Aftersometime,Dustinwokeupgroggily,only to find himself lying on the bed.The sunlight that shone through the windows was slightly ring to his eyes.


    “Dustin! You’re finally awake!” Ruth, who had been keeping vigil by his bedside, immediatelybreathed a sigh of relief.


    “How long have I been unconscious?” Dustin asked. Hejustwokeupandwasstillfeelingslightlydisoriented.


    “Youwereoutforthreedays.Luckily,Dr.Watkinssaidyouwerefine.Or,wewouldhaveprepared


    foryourfuneral,”Ruthsaid.


    “Threedays?Thatlong?”Afteramomentarydaze,hefinallyrememberedsomething.


    “Oh,how aboutyoursister?Howisshe?Issheawakeyet?”


    “Mysister?”Ruthwasdejectedaftersheheardhim.


    Loweringherhead,shewaschokedwithsobs.“Natasha…she’sgone…


    “What?She’sdead?”ThosewordshitDustinlikelightning,leavinghimstunned.


    Hisalreadypalefaceturnedwhiter.Itwasasifhissoulhadlefthisbody.


    “Howcanthatbe?I–Impossible!


    “IfoundtheShadowbloom!Whydidshestilldie?Why?”Dustinshookhisheadfrantically,hisexpressionfilledwithdisbelief.


    Hecouldn’tbelieveit.Hecouldn’teptthatoue.


    Didn’ttheysayshecouldbesaved?Whydiditfail?Why?


    “Thiswon’tdo!I’mgoingtofindher!Irefusetobelieveshejustleftlikethat!”


    Dustinstoodupabruptlyandstumbledhiswayout.


    “Wholeft?”


    Rightthen,a womanenteredthroughthedoors.


    Shewasbeautiful,tall,andexudedirresistiblecharm.Itwasasthoughshehadsteppedoutofa


    painting.


    Surprisingly,itwasnoneotherthanNatasha.


    “Natasha?”Lookingatthebeautifulwoman before him,Dustinwasdumbfounded.


    “Y–You’renotdead?”


    “Dead?”Natashahadastrangeexpression.


    “I’mjustfine.WhywouldIbedead?”


    “But,earlier—”Dustinlookedtohisleft,onlytofindRuthsuddenlyburstintoughter.Shewas


    justsobbingmomentsago.1


    Shecouldn’tcontainitanylongerandletoutaheartyugh.“Hahaha…Igotyou,Dustin.Mysisterisextremelyblessed.Howcouldshehavedied?DidIshockyou?”


    “Youlittle-”Dustin’stemperalmostredasheraisedahand.


    RuthwasscaredandhidbehindNatasha.“Iwasjustjokingwithyou,Dustin.Whyareyouacting


    likethis?”


    “Youbrat!Isthissomethingyoushouldbejokingabout?Doyouknowhowmuchyouscaredme?”Dustinwasfuming.


    WhenheheardNatashawasgone,hisheartalmoststopped.Itwasasiftheenergyhadbeen


    suckedout ofhim.


    “Ruth!Howoldareyou?Youshouldknowbetter!”Natasharaisedherhandand knockedRuthon


    thehead.


    Shescoldedher,“Goandmakeyourbrother–inwsomefood.Hejustwokeupand isstillweakHeneedstheenergy.”


    “Fine.”Ruthstuckouthertongue.SheescapedtheroomafterDustinredather.


    “Dear,howisyourinjury?Doyouneed-”


    Natashaturnedaround.ShewasabouttoaskhimsomequestionswhenDustinsuddenlywrappedherinatighthug.Heheldherforalongtimewithoutlettinggo.


    Athousandwordsswirledinhismind,buthedidn’tknowhowtoexpressthem.