

He walked toward me like he owned the room.

When my vision cleared, I wished it hadn't.

He was too handsome to be real.

Sharp jaw. Cold eyes. Black hair.

He didn't look human. He looked carved from stone.

His grip closed around my arm. His stare sent shivers through my nerves.

His grip wasn't painful. It was possessive. Like if he let go I'd disappear.

"Please," I whispered. "I didn't do anything."

"Didn't say you did," he murmured, eyes scanning the room like he was bored.

"But you were in the wrong place. At the wrong time. Talking to the wrong people."

The woman was still screaming behind us.

I couldn't look. "What are you going to do to me?"

He finally looked at me. Really looked. Cold grey eyes that didn't blink.

"Keep you alive," he said simply. "For now."

"You're mine now," he said.

His voice was low. Final.

The world went black.

*EARLIER THAT SAME DAY*

I sat in my room, organizing files for a job interview.

No mistakes. I needed this job.

My phone rang. Unknown number.

I answered too quickly. Like I'd been waiting.

"Are you Ariel?"

The voice was deep. It rolled down my spine.

For a second, I thought it was a prank.

But how did he know my name?

"Yes. Who is this?"

"Go to the hospital. Now.

You don't need to know who I am yet.

When the time comes, you will."

_Click._

He hung up.

I should've ignored it.

But I knew exactly which hospital he meant.

I grabbed my bag and left, not thinking twice.

The drive was a blur. Traffic. Horns. My hands shaking on the wheel.

By the time I reached the hospital entrance, my phone was already buzzing with missed calls from the job.

I ignored them.

The last thing I remember was stepping through the sliding doors.

The smell of antiseptic. Cold tiles.

Then nothing.

*BACK TO THE HOSPITAL*

I woke up to voices. My head was pounding.

The woman was standing there, staring at the man holding me.

"What are you doing here? Blackwood," she spat.

The man didn't even look at her. His arms were locked around me.

"Taking what belongs to me," he said. Bored.

"Belongs to you? We both know clearly that she's not yours!" the woman shouted.

His voice dropped. Cold. Dangerous.

"I'm more surprised by your stupidity than your mouth. You should've run when you had the chance."

"You... you can't hurt me," the woman stammered.

"I won't," he said. "If I kill you now, who will tell the story?"

He set me down gently on the floor.

I tried to move, but my vision was blurry.

Then I heard the woman scream.

"Let me give you a little gift," the man said, voice low. "Next time you wouldn't dare to speak."

His hand slid into the inner pocket of his suit. Slow. Deliberate.

He brought out a stiletto. Small. Silver. Deadly.

She noticed his little dagger and ran.

Just one step from the door.

Too late.

The blade flashed. A clean, vicious line tore across her cheek.

Blood streamed down, pouring out like a cracked tank.

She screamed.

But before she could escape, his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, yanking her back.

"Listen closely," he said over her crying.

"Next time you try to dare me, you won't escape from death. And you shouldn't take what belongs to the Blackwoods."

My heart was pounding fast as he walked toward me.

Strong arms lifted me again. I was too weak to fight.

Right before we left, his voice was right by my ear.

"You'll get yours somewhere else."

I couldn't believe it. Is this a dream? If it is, then I really need to wake up from this terrible nightmare.

And then we were gone, leaving the woman behind, crying on the floor.

But wait...!

Where was he taking me?...