Chapter 5: The Vacation

Zora's POV

This wasn't part of my plan. I thought. I was so angry at Justin but he pretended not to see me even though we were sitting at the back of the car together.

I disagreed with him at first but it fell on deaf ears. So I informed Ken about it. I decided having his number was the easiest way to get hold of him, instead of waiting till he showed up. We piled up in Kenv's car. We, including Julia who came along after hearing I was going with Justin. Mum cried a lot even after I assured her it was just for two weeks. The tears kept streaming down her face like she knew something I didn't know. Thank God Cassey was at the grays', I'm sure we would have been five of us sitting in this car.

The ride back to his community as he calls it, was so quiet.

Justin kept throwing glances at Ken. You know those stares that say, 'One wrong move, I will snap your neck without hesitation kind of', yeah that one. I didn't like it a bit but I knew he was just worried. So much for taking the back seat. I rolled my eyes.

I gave his thigh a little squeeze to make him relax. He stiffened at first but relaxed anyway. Turning back to face my front, I caught Ken's pained look in the rearview mirror.

Thank God for Julia, she turned the music noticing the mood in the car at that moment. I sighed in relief even though I did nothing wrong.

Justin seemed restless but he tried to hide it. I just assumed it was because we were going further away from home.

After what seemed like an endless drive, we finally arrived at our destination. The huge fence looked studious and firm, It had a small building on top of it, with mighty-looking guys with their gums at arm's length.

"Hope I made the right decision?" I muttered to myself but everyone in the car reacted to it. Weird.

"They are security personnel," Ken said replying to my earlier comment that I sure didn't say out loud.

"Yeah, looks like it." Julia's input was always at the right time.

I guess they were pre-informed because the gate was opened immediately.

Tall trees arranged neatly by each side of the tiled road, attractively spreading its branches. It looked entirely different from what I was used to seeing.

"My house is a little far from the entry." He said. Guess we were on another journey to what he called his pack.

Forty-five minutes after we passed the gate, I started feeling restless, then my foot began to itch.

"Zoe" Justin's concerned voice asked, staring at me. "What's wrong?" he held my shoulders trying to see what the problem was. "Oh my God, you are burning up, "he shouted. Julia sprang up at that. She turned back looking confused while Ken stopped the car and also turned to look at me, trying to decipher the situation.

I couldn't keep my eyes open due to the pain sore through my entire body. "Hold on, " Ken said and drove as fast as he could. In less than 15 minutes, we were at his pack. Justin was already rushing me out to only God knows where.

The pain became unbearable. "Ahhh, w..what is happen…happening.." I screamed thrashing my hands about.

I was carefully lowered on something soft before the voices began to sound distant. I heard Julia asking someone about my condition. Ken bellowed for an explanation and immediate treatment while holding me close to his body. His touch reduced the pain a little but my body was still on fire.

"Stay with me, " a faint voice said before it all went dark.

"She has the signs but I'm skeptical about it. But give me additional time to confirm." An unfamiliar voice said. Next someone close to me sighed heavily, holding my right hand. I knew who it was before I felt his touch. Then I heard footsteps and a soft click of the door. My eyes slowly opened but the illumination forced them shut. "Light.." I groaned. Immediately Ken released his hold on my hand and closed the binds. "You can open your eyes now," he said.

My eyes flutter open to what looked like a bedroom. There was a stand holding a drip that was attached to my hand. The room was painted in ash and black. It was moderate and homely. He helped me to sit and relax on the headboard before he gave me a cup of water from the nightstand.

"Do you recall what happened?" he asked, taking the cup from me immediately after I was done and returning it.

I massaged both sides of my head trying to relax.

"Nothing after the car ride," I said wishing I did.

"Don't stress it, Julia is on her way back here. She left to change a few minutes ago.

The word 'change' made me sit up, even though I was already sitting.

"How long have I been here?" I asked, not knowing what to expect.

"Four days…" he started. "what!!" I cut him off with a wide eye.

"Apart from the days you spent in the hospital" he finished scrutinizingly and sat close to me after he had returned the cup.

I didn't plan for this when I drafted my plan. Now a week is gone and wasted. I need to find my parents ASAP and get this over with.

"I won't let any harm come to you and I will do everything in my power to help you find your parents," he said, holding my hands as if reading my thoughts. I just gave him a small smile.

That moment was interrupted by someone we all know. Julia rushed in, wearing a long shirt and joggers. Followed by Justin wearing a frown. He was in his usual all-black.

Kenzi decided to give me space to catch up with my friends and left.

The catching up lasted for two hours. Julia gave me details of the community more than I expected. Because we've only spent a week. The hospitality she received was more than what they had expected. They are staying on the east wing of the same building I was currently in.

Justin didn't say much, he only glanced up at me once in a while, asking if I was okay. Fifteen minutes later they both left to attend to something important.

The drip finished about 30 minutes later and was removed by a woman with blond hair and blue eyes, who I assumed was in her late forties.

Then I decided to take a walk around the house. There were two more rooms close to the room I was staying in when I got out and two others opposite each room. According to Julia, the hallway leads to another hallway on the right and the garden to the left. I had a feeling the garden would be a nice place and headed straight to it.

What I didn't expect was walking in on someone's conversation. "We need her, " A familiar voice said.