Midnight Mate

Dizzy

Katya POV

In that cave with the wolf, I wished to stay, regardless of how insane it sounded. I now believed he was somehow connected to the forest, a guardian of sorts. I felt a calmness with the creature, as if we shared a deep bond.

I knew I must be losing my mind, but as I sprinted home, a strange voice, similar to Falcon's, whispered in my head, "I'll always protect you, mate." I couldn't comprehend its meaning. Perhaps it was just sleep deprivation playing tricks on me.

Returning to my apartment, I inserted my key into the door to find it already unlocked. I found a maintenance note on the table, claiming they had fixed a leak I hadn't reported. Odd, but all seemed well. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I retrieved it to see yet another missed message from Trevor. Over a hundred missed calls and messages now.

Placing my phone gently on the counter, I opened the fridge and grabbed a half-empty Gatorade. Just as I did, my phone began ringing again. Sighing, I reached for it, only to discover it was my workplace calling. I answered fast, the sound of Emily's voice on the other end. "Hey, Kat, we're swamped, and Greg is out sick. Can you come in early?" she asked.

"Sure, I'll come in now," I replied, ending the call abruptly to prepare. Making some extra money was always enticing. Tucking the Gatorade into my bag, I hastily exited my apartment, rushing towards my job.

As I made my way to work, the sun beamed down on Trevor's Car parked on the side of the road between my place and my work. I noticed him peering out of the window, and a wave of fear washed over me.

I couldn't help but feel hesitant about involving the police. After all, his family held significant influence in the city and funded various projects. Any action I took would likely be turned against me. Just as I was about to continue walking, Trevor stepped out of his car, desperate to talk.

"Please not now, Trevor," I pleaded, not wanting to attract attention.

"Promise you'll talk to me after work, Kat." He begged.

"It's scorching today, Kat," he said, sweat glistening on his forehead as he fanned himself with a hand. I inhaled deeply. "Make sure you stay hydrated," he continued, his voice tinged with concern. Annoyance bubbled within me as he played the role of a parent.

"Will do," I replied curtly, pushing past him and heading towards my workplace.

As I clocked in, the sound of the ticking time clock echoed through the office, blending with the hum of the air conditioning struggling to combat the stifling heat. Emily, my coworker, greeted me with a friendly smile. Her eyes flickered to my wrist, which I had wrapped. Concern filled her gaze, but she chose not to inquire further. "Just know that I'm always here if you need to talk," she whispered, her voice a comforting breeze amidst the tension. Grateful for her understanding, I nodded my head, relieved that she wouldn't pry too much into my personal affairs.

She was not joking about it being slammed. The cafe was busy with customers, their voices blending together in a cacophony of orders and chatter. I was constantly on my feet, rushing from table to table, but Emily and I made a great team. As the sky darkened and my shift started to wrap up, we finally had some room to breathe.

"Thanks for coming in early, Kat," Emily said. I reached into my purse, grabbing my Gatorade. I was so busy that I hadn't even had a chance to take a sip or eat anything. I quickly retrieved a pre-made sandwich from the case and used my daily work comp to pay for it. Carrying my drink and food, I found a seat to take my fifteen-minute break.

"Sorry you had to take a break so late," Emily apologized, her voice tinged with concern.

"No worries, I'm just happy I was able to help," I responded, gulping down my drink and devouring the food. I was famished and parched, so within ten minutes, everything was gone. But as I stood up to clock back in, a wave of dizziness washed over me. I steadied myself, my hand gripping the cool table. Emily noticed my struggle. "You good, Kat?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.

"Yeah, just a little tired," I admitted, my head pounding and my body feeling feverish. But there was no time to dwell on it. A large group of customers entered, signaling that we would be here long after closing time, taking late-night orders. I assisted Emily in taking their orders, and for the items that weren't pre-made, I hurried to the kitchen to prepare them.

Leaning against the stainless steel counter for a moment, I felt the fog in my head and the warmth in my body. I knew I needed to push through it. I couldn't let Emily down when we were busy once again.

I prepared the food and brought it out to the customers, then stood behind the counter with Emily. The clock was ticking, and it was past midnight. "Kat, you don't look good, honey," Emily said, concern etched across her face. I leaned against the counter, trying to steady myself. "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me," I admitted to her, my voice weak.

"Take a seat, let me get you some water," Emily offered, her voice filled with genuine care. Just then, Trevor entered the cafe, making the night even worse. Instead of sitting down, I mustered the strength to make my way to the counter. "You ordering something?" I asked Trevor, trying to mask the emotions he stirred within me. Deep down, he meant nothing to me anymore.

"We have plans to talk, so I'll wait for you to get off," he said, his gaze sweeping over me. "You look sick, Katya. Clock out and let me take you home. I'm sure Emily will agree," he suggested, his words piercing through me. I glanced at Emily, silently pleading for her to see the distress in my eyes and say "no."

"Cafe policy, two to close. But I'll have her out fast. We are closing up, so please wait in your car," Emily firmly responded to Trevor, bringing me a sense of relief. Luckily, he complied with her request.

"Thanks," I said, my voice trembling, as he left. The murmurs of other customers enjoying their meals filled the air. Suddenly, a customer approached the counter. "Is it too late to get some coffee for here?" they asked.

According to the rule, we couldn't refuse a paying customer. "No problem, what can I get you?" I asked, trying to hide my sickness. They placed several coffee orders, and I started preparing them with Emily. The clock neared 1am, and exhaustion weighed heavily on me. Just as Emily turned away from the espresso machine to assist another customer, the door chimed.

I took a shaky breath, feeling the pain coursing through my entire body. "Kat, they're here for you," Emily's voice echoed behind me. I turned abruptly, but the dizziness overwhelmed me. My eyes briefly met Falcon's gaze before I collapsed, accidentally knocking over two of the coffees and burning myself in the process.

"Katya," Falcon's voice called out as Emily shouted my name. Everything went black for a moment, and when I opened my eyes, Falcon, Emily, and a concerned customer were huddled around me. I attempted to sit up but was overcome by a fit of coughing. Falcon gently moved me, and a strange taste filled my mouth. It was the metallic taste of blood. Panic consumed me as Falcon leaned in closer. Amidst the chaos, I struggled to make sense of the words being spoken. Finally, they started to register.

"She was poisoned," Falcon snapped.

"How do you know? We need to call the police," Emily's voice pleaded.

"The hospital is only two blocks away. It would be faster for us to take her. I'm a student there, and I agree. Her dilated pupils and other symptoms suggest she's either been poisoned or drugged," one of the customers explained urgently.

I struggled to sit up, gasping for breath. "I'm fine, just tired," I managed to wheeze out, but speaking was a challenge.

"Tell me where the hospital is, I'll bring her," Falcon demanded, his voice filled with urgency. The sound of the door opening echoed through the room.

"OUT, TREVOR!" Emily shouted, her voice laced with anger.

"Kat, what happened to her?" Trevor demanded, suspicion dripping from his words.

"Don't know, but I bet you had something to do with it," Emily snapped back. With great effort, I propped myself up, feeling a dull ache in my chest. Falcon hovered over me, as if shielding me from Trevor's presence.

"Take a right, then travel two blocks down and make a left," one of the customers offered directions to Falcon.

"Thank you," Falcon replied gratefully.

"Her purse is behind the counter," Emily yelled out, and suddenly, I was being lifted off the ground. Falcon was carrying me.

"I'm okay," I whispered weakly.

"No, you're not," he responded firmly, his voice filled with concern as he grabbed my purse.

"I'll handle Trevor, get her to the hospital, please," Emily said.

"I will," Falcon assured her. Trevor's angry shouts followed us as Falcon moved swiftly with me in his arms. I struggled to stay conscious, fighting against the darkness that threatened to consume me.

"Stay awake for me, Katya. I need you to fight this," Falcon commanded, his voice filled with desperation. Soon, we entered the emergency room, and everything became a blur. The bright lights flashed in my face, disorienting me. I could barely make out anything that was happening as my body seemed to be placed down, except for the comforting feeling of Falcon holding my hand tightly.

I was drifting in and out of consciousness, the world around me flashing by in a blur. In my hazy state, I caught glimpses of Falcon standing by my bedside, his worried expression etched on his face. "Don't leave," I managed to whisper, my voice weak. The sterile smell of the hospital permeated the air as I lay in the bed, my senses slowly returning.

"You're awake," he said with relief evident in his voice.

"What happened?" I asked, my words barely audible.

"You were poisoned, but you'll be okay. You just need to stay here and rest," he reassured me. I could sense his imminent departure.

"Please stay," I pleaded, fear gripping me tightly. I didn't want to be alone in this unfamiliar place.

"You're safe for now, Katya. I promise I'll be back, but I have to go for now. Trust me, I wish I could stay here," he explained, his words leaving me perplexed. Who was he? Why did he always show up when I needed him, like some kind of hero? His pained expression as he looked at me only deepened my confusion.

"Please stay," I begged again, my desperation evident. He moved closer to me, his presence comforting even in my blurred vision. He leaned down, and I felt the gentle brush of his lips against my forehead before he quickly departed. I was stunned. Did he really just kiss me? My thoughts were interrupted as a doctor entered the room.

"Hi Katya, my name is Dr. Alexander. I need to perform a quick examination. Do you know why you're here?" he asked, his voice calm and reassuring. "I felt sick at work, and I remember collapsing," I replied, my voice still weak.

"Did you take a drink from someone or leave your drink unattended at work?" he asked me. "You were drugged with a common date rape drug, but you also had an allergic reaction to it. Luckily, your friends brought you here just in time.”

"I brought my Gatorade from home. It was behind the counter," I explained, hoping to shed some light on the situation. The doctor nodded in understanding. "Does Trevor have access to your home? Your friends said he's responsible for your bruises and sprained wrist. The police have already been here and want to talk to you," he informed me.

"Do I have to talk to them?" I whispered, feeling overwhelmed. "When you're ready. I know it's hard, but they can help you," the doctor reassured me as he glanced at the various machines in the room. "I'm keeping you here for the next twenty-four hours for observation. You're safe here, Katya. Trevor has been restricted from entering while he's being investigated. A nurse will check on you shortly," he concluded before leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Leaning against the hospital bed, I found myself trapped in a place I didn't want to be. Confusion consumed me as questions swirled in my mind. Did Trevor really drug me? Would I ever escape his clutches? And what about Falcon? Why was he always there when I needed him? My heart raced whenever he drew near, his gentle kiss on my head igniting a spark unlike anything I felt before. It was more than a friendly gesture, something deeper. This strange connection left me both intrigued and scared. As I closed my eyes, I whispered under my breath, "Please, don't break your promise," hoping that sleep would bring clarity to my clouded thoughts.