She's My Sleeping Pill

Across the wide expanse of sea, on another country, Artemis was holding her phone tightly on her side. She has given up. Fifteen minutes have passed since she tried reaching out to Cayenne to no avail. Elia had been knocking on the bathroom door to check on her but she didn’t dare come out. She didn’t want to see the incredulous expression on someone’s face thinking that she lied to her.

“Just give me a moment! I’ll try one last time. She’s probably sleeping. It should be evening in her time zone.” She yelled out from the bathroom so Elia could hear her words.

“Then, let’s do it again tomorrow. I can wait.” Elia insisted, wanting to go back to work. Their director must be looking for them now. “Also, I have a patient to check on.”

Artemis sighed and shrugged her shoulders from disappointment. She really thought that Cayenne would be able to help her.

“I...” Her phone buzzed and she saw Stefan’s number reflecting on her phone screen. “W-wait a sec...they’re calling back...” she told Elia before pressing the answer button.

“What do you want?” The coldness dripping from his voice brought shivers down her spine. For a moment, she forgot her words and just looked at the man’s face on the screen. “You only have one minute to tell me your objective.”

.....

Artemis snapped back to reality and spoke hurriedly. “I need to talk to Cayenne. She needs to see someone.”

“My wife is sleeping.”

Cayenne, who was mentioned on the call, whipped her head to look at her husband. Her eyes seemed to be asking him why he was lying but he only gave her a finger heart.

“I want her to see someone but maybe you are familiar with her as well. She’s looking for my parents, too.”

Cayenne’s eyes lit up when she heard the words. Hearing it from the other person, she already had an idea who her husband was talking to – her cousin.

“Go ahead.” Stefan replied. Cayenne didn’t say a single word. Stefan was still cautious against her cousins which was why he didn’t let her talk on the phone. And she could understand. If his cousins kidnapped him as well, even if those people say that they’ve changed, she would be wary of them for the rest of her life.

“It’s you.” Stefan said when he saw the other woman on the screen. “You are a nurse?”

“Yes, sir. How’s your wife doing?”

“She’s good. She’s currently sleeping.”

“Oh.” Elia didn’t know what else to say now that Nurse Chin has proven her closeness to Cayenne and Stefan. She darted her eyes here and there when she realized something. “Mr. Dumrique, is your wife related to the Rule family?”

Hearing the family name coming from her mouth, Stefan’s face darkened and his jaw ticked in annoyance. The nightmare of losing his wife resurfaced in his mind and he felt like punching someone on the face. Nonetheless, he kept a poker face and replied. “Why do you ask?”

Elia told Stefan her doubt and apologized to him for being intrusive. She could even feel that Stefan doesn’t like the topic at all yet he remained calm as he spoke. When she finished talking, she returned the phone to Artemis who went back to the bathroom.

“I have confirmed whatever it is that you wanted to know. Remember, your family has nothing to do with my wife. I hope you won’t bother her again in the future.”

Artemis nodded her head in agreement. “Thank you.”

Stefan didn’t bother responding to her and ended the call. Cayenne saw the irritation on his face making her heart ache for him. She pulled him down to the bed and caressed his face to soften his frown.

“I have troubled you again.” She whispered and kissed his cheek. “Sorry for always -”

“You’re no trouble. Not to me. I just hate remembering what they did to you.”

Cayenne hugged her husband’s waist and kissed his chin again and again. “It’s in the past. No one can hurt me now. Stop worrying about it.”

“Hn.”

Cayenne smiled happily and it made Stefan’s lips curl into a huge grin as well. His wife really knew his weak spots. She could melt his negative emotions with few words and bright smile from her.

“I love you, hubby. You are the greatest gift that I have ever received.”

“You are the same to me. I couldn’t even imagine myself without you again, Ayen. I would be devastated if you disappear from my life. I’d die.”

“I won’t disappear. I promise.”

As they whisper sweet words to each other, Artemis finally established trust with Elia. Since Elia gathered some info, she shared it with Artemis whom she knew as nurse Chin.

“Don’t worry. I know someone who can help us. Don’t involve yourself in this matter anymore. It’s too dangerous for you.”

Elia was displeased from being dismissed. After all, she has done her best to obtain this information. She even relied to someone who stole her boyfriend from her.

“I will see to it no matter what. You can’t just dismiss me however you want!”

“You don’t understand! This family, they’re tied to some huge conspiracy! You will put yourself in danger for some strangers!”

“I don’t care! I’d rather die than live my life in pain!” Elia burst out which stunned Artemis for a second or two. She has heard some rumors here and there about a sweet couple who suddenly separated without closure. It was so strange because the man showed so much hatred against his ex-girlfriend. Whenever they met, he would look at her with so much disgust in his eyes. Artemis heard that the woman was Elia.

“Sorry.” Elia apologized quickly. “But, let me help you. I can gather more information from someone.”

“O-okay.”

Artemis and Elia exchanged phone number to contact each other. Artemis shared the information to her sister as well and both of them planned their next course of action. Since it was confirmed that their parents were still inside the hospital, they contacted Tristan once again.

Diana knew few things about hacking. So, while waiting for Tristan, she decided to look into the hospital’s saved data once again. It was indeed mention that her parents were transferred somewhere else but the destined place didn’t even exist.

So the fact that they were still inside the hospital was proven. However, the room where they previously stayed which was stated on the file has been converted to a storage room. It means, their parents were moved to another location or another room but it wasn’t listed on file.

“I don’t know who grandpa bribed in this place so we have to be very careful.” Diana told her sister while looking for more clues on file. “I’ll ask Tristan if he can ask someone to bring us a private boat or ferry that we can use. We cannot rely on the public transport that goes in and out of this place.

“Okay. I’ll let you know if I get more information.”

Time continues to pass by and Elia was currently standing under the waiting shed for the bus to take them to the port. The whole mental institution was situated in an island which can be accessed through boats and ferries. It’s managed by the government but some of the funds came from donations that wealthy people gave since some of their family members stay there. The donations were hush money for people to shut their mouth and keep information private.

Standing in the cold weather, the snow started pouring once again. Elia rubbed her hands together and blew warm air on them.

Elia’s phone buzzed and when she saw the message, she pursed her lips without showing any expression on her face.

The next day, Elia sat on a bench at the back garden. There were few people visiting this part of the hospital because of the cold weather so that makes it a perfect place to talk.

“There you are.” The woman strutted towards Elia with a fake smile on her face. The other nurses who saw them couldn’t help but frown yet, they didn’t do anything. They only wanted to watch a good show, not get involved themselves in it. “Have you confirmed the details?”

“Yes. They’re my friend’s family. They’ve been looking for these relatives of theirs. I wanted to help.”

“Did they come from a wealthy family?”

“Perhaps. They’ve been into business.” Elia didn’t give any specific information and kept her face stoic as she spoke.

“Well, it’s great. Next week, I will be taking a vacation leave from work. Xian and I will be meeting my parents for the New Year. I will let you switch with me to see those people.”

“Thanks.”

“Is that all you wanted to say?” The woman questioned. She intentionally mentioned about the vacation she’ll take with her boyfriend, hoping to see pain in Elia’s eyes but she failed. Elia was nonchalant. From beginning to end, she only wanted the information about the Rule couple and nothing else. She was flaunting her relationship with the man that Elia once loved but the woman was indifferent.

Elia thought that a simple thank you wasn’t enough and was about to give a slight bow when she was pushed down.

“What are you doing here?!” The angry voice registered in Elia’s ears and she was stunned while looking up at the man from the ground.

Her butt hurts a lot but she didn’t even react to the pain. She slowly got up from the fall and looked at the man in front of her. “Before jumping to conclusions, know your facts first. I didn’t even touch a single strand of her hair.”

“Your presence alone is dangerous to her!”

The woman hid behind the man and smirked. She didn’t expect that the drug would control Xian to this point. She was laughing to herself while watching the pain fleetingly crossed Elia’s face. Even if it was only for a split second, she was still rejoicing for winning against her.

Elia dusted her uniform and turned around. Her tears fall on her cheeks but she didn’t wiped it off. She didn’t want them to see that she was crying.

Seeing her lonely disappearing back, Xian felt guilty for some reason. He even took a step to follow her but someone tugged the hem of his uniform and he saw his girlfriend looking at him with tears hanging on her lashes. She looked terrified.

“Don’t leave me.”