The event formally began when the Director came in. The first group started their performance, and we were next in line.

"Claire, what's wrong with your hair?" Emily asked.

"My hair?" I fingered my hair and found the hair clips missing. "I forgot my hair clips in the dressing room."

"What should I do with your forgetfulness. It's our turn next, Claire," she whined.

"I'm sorry, I'll go and bring it within a minute."

"Be quick."

I went to the dressing and looked around for my hair clips.

"Found it!" "I picked them up but the very instant, the lights went out. "What happened?" I tried to find my way out when suddenly a hand from behind covered my mouth with a piece of cloth. I struggled to get out of his grip but my vision soon got blurred and then turned black.

I opened my eyes in the hospital room laying on the bed. My eyelids flickered as I looked out in the brightly lit room.

"Claire!" I saw Emily, she held my hand in a firm and tight grip.

"Em!" I tried to sit up and she helped me. "What happened?"

"First tell me, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. Tell me now what happened, why am I here?

"After you went to fetch your hair clips, the lights went out but it came back a few moments later. I came looking for you in the dressing room since you didn't come back but you weren't there. We checked everywhere for you then Ava found you near the swimming pool and called us. Shaun took to you to the infirmary, the nurse said you have either fainted or were under the effect of anesthesia, and it was nothing critical but the Director stepped in and moved you to the hospital." she narrated the whole incident to me. "Claire, what happened?"

"All I remember is that in the dressing room after the blackout someone besotted me by covering my mouth with a cloth and I fell unconscious."

"You mean someone intentionally did that to you!" she babbled.

"Hmm." I nodded.

"Is the director till here?" I asked her.

"He was here a moment before you wake up, he kept checking on you. I think he should be outside."

"I'll go and look." I stood up from the bed. "I should tell him what actually happened and also I have to thank him for bringing me here."

"I'll come with you." Emily stood up.

"No, you wait here. I'll be back." I impelled her to stay.

I rushed out of the room to the corridor and looked around for Dad. He wasn't there so I ran to the lobby looking for him when Ed came to me out of the blue and hugged me tightly.

"Claire, what happened to you. I was so worried. Are you fine?" he said.

"I'm fine, Ed." I was about to push him away but I saw Shaun standing on the corner of the lobby glaring at us. I put my hands around Ed and hugged him back. Ed brought his hands to my face, held it lightly, and kissed my forehead. I took a glance at Shaun and he wasn't standing there anymore. I let go of Ed and asked him to go to my room while I look for the director. He walked away and I went my way looking for Dad when someone pulled me in a room by my hand. It was Shaun, he grabbed both my wrists tightly and pushed me against the wall.

"What ate you doing, Shaun!" I lashed out.

"Claire, why are you doing this to me. I can't bear it anymore, I can't bear seeing you with someone else like that!"

"Shaun stop, you're hurting me." I pushed him back to stop him.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me close to him, unexpectedly his hand drifted into my hair. The next thing I knew, he had slammed his lips to mine and nearly knocked all the air from my lungs. Warmth radiated from the spot where his lips just touched mine, slowly spreading through the rest of me.

My eyes widened and my fingers curled into a fist, nails digging into my palm. I hardly had a moment to realize and react. I shoved him away from me and slapped him in the face.

We stared at each other in an odd way, as if it were a silent argument. Our glances battled each other until tears arose.

"Shaun, who do you think I am? Am I a toy for you? Pus.h.i.+ng me away one moment and pulling me in the other? Can you stop treating me like this?" I broke the silence yelling.

"I'm sorry, Claire, I just wanted to save you from getting hurt. I thought if you stay away from me you'll be safe." he tried holding my hand.

"Don't touch me." I took a step back. "Stay away from me then, you don't want to save me anymore?"

"I have to stay away from you but I can't!"

"No, you're wrong. You were running away because you were afraid. You could have kept me safe while staying by my side but you preferred hurting my feelings." I chocked back a sob.

"Claire, there are things you are unaware of. I'm not what you think I am."

"I loved you when I only knew your name, knowing anything more will only strengthen my love for you. What are you so afraid of? Can't you believe me? You rejected me every time because you never trusted me. Stop fooling yourself and me that you're saving me this way. You have hurt me enough so please leave me alone now. I can't take it anymore." I ran out of the room wiping my tears.