The pitter-patter of heavy rain overwhelmed the sobs and whimpers of the heartbroken people. Everyone was dressed in black, the colour of darkness. The wooden coffin in where the corpse laid was lowered beneath the Earth's surface. Among the crowd, there stood the daughter of the departed person who greatly distanced herself from the deep hole, shielding her body with a silk umbrella and wearing a raged yet sorrowful expression.

She stared at the unfinished grave with eyes burning with agony. Who was it? Who killed her beloved father? Not knowing the answer abused the desperate will to take revenge. Her hands curled into a tight fist as she kept viewing the flashbacks of the damaged body. How could someone mercilessly murder an innocent person like that? The last bit of soil was thrown into the pit while families and friends bid their last goodbyes.

Goodbye, dad. I'll always remember you.

The young woman felt so useless for not being able to do a thing. so she decided to drive to the police station immediately after the funeral.

****************

The wheels screeched on the bumpy road as if they were in pain due to the rough driving. The vehicle twisted and turned in every direction. How could someone do this? Why, why, why? Lauren tightened her grip on the steering wheel. As a daughter, she believed she had the duty to make the criminal pay.

I'll destroy him with my own hands! Dad didn't deserve this!

The pain throbbing in her heart made it difficult for her to focus. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision. She tried to blink back tears but she poured down more and more teardrops down her cheeks. A speedy truck appeared out of the blue in front of her car, sending it flying into the opposite direction. Pieces of glass scattered everywhere and cuts were made on Lauren's soft skin.

It was too late before she realised what was happening. The last thing she saw was crimson liquid splashing onto her face.

****************

She woke up dazed in a room full of doctors and nurses dashing around with sweat trickling down their worried faces. Almost everything hurts — her face, her neck, her arms, her legs and more. She opened her mouth to call a doctor, but her tired mouth could only release a small groan. Luckily, a male patient next to her heard her voice.

"Doctor! Lauren...Lauren Hart is awake!" he yelled. A doctor rushed over to Lauren's side, holding out his stethoscope at her chest. He nodded, confirming her heart rate was normal again. "Hello, how are you feeling?" he questioned with genuine care. She formed a weak smile on her lips as a response. "Great, we'll run a few tests for now." he beamed at her.

After the medical tests were done, her roommates kept her comfortable in the unfamiliar atmosphere. They were most likely extroverts, judging from their lively and enthusiastic personalities. They became friends within a short stretch of time.

However, there was this one guy who kept silent all along. He looked like someone Lauren knew, but she couldn't tell who. Even his most beautiful facial features couldn't hide the nervousness written on his face. "It was him who called the doctor for me last time, so it won't hurt asking him if he's okay." Lauren thought before doing so. The boy just tiredly smiled back, obviously at the verge of bursting into tears.

His sniffs and hiccups got everyone's attention. "Hey, what's wrong?" the oldest of the group, Belle, asked in concern. "N-Nobody's going to like me n-now." he started sobbing, but Lauren was quick to calm him down. "No, I'm sure there are so many people who adore you. Like...your parents, relatives and a lot more." she comforted. It eventually reminded her of her dead father.

The crying boy looked up at her. "How do you know that?"

"They, um, sent you to this hospital, didn't they? Why would they-"

"They didn't. You need to know something completely before talking about it."

Lauren instantly blushed. "I-I'm sorry, but is there anything I can-"

"No, it'd be better if you'd stay quiet."

Defeated, she sighed as the rest exchanged obnoxious looks with each other. "Dude, why are you being rude to someone who's just trying to comfort you?" a triggered guy said from the other side of the room. "It's okay, Paul. He's probably going through at lot right now. I understand." she hampered him. For a moment, she thought she spotted her dad sitting at the edge of her bed.

"Dad?" she blurted, but soon realised it was just an illusion. The others gave her puzzled faces, making her get slightly embarrassed. "It's nothing, really. I just thought I saw my dead father." she muttered. "You mean there's a g-ghost?" another boy screamed while his body automatically reacted to her words. He fell out of bed, filling the atmosphere with laughter. "You're always so clumsy, Nil!" Belle scoffed.

Lauren couldn't help but chuckle along with everyone. She checked on the male who was still shedding a few tears. He seemed like he was about to pass out any sooner. Although no one could make his crying stop, she felt like she had to do something to help. But like he said, she'd have to know what was going on first. The dull expression he wore still didn't change a bit as the snickers slowly died down.

All of a sudden, a nurse came in to make an announcement. "Aiden Campbell? Ah yes, you're here. You're moving to room 407 tomorrow, got that?" she sternly ordered. "Yes, got it." he sighed and shut his eyes. Not long after the woman exited, he fell asleep. Different indescribable words came out of his mouth during his sleep, and his roommates had to hold him down from jolting up.

"Poor guy, I wonder what's wrong." Belle's sympathetic voice queried. "Yeah, he's been a jerk but now I feel sorry." Paul joined in. "He looks like he's possessed, doesn't he?" Nil mused, receiving glares from his mates. "Heh, sorry. I was just scared." he whispered back.

Lauren let out a long sigh. "Whatever his problem is, there must be a way to solve it."

Paul nodded. "Yeah, let's ask him when he wakes up."

"I wasn't even sleeping. And I don't need your help, it's no use. What's done can't be undone."

"Y-You're awake?" Lauren unconsciously gasped. "You scared us all."

"Please...leave me alone." he groaned and covered himself from head to toe with his blanket.

"Guess I was wrong. There's no need to help a stubborn person like him." Paul huffed and hopped back on his bed, which was later done by the rest. But Lauren couldn't bear to see someone like that. "He looked like he was about to die of pain. Both mental and physical pain." she commented in her mind. She steadily fell into a deep sleep as millions of other thoughts rushed in her head.

***************

Morning came in a flash. "Rise and shine, Lauren! I see you're finally awake!" Belle greeted her with a huge grin. She greeted her back and got ready with everything. As usual, chit-chatting speedily filled the room. They were all friendly like before, but Lauren kept zoning out. "Hey, I'll take a short walk around the hospital. You guys keep talking." she told them.

Pacing slowly, she wandered in the vacant halls. Flashbacks of the moments she and her dad shared constantly appeared in her vision. "I wish you'd be here with me." she sighed. Her heart began to throb a bit. "And I'll never forget to destroy that man...the one that killed you." she murmured, planning how she'll deal with him already.

"What are you doing in front of my room?" a monotone voice calls out, making her flinch. "A-Aiden Campbell? I wasn't stalking you, believe me!" she defended herself. "But actually, I do have something to tell you." she admitted as she sheepishly stare down at her slippers. "Come in, then." he coldly replied.

Inside, the air was fresh and cold. The thin curtains partly blocked the sun's rays from heating the room. The table and chairs were placed neatly on the white concrete floor. The interior decor was simple yet unique.

Aiden coughed in impatience. "If it's about me being okay, you may leave."

"B-But it's the only reason I want to talk!"

"Why? Why are you so worried?"

"You're saying this because you didn't see the way you were suffering yesterday!"

"I don't care, so why would you do?"

She froze in awe. "Why don't you care then?"

He gulped, finally giving up. "Lauren..." he said with a hint of disappointment in his tone.

"Don't you remember me?"