Twenty- One - A chat with Lucille.

Being someone who liked to pride herself in her little strength, Chloe was really hating the fact that her illness was barely getting better. And since she refused to go to a hospital, Amir and Gabriel had her put on an absolute bed rest for a whole day with restrictions on her movement.

And that made her hate the illness even more.

Sniffling as she helped herself up, her mind traveled to Nathaniel who hadn't been seen in the house since Gabriel's little... confession. Or maybe declaration was a better word.

Even though she always felt that she had no use for human relations, she felt really kind of sad that he did not even peep into her room once. She had some kind of expectation in her that he would come at some point. But perhaps she expected too much.

She was letting just two dates and a few encounters and a kiss lead her mind into thinking too much.

But despite him, one thing was sure. She was really grateful to Amir and Gabriel who took turns to make her comfortable. At some point in the day, Chloe began to wonder if the men were really into dirty business indeed. They didn't act like they were.

But like some say, you can never really know a person.

Chloe smacked her lips as she looked out her open window from where she sat. The evening was setting in and the air looked clear and suitable for a good walk.

That gave her an idea.

As she got her feet off the bed and gathered her strength for the little walk she was about to take for the sake of keeping her sanity, a knock came from the other side.

"Come in," Chloe realized how coarse her voice was and reached for some water.

"You are not planning on leaving your bed, are you?" Lucille's voice entered the space before she showed herself.

"Lucille. It is good to see you," Chloe said. Ever since the incident at the club, she never got to meet her. She had things to ask her and talk to her about.

"Amir had a feeling you would be attempting to leave your bed, so he asked me- in his words- to restrain you." She had a nice smile when she was not wearing her bitchy look, Chloe noticed.

"He acts like I am supposed to be on life support."

She chuckled, her hands playing with the twined ropes that adorned her long chiffon gown whose floral designs actually made Lucille look pretty. "Do you need something?"

"Yes, a walk." Lucille gritted her teeth. Chloe understood. She wouldn't make it halfway past her door with her two nurses in the house. So, she said with a small smile, "A walk to my balcony would do me some good."

"Well, then let's have this walk." Lucille walked over to help Chloe out of the bed which proved necessary as her legs went weak instantly. But they soon got the hang of the situation and cooperated and helped Chloe to the balcony where amazing air hit her face.

"You know, I would have never thought that I would see you being this nice to me."

"I was a bitch, yeah?" Lucille asked with a small smile and a distant looking eyes. Chloe nodded to her question. "It was all part of the act."

"Even when you threatened me to stay away from Nathaniel?"

"Well," she drew her breath. ", that was actually a bit not part of the act."

"Oh." That was actually not surprising to Chloe.

"But, I can't like him." She looked in Chloe's direction. "He only has eyes for you." Chloe frowned and looked away.

A few seconds of silence passed before Chloe said, "You could have nicely told me to stay away from him though, I would have totally yielded."

"Nah. Sometimes acting like a bitch has its magic."

Chloe's head tended to the left a bit as she pondered over the statement for some seconds. Then she replied with, "I guess it does. Lucille?"

"Yeah?"

"What are you planning to do now?" Chloe scrutinized her face as she leaned over the railing and stared into the air.

"I still want justice, so I will be around for a while." Her mind seemed made up. Nothing could change her way of thought easily. Chloe respected that.

Taking a calming breath to gain composure, Chloe asked again, "Do you remember anything?" She did not want to refer to the incident, but she really was curious as to exactly why she looked different in the past weeks.

"I remember waking up and feeling different. I don't know exactly what this person did, but he did worse things than he did to that girl on the tape. I know that." Her voice went lower, like a whisper.

"I always wondered why you seemed not yourself the past few weeks."

Lucille chuckled softly. "That was the dirty feeling coming back to haunt me." Her dark eyes speared into Chloe's and she stood straight. "Why do you think I want justice so bad? All these months I have been going crazy, having sleepless nights all because some sicko did something to me I have no idea of."

She licked her lower lip before continuing, her hands cluelessly in the air, her eyes batting furiously to keep the tears lacing her eyelids away.

"You know, the fact that I don't know is what makes it even worse. I can't help but blame myself. I blame myself for going out that night. I blame myself for drinking some unknown shit. I just..."

Gently, Chloe pulled her closer to her side. "Shh. It is fine. You don't have to say anything anymore." Lucille sniffled. "You really don't have to blame yourself, that will make things worse for you. And, the way I see it, you are not at fault for wanting a fun night, we all need something like that once in a while. So if there is anyone to blame, blame the demented fool that molested you."

"I like how you call this person a demented fool." Chloe smiled at her as Lucille left her embrace. "I just hope we find this demented fool."

Chloe looked out at the city ahead and decided the rest of her questions can be put on hold. "Me too."

And, the both of them stayed that way, forging a friendship in silence. A friendship Chloe never saw coming. Her mission really had its surprises.

~

Chloe was finding it hard to sleep. Her fever had come back stronger like it was determined to really weaken her.

As Chloe wondered if it were time to settle her little feud with hospitals, she hoped within her that someone would be in some kind of telephatic realm and would be able to read her situation.

Shivering a bit more, Chloe managed a frown as she pulled her blanket even closer. She was beginning to think nonsense.

No longer able to bear the discomfort, Chloe knew it was time. All she had to do was get herself out of the bed, then out of her room and knock on someone's door. It sounded really simple.

As she tried to lift her body, a force pulled her down. It really wasn't going to be simple. But she had to do it again. So she gathered her strength and forced herself up with her terribly shaking body.

A sitting position attained, she was left with the most difficult task, walking to the door. Knowing how painful it will be, Chloe gave herself a little talk before she got herself up, her blanket wrapped around her.

She had already taken three very distressed steps when her door swung open. Her eyes which were blurred with tears left the carpet and came up. She could not make out who it was, but she was able to extend an arm to the person to gain instant support.

"Chloe, are you okay?" Her head lit. It was Nathaniel's voice. And she was sinking into his body and his arms were firmly holding her in place. "Chloe?" He asked again.

In her head, she was going to reply with; 'I am glad you are here.'

But perhaps as a result of the fever, she whispered, "Hospital..." And then passed out.