Take Me Away

Spencer's head drooped slightly as bitterness crossed his features. "Grandpa, it is time for you to take a nap."

"I must say, that's the lamest excuse you have made to drive me away," Wayne smiled as placed a reassuring pat to his grandson's knee. "I was not done telling the most crucial parts yet!"

"As you wish, Grandpa. Who am I to stop you?" Spencer replied, humor glinting from his eyes.

"Please treat Fiona well, shower her with love and make her the happiest woman in existence," Wayne said softly. "You need to hold a grand wedding soon. That's one of my greatest wishes."

"Hmm," Spencer replied.

"Fiona tends to easily go down with a fever. Please keep that in mind," Wayne said. "She had a fever once, the worst she had. It was so severe that it lead to cerebral hemorrhage. I never felt so frightened my whole life!"

"Cerebral hemorrhage?"

"It did." Wayne's eyes were grim as the memory flashed through his mind. "Two years after that tragic car accident, I had a conference at a neighboring province. The project lasted more than a week. Once I was done, I returned to S City, only to find out that Fiona was hospitalized.

Her aunt, Jenny and the rest of her family members didn't care about her at all. Three days! Fiona had stayed in her room for three days, and yet none of them had discovered." Wayne's voice dripped with frustration and anger as he continued, "Without my constant presence, Fiona lost her only protection. They took advantage of that and mistreated her!

Her lips were chapped and bleeding, she fought to stay conscious and lost. It worried me to no end! I asked her if she wanted to come home with me, that I would manage the matters at hand and have everything arranged, but she never took my offer.

She resorted to selling bottles she collected from the streets for money. She wanted to learn how to play piano. When I offered to fund her, she turned down my offer. She was a lively child, buzzing with energy like anyone of her age. The accident seemed to have drained it all away.

I entrust you with her well-being. She lost her parents overnight Spencer, the mere thought of it pains me!"

As Wayne continued to unveil more of Fiona's past, several emotions flickered through Spencer's eyes. Never could he ever imagine what Fiona had gone through the past ten years of her life.

Anna had checked up on Fiona a couple of times ever since she was brought to her room. Fiona remained unconscious, barely stirring at all. Anna checked her temperature, relieved that the fever had broken after the injection and slowly exited the room.

"Uh..." Fiona groaned from her bed, sleep slowly draining away. She felt stiff and sore in her arms. Panic filled her and she snapped her eyes open, seeing nothing as the room was drenched in darkness. She took steady breaths of air as she calmed herself down. In and out, she breathed slowly, slowly regaining control of her bearings. After a moment when all was well, she reached out to flip the lamp switch on.

Click!

the lamp as her hand slowly dropped to her side. Her eyes swept through the

you awoken?" Spencer asked, eyelids

glass longingly. The only thing she could think of was water. She feebly reached out

glass and gently tipped

around the glass as Fiona took a small sip.

loosened his grip

relishing the cool

came from her throat. Fiona coughed up a little, having drank too hastily from the glass. She downed the

more?" Scarce words left Spencer's

outside her window, her eyes flitting around the scenery of the house, searching for

evening. You've slept through the afternoon," Spencer said, answering her unvoiced question.

a little surprised that

you like to have

more," Fiona said,

come that Spencer would be so agreeable. She was about to let out a sigh of relief with the thought that she would be left alone for the night, but Spencer lifted her quilt and quickly settled in

loss of words as shock and

sleep!" Spencer turned

paled as she hurriedly dislodged herself from the quilt, stumbling slightly as she

Grasping her arm, he yanked

back against the soft mattress of the bed. With her momentarily disoriented, Spencer wasted no time as he rolled over, caging her in with his arms. By the time she recovered, he had her back firmly pressed on the mattress, hovering above her. "Your face has turned white as a sheet of

murmured. "Release me at once!" Fiona struggled against his grip, twisting her arms, trying to dislodge

yet you want to live in a separate room. Grandpa is sleeping in the next room. Do you want him

you told Grandpa that we got our marriage

He even asked me