Chapter 3: Broken

Ruth collapsed into Chantel's arms crying and Chantel stared at Damien with a questioning look.

"Let's go," Chantel said to Ruth and led her away from the place.

Damien stood watching the two ladies leave and didn't know what to do. He has no recollection of what happened the previous night. He had picked Ruth from her house and he drove to the school for proms.

"We got out of the car and they gave us a drink," he tried to recall. 

"The drink," he repeated trying to remember what happened after taking the drink. 

He realized he could not recall anything beyond that. 

"The drink," he repeated and decided to go to Nick's house. He had already concluded there was something in the drink given to him and Ruth. 

Nick will never leave Ruth to walk alone. It was very surprising for Damien to see Ruth walking alone when he knew Nick came for graduation.  It was very obvious he had broken up with Ruth but why is the question and why will he blacklist him too. Damien got a cab and headed for Nick's house.

Chantel and Ruth left the school for home. Their father was not back from the airport. Chantel unlocked the door and pulled Ruth into the house. 

"Hey, forget him. He was a jerk anyway," she said and Ruth shot her a look

"Oh!, someone is still defensive," Chantel commented 

"Look, I don't know much about love, but if he really loved you as he claims, he would have given you a chance to a least tell your side of the story," Chantel pointed out and Ruth frowned 

"What story, I don't even know why he suddenly doesn't want to talk to me," Ruth complained and Chantel inhaled deeply 

"Look, whatever it is, sending you some stupid messages was not the best way. He could have called and told you it was over so you get the chance to ask for an explanation. This move is a jerk move," Chantel explain and Ruth lowered her head in resignation

"I will be in my room," she said and went up the stairs with Chantel looking at her back. 

Chantel's phone buzzed a few minutes after Ruth had left for her room and she unlocked the screen. She read the message and smiled before heading for her room. 

Later in the afternoon, Chantel rushed to Ruth's room screaming 

"Ruth, get up, it is Mum," she shouted

Ruth drags herself from the bed after crying so much over Nick. She looked into the mirror and realize her eyes had turned red and so was her face. 

"Ruth, hurry something bad happened," she shouted as she puts her phone back into her ears

"Which hospital," she asked and Ruth suddenly sprang to life

"What happened," she asked once  Chantel was off the phone

"Mum and Dad had an accident," she announced and Ruth's hand flew to her mouth. 

They both left the house immediately for the hospital after locking the door. They arrived at the hospital and both girls rushed to the reception.

"I am Ruth Brown and this is my sister, Chantel, our parents were brought here," Ruth said to the lady behind the reception table

"Give me a second, let me check," she said and looked at the screen

"Nothing has been entered yet but some accident victims were brought in a few minutes ago, kindly check from the emergency area," she said and pointed them in the right direction

Ruth hurried towards the emergency with Chantel thrilling behind her. They arrived at the emergency unit and found their mother sitting in a wheelchair with a bandage around her arms and her legs. They were moving her to one of the wards

"Mum, what happened," Ruth asked with concern and Chantel just stood there in silence

"Who are you," asked the medical practitioner

"They are my children," replied Mrs Brown

"Okay, you can come with me to the ward," he said too 

In the ward, Mrs Brown was put on the hospital bed and monitors were quickly attached to her. Chantel remains silent as Ruth sat next to her mother trying to understand what happened

"Sweety, I don't know. Your father picked me up from the hospital and we decided to spend some alone time together before heading home. On our way to your father's favourite restaurant, a truck came from nowhere and run our car over. Your father was behind the wheel and he suffered a major injury as he tried to move us to safety," she narrated 

"So what happened to the truck driver?" Chantel asked breaking her silence

"I don't know, I passed out," she said 

"How is Daddy," Ruth asked

"I don't know," she replied 

The doctor came in to check on Mrs Brown and he invited both girls to his office

"How are you both?" he asked once they were both seated

"What do you think, our mum is injured and we don't even know where our father is. How do you expect us to be?" questioned Chantel who looked very angry

"Sis, cut it out," Ruth chide and turned her gaze to the doctor

"Forgive my sister. She ... she.." Ruth tried to find a perfect explanation for her behaviour but found none. 

"Is right, I can understand," the doctor replied 

"Okay, do you know if your parents have insurance?" he asked 

Ruth looked at Chantel and hooked her head in a 'no'

"Okay, you need to find that out because treating your parents is going to cost a lot of money," he announced

"How is our father," Ruth asked ignoring the earlier statement with the excuse she was asking her mum

"His condition is very critical but we will know once he is out of the operating room," announced the doctor

"Are they going to be alright," Ruth asked and Chantel sat with a frown plastered on her face

"I don't want to scare you but find out if your parents have insurance and we will continue from there," the doctor said and both girls left his office to the ward

"Stay with mum, I will go get us some food," Chantel said once they were back in the ward and left before Ruth could say anything 

Ruth sat by her mother and watched Chantel walk out of the ward. 

"Did anything happen at school today?" Mrs Brown asked 

"Nick broke up with me. Please don't say anything to Dad, he doesn't know Nick and I were going out," Ruth replied 

"I am sorry sweety," she apologised and held her hand.

Outside Chantel, hailed a cab back home. She sat silently at the back of the cab with a frown. 

"Hey, little girl, you know with a skin like that, you need to be smiling more. Your beauty is in your smile," the driver said looking at her from the rearview mirror inside the car

"Would you mind your business and drive," she replied and turned to look out the window. 

She got down at the junction leading to their house and paid the driver. She walked down the pavement and was soon at their house. She took the keys out and unlocked the door. 

She entered and locked the door and went straight to her room and brought out her phone. 

"Idiots, what is wrong with you? Is that what I asked you to do," she questioned angrily 

"Hey, you wanted an accident and now you have an accident, what do you want?" replied the person on the other end of the call

"The accident was for Nick, you were supposed to kidnap my dad," she said through gritted teeth

"Sorry, the memo you sent read, End relationship of Ruth and Nick, Accident, Parents, Dad isolation," that is what you sent to me," the person read out the message

"You still have that message, delete idiots and move to the next plan, since you messed up this one and no mistakes this time," she said and hugged up the call. 

She exited the room and went down to the kitchen. She opened the fridge and stare at the ingredients in the fridge annoyed.