'What are you doing here?'

ALANA

I sent Esra a crazy string of text messages, although I knew she wouldn't be awake. She hadn't picked up my phone when I'd tried calling her a thousand times in the past hour. I sighed yet again, knowing it wasn't safe to sit here at the bus station. Istanbul was wide-awake but there weren't my kind of people out here.

When I spotted a bus, I quickly sat in it and went to the only other place I was acquainted with. That's right. Swissötel.

Quickly, I paid my fare and was transported to the hotel. I didn't know what I was thinking—if I was thinking anything at all. I just knew it wasn't safe on the roads and more so in the apartment. I'd called the building manager too but this late at night, he hadn't picked up either. It was literally above 3 and I was more drained than ever.

I sat in the lobby on one of the sofas, knees pulled to my chest and propped my chin over them, hugging my legs tightly. I finally allowed myself to cry. Not in the crazy, loud way I wanted to. Just the sophisticated tears that result from over-exhaustion and stupid men who can't keep their hands to themselves.

I couldn't very well sleep with the teens around me who were busy chatting on their phones and laughing out loud. Nor with the receptionist's eyes loitering on me, narrowed as she tried to discern who I was. The chandeliers were all mostly alit, except for a few ones, giving the impression of almost evening time.

Music buzzed from someone's phone and I shook it all off, allowing myself to go into nothingness.

. . .

"It couldn't be her, sir,"

"Would you just check!?"

"I—how do I—"

"I don't know! You have more experience with women!"

I stirred slightly and heard the two voices pause. Darkness pulled me into its awaiting arms.

A throat clearing. "Would you be okay with me touching her?"

A pause. "No way,"

Someone tugged at my duvet but I burrowed deeper into it, senses still lost.

"Hello," Another tug. Another snuggle.

The person managed to pull it from me and I heard a gasp. "Sir! It is her!"

Slowly, I blinked back to life, finding a pair of warm irises staring back at me. I almost sobbed with relief. Knight knelt on the ground before me, a confused look marring his flawless face. The sharp, cut-clear frame of the planes of his face was stirring up heat inside of me. Blushing, I looked away.

You're not two, Alana!

Eh. I'm sure that was up for debate.

"What are you doing here?"