The soft beeping of machines filled the silence in the hospital room. Her gaze shifted, landing on Victor, who stood by her bedside with a calm yet watchful expression.

“Where… where are my friends?” Elena asked, her voice hoarse and weak.

“They’re outside,” Victor replied, setting down the clipboard he was holding.

“Can I meet them?” she asked, a hint of urgency in her tone.

“Not yet,” he said firmly. “Only one person at a time is allowed to meet the patient. You’ll have to decide who you want to see.”

Elena thought for a moment before replying, “My friend, Sofia.”

Victor gave a slight nod and gestured to the nurse nearby. “Call her in.” The nurse left to fetch Sofia, and within moments, her friend entered the room, her face a mix of relief and worry.

“Elena, are you alright? Oh my God, do you know how worried we all were?” Sofia exclaimed, rushing to her side and wrapping her arms around her gently.

“I’m fine,” Elena said, though her voice trembled.

“Please, promise me,” Sofia said, her voice breaking slightly, “never argue to stay alone again. You scared us so much.”

Victor, who had been standing by the counter, pretended to be preoccupied with organizing medications, but his sharp gaze occasionally darted toward the two friends.

Elena hesitated, then pulled Sofia closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Did they… did they do anything to me?”

Sofia shook her head quickly. “No, nothing happened. We got to you before it was too late. But please, Elena, from now on, stay alert. You’re so lucky you were saved.”

Elena’s face paled further as Sofia added, “Do you even know who those men were? They were human traffickers. If we hadn’t found you in time, who knows where they would’ve taken you?”

Victor cleared his throat, his voice firm. “Meeting time is over. I have to give her the medicine now.”

Sofia hesitated, glancing at Elena with a mix of concern and reluctance. “I’ll see you later, okay?” she said softly before leaving the room.

As the door clicked shut, Victor turned back to Elena. “Are you ready for your therapy?”

Elena opened her mouth to reply but froze when her eyes landed on the syringe in Victor’s hand. Her breath hitched as memories surged back—hands grabbing her, needles piercing her skin, and the helplessness that had consumed her.

Her body stiffened, and her chest heaved as panic gripped her. “No! Please, no!” she cried, her voice trembling. She scooted back on the bed, pressing herself against the headboard as if trying to get as far away as possible.

Victor raised his hands in a calming gesture, his voice soothing. “Relax, Elena. It’s okay. This is just for your treatment.”

But her fear only intensified. Her wide eyes darted from the syringe to Victor’s face, as if she couldn’t separate the two. “Don’t… don’t come near me!” she shouted, tears streaming down her face.