Chapter Seven

The hospital was awfully quiet. The only sound that could be heard were the low beeping of the machines that were probably supporting people's lives.

Crystal rolled and tossed in bed bored out of her mind. 

Why hadn't they discharged her yet?. Maybe she could have gone with Ryke then when they got outside, she would have screamed kidnapper then run off.

Logan and Isabella had come back trying to talk to her. They had nothing to say that would make the situation better so she had sent them away.

"Why is your hair so white?. Is that a medical condition?"

Crystal turned to meet beautiful olive eyes staring back at her. They belonged to a pale looking little girl. She couldn't be more than nine or ten years old.

"What?"

"Your hair, were you born with it?", the girl said, stepping forward.

"Uhmmm yes. Shouldn't you be in bed?"

The little girl giggled, "I should but I like it when Nurse Mary runs around the hospital trying to find me. She could use the exercise".

Crystal laughed. Such a mouth for a ten year old.

The girl climbed on her bed extending her hand,"I'm Michelle and I have one year to live".

Cancer

Crystal smiled sadly, "I'm Crystal and I wish I had one year to live".

Michelle laughed showing all her teeth. She was such a pretty girl.

"I'm sure you've already figured out what I'm in here for. What was your crime to the god of health?"

"I challenged his authority and won. In retaliation he threw a punch that knocked me out landing me here".

Michelle giggled again, "You are weird. I like you".

Crystal smiled at the young girl, "I like you too but where are your parents? I don't want you getting in trouble".

"It's just my mum and she has to work extra shifts to cover the hospital bill", she finished with a sigh.

Crystal felt for the little girl.

"Michelle, how many times do I have to tell you to stay put in your room and not bother other patients", a fat nurse said from the door.

"Hi Nurse Mary", Michelle grinned, "I'm only trying to help you out. You keep saying you'll register at the gym but you don't. So I figured I'll help you get back into shape before I leave this world".

Nurse Mary stepped forward, "I've told you to stop saying that. Miracles happen".

Michelle rolled her eyes.

"Come now, let's get you back to your room", she turned to Crystal who had been quiet all through the conversation, "I'm sorry for the disturbance. This one is a little menace".

Crystal laughed as they both left.

The nurse led Michelle out leaving Crystal to wonder about what life was really about.

**********

The smell of coffee hit his nose as he stepped into the cafe.

"Ryky!!!!", a little girl shouted as she ran towards him.

Ryke knelt down, opening his hands to catch her.

"Where have you been? You missed the tea party. Mr Teddy is really upset", she pouted.

"I'm sorry. I had some things to take care of".

"Is it about your white haired princess?"

He nodded, "Where is your grandma?"

On cue, an old woman with grey hair came out rubbing her flour covered hands on her apron.

"Ryke".

He got up to give her a hug.

"You've lost some weight. Have you been eating at all?"

He sighed. Everytime he came here, he would always have lost some weight according to her.

Ryke met Martha three years ago. 

It was another busy day at work when Kimberly informed him that there was an old lady crying outside the building begging to be seen.

He couldn't quite recall why but he was benevolent that day and had asked her to be let up.

She had fallen on her knees begging for help. Her granddaughter was dying and she needed surgery.

A surgery she couldn't afford.

The billionaire with the heart of stone. That's what everyone thought of him.

Yet, he had paid for the surgery and he visited the little girl in the hospital everyday after that.

Ryke looked down at her as she wrestled with his leg.

He couldn't explain it, but he just felt drawn to her. Like he needed to protect her from the evil of the world, something no one ever did for him. 

That one decision to help save a little girl's life had taken him to this moment, to this place where he only let two of them see what was behind the mask of steel he wore.

"I made your favourite. Come Come".

Ryke had barely taken a spoonful of his food when she spoke.

"How are things going with the", Martha air quoted, "Wife".

Ryke's lips turned up, "Won't you let me finish my food before you start your lecture".

Martha sprang up, pacing, "I don't just understand. The girl is only eighteen and you are forcing her to marry you".

He sighed. When he had informed Martha of the new development, she had been furious and had nagged him about it ever since.

It didn't matter though, he wanted Crystal and whatever he wanted, he got.

"It's just for a year, long enough for me to secure this deal and I don't know what you're complaining about. Weren't you the one that said I need to find someone and settle down?"

She hit the back of his head, "I said find love, not force someone to marry you. What would your mother say if she could she you?"

Ryke stilled, every muscle in his body tightening.

"I'm sorry. You know I just worry".

He dropped the spoon with a clang and stood on his feet, "I'm not hungry anymore. Tell Annie I'll see her next week".

***************

"Mum, what happened to your eyes?" Ryke gasped as he tried to push his mother's hair out of the way so he could get a better view of her swollen eyes.

"It's nothing honey. I just slipped and fell".

Ryke blinked, "You fell and hit your eyes?"

"Yes baby. Now hurry up and change. You know your father hates it when you are not dressed for dinner".

He ran off quickly. Dad was scary whenever he yelled.

With his new clothes on, he rushed back. He had always wondered why his father made them dress up for dinner. They would change into their best of clothes and sit down at the table eating in silence.

He was almost at the door when he heard his father's angry voice, "What did you say to him?"

His mother replied with fright in her voice, "Nothing. I just said I slipped and I fell".

"Do you think he is stupid enough to believe that".

"He did. Jerome. I swear he did".

But his father wasn't listening, he was already removing the belt from his pants.

That was the first time Ryke saw it happen. He closed his eyes as he tried to forget the pain in his mother's beautiful pools as his father hit her over and over with his belt.

He had simply watched. He knew he should have done something, but he couldn't make his feet move. Maybe if he had stopped it right there at that moment, things would have been different.

"Are you okay?"

Ryke snapped out of his thoughts to look down at Annie.

"What are you doing out here Annie?"

"Grandma said you left and you were sad so you didn't say goodbye. I'm sorry".

He knelt down, his expensive trouser on the dirty ground but he didn't mind.

"I'm fine Annie. I'm just having a bad day".

"Where's your princess? In my books, the princess always makes the prince happy".

If only this was a fairytale.

"She will be here soon", He smiled down at her, "Let's go back in. I have some unfinished business with that pie".

Annie giggled.

He stood up and his phone began to ring, he checked and it was an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Ryke help. They are coming after me", Crystal panted from the other side of the line".

He tensed, "Where are you?"

"I'm-"

Then she screamed and the line went blank.