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16. Nice To Meet You
AVA
Bruce had never looked so worried before and, strangely, confused as well. He was always the cheerful type, who didn’t like to read too much meaning into things—at least in the way Ava does, or even Anna. So, it was strange to see the thin wrinkles on his forehead as his attention was solely on Ava’s every word as she narrated their ordeal right from when they took off for Charlotte.
Strangely, also, he never interrupted, and when she was done he was so quiet and seemed deep in his thoughts.
“Bruce, you haven’t said anything,” Ava said, hoping to get something out of him.
“I knew going without your phones wasn’t a good idea. But you wouldn’t listen.”
Ava rolled her eyes, knowing where this was going.
“You insisted you didn’t want any form of technology interrupting your bonding with Anna. Now, look what’s happened. The doctors can’t even tell why she’s the way she is now.”
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Anomaly 17. The Red Room
ANNASilence filled Anna’s ears as she gradually felt life flow through her. She slowly opened her eyes, breathing in and out slowly too. While she tried to sit upright, her eyes blinked as they tried to adjust to the lighting of the small room. Once she was able to see, she noticed the whole room was red: red curtains covering the whole room; the bedlinen was red too; even the lighting in the room was red; and her body covered in a red nightdress and robe.Anna looked around the room once more, wondering whether she was alive. Or was she still dead—possibly in another realm? She shook her head, dismissing the thought. She shifted on the bed to get down and find answers for herself.As her feet touched the ground, she heard a door open. She swayed her head in the direction of the sound. She gasped and shifted back onto the bed once she sighted the woman who entered the room. As she got closer to the bed, Anna moved further away on t
Anomaly 18. The Idea
ANNA“Get off me!” yelled Annika as she struggled with Anna.The redhead didn’t heed to Annika’s cry as she repeatedly slap Annika’s arms, face, and basically anywhere her hands could get. “Stop—hurting—my—sister!” she screamed the whole time.Just when she wanted to hold Annika’s neck, the brunette pushed her off of her. Anna fell to the ground on her ass. When she got a hold of herself, she looked up at Annika who had stood up.She glared at her whereas Annika stared back, seeming bewildered.“Anna?” Annika said. “Why are you attacking me?”Anna stood up quickly. “I should be asking you that: why are you attacking my sister? She’s never done anything to you.”Annika’s facial expression quickly changed to that of an irate one
Anomaly 19. The Visit (I)
ANNAAva didn’t wake until later that night. Bruce and Beck visited her before she suggested that Bruce take Beck home so they could rest properly and eat good food. They could come to see her the following day. Sara hadn’t been with them as Beck had told her since Ava didn’t know her she might not welcome her presence. Bruce had agreed, mentioning how wary of strangers Ava was.Anna didn’t go to the house with them; to her it was pointless. She stayed and watched over Ava that night, recalling all that happened since the beginning of the week. Remembering her parents, she wondered if she’d ever see them again. She had promised to go back for them but doubted it now; unless that moment was a good time. But it wasn’t; there was a chance Annika could come back to torture Ava, so she remained in her position, staring at her sister but now thinking of her brother as she was certain her sister was safe now.
Anomaly 20. The Visit (II)
ANNABeck glanced in the direction of Ava’s bed as he advanced. He suddenly stopped, seeming shocked, making Anna wonder why.“Beck, you’re here finally,” Sara said, sighing.“D—do I know you?” he said, his facial expression changing from a shocked one to a confused one.Anna narrowed her eyes at him, wondering why he was acting as though he never knew Sara whereas the previous night he had embraced her and treated her as though she was a special woman to him.Sara stared at him quizzically. She was silent as if waiting for him to speak.To break the silence, Ava said, “It seems like he doesn’t know you, Miss Sara.”Sara glowered at Beck. “Don’t you dare be stupid, Beck!”Beck still stared at her as if he didn’t know her but only for a
Anomaly 21. The True Story
BECKSince Ava had been allegedly attacked by Annika, Beck had tried to be by her side as much as he could. That was impossible as Bruce wouldn’t let him to get close to her. Then there was the fact that guilt couldn’t let him show his face to her.Why did Annika have to ruin his life? Her death should have been his chance of freedom. However, it imprisoned in the worse way he could ever imagine. He had finally found a woman he was sure he could love if they had the time to build their relationship and hopefully start life afresh with, but Annika’s haunting was going to cost him his chance at love and freedom.Right after Dr. Bernard left Ava’s ward, after she’d discussed with him that she needed to be with her sister for an hour and didn’t want any disturbance, he lied beside her on her hospital bed, reading to her the novel Bruce had gotten for her from home.Tho
Anomaly 22. The World Would Know
AVA“Beck, wait!” Ava said, stopping him from leaving, which would haunt her for a very long time. She knew that people would say she was stupid for trying to be a hero, but she couldn’t help it; she loved helping people.She stepped in front of Beck. “Don’t go.”“Ava,” Bruce said, “don’t tell me you gave in to his sob story. That’s what guys do to get what they want.”She glanced behind Beck, eyeing Bruce. “Bruce, shut up.”She looked back at Beck. “Look, I’m still mad at you, but I can’t let you leave like this. I remember telling you I would help you start fresh; I’m not going back on my word. We’ll help you with the Annika situation.”“We?” exclaimed Anna and Bruce.“Yes, we,” she said firmly,
Anomaly 23. The Talk
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Anomaly 24. All Mine
AVAShe wanted to be with him at the moment, and yet she didn’t want that. She would seem desperate and weak if she ventured into his arms instead of strong and upset, which she was supposed to be.Ava had tussled on the bed, over and over since she and Anna retired to bed, thinking of being with Beck just like those nights when Anna was missing. Then she thought of his soothing voice whenever he comforted her. She needed to hear that voice; she needed that assurance that by the following day she and her siblings would go back to their normal lives.She got up, feeling that it was better she was yearning for him and not mad at him. After all, he had a good reason to have lied.As she got to the door of his room, she felt a hand cover her nose and mouth while a sharp blade was placed at her neck. Before she could muffle or tug at the hand on her face, a man whispered, “Make a noise and you’re gone,” in her ears. Then
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