ATONEMENT (THE BOOK) PAGE 6

 ‘Don’t touch me’ she screamed as the man wearing the face mask peered in to her eyes flashing a small touch, she shoved his hand away as he touched her face again.

‘What part of don’t touch me is hard for you to comprehend?

‘I see you are finally awake ‘he countered without answering her question.

She continued to eye him suspiciously ‘this part where you become aware of your surroundings feel better and get discharged’

‘I know I am at the hospital, isn’t that lucid enough for you ‘she tried to get up oh my head hurts ‘she exclaimed he tried to lower her down

‘Does this mean I am also a prisoner? She inquired peering at him

‘You are a real chatter box, aren’t you? He laughed taking off his mask revealing a short beard and a well trimmed mustache on his dark features.

He smiled at her ‘high time I guess’ she murmured ‘pardon me, didn’t get you’

She let out her breath ‘I simply meant it’s high time I saw the face of my jailor’

He bursts in to laughter you have a good sense of humor too, well this particular jailor won’t let you leave until you are well over ok’

‘Now Flora? She nodded ‘how do you feel now?

‘A little bit hazy, that’s all; I can’t seem to imagine why I got here in the first instance’

‘It was majorly a nervous breakdown relating to stress; in future I will advise that you rest more’

‘The men who brought you here ’relatives I presume? She didn’t say a word.

‘Well’ he continued they are waiting outside your door, have a good day Flora’

‘Back at ya doctor’ he smiled at her once again as he went out.

The two men who had visited her apartment before she collapsed came in looking grim.

The short man hovered at the doorway while the young officer advanced towards her.

Without preliminaries he spoke up

‘Your car is back at the parking lot, in front of your flat we would advise that you report any suspicious happenings in future ‘he reached for his pocket and brought out a business card.

They both stepped out of the room as quietly as they came in. she felt the movement again in her stomach and patted it softly.

‘I would definitely be a worthy vessel ‘she whispered looking down at her stomach…………………………….

ATONEMENT (THE BOOK) PAGE 5

She could hear the blare of the siren but,her lids felt heavy she couldn't open them,she mustered enough power and fluttered them open.The masked man in green clothes was yelling at the woman in similar apparel,he held two flat metal in his hands the woman kept passing him objects each time he dropped the metal.

Flora stood beside them staring at her own lifeless body.The silence was deafening suddenly she heard a loud wailing,some murmured as they walked past her oblivious to her presence,she could see a woman wailing crumbling to the floor the man beside her patting her back,pulling her to her feet as he made an attempt at consoling the woman with the grey hair.Then she saw the cloaked figure at the other side of the corridor the hood firmly knotted round it's throat she felt a tingling sensation in her body,she looked back at the man's direction,this time she heard a slow beeping sound from the machine close to her bed.
"We are losing her" he snapped at the nurse irritatingly this time she heard him clearly.she turned back and the figure was standing in front of her,it slowly lifted the hood from it's head,fear knotted at her chest as she looked on.it was a young girl with dark brown skin and long hair and well chiseled features "Save Yourself" she whispered as she began to age before Flora her skin cracking and falling †o the ground.Flora stood eyes wide,then she felt as if a huge object had hit her.The man stood smilling "Thank goodness,we got her back" he muttered quietly as he began to take off his glove.
"Where am I? Flora asked as she stared right back in to his deep set eyes...

ATONEMENT (THE BOOK) PAGE 4

They stood there facing her,then she slowly ushered them to the sofa close to the shelve. "Sorry to barge on you like this madam" the man spoke again but,we have to ask some questions to clarify issues" "where were you last night between the hours of 8.00 and 9.00". "I was here watching TV"she answered cautiously "was anyone with you? "No ofcourse not" she scoffed waving her hand around the apartment "I live alone" she added sacarstically. "Where did you park your car" he asked her. "Right in front of this building,where I park it every night"she interrupted cutting him short. "Well your car was found on an accident site,where two lives were lost"he stated matter of factly,she stared at them with disbelief "that's a lie" she countered "its parked right outside,she replied walking to the window they stood behind her waiting. "It isn't there anymore" she whispered quietly. "That's what we have been telling you,all this time madam. "It must have been stolen while you were inside" suddenly she felt the pain. In her abdomen again,this time it was much more pronounced,eyes wide she screamed as she collapsed un to the floor they both hurried to break her fall....