CHAPTER TEN

"Are you going to sleep?". Monica who was about coming in asked when she saw Daniel leaving

"Not yet mum. I'll just take this down, have a bath then rest"

"Your dad will be back soon". She announced glancing between her kids "when you take your bath we could all go for the walk". She smiled looking at him

"Okay mum. I'll leave now". He said and she nodded coming inside so he could go

"Don't forget to take some aspirin". She called after him

"You look better now Violet". Monica smiled as she walked towards the girls on the bed

"It's all your hospitality ma'am". Violet praised and Monica waved it with a smile "you're my daughter, so of course"

"I'm currently reheating the food we had in the evening. I hope you don't mind?". Monica asked

"Of course not, I'm glad you invited me. I'm famished". Violet smiled which Monica returned

"I brought the phone and also some medications and first aid to treat you". Monica gestured to her hands which held the first aid box, her phone and a small water bowl which had a towel soaked in it

"Thank you". Violet said grateful

"If you keep thanking me, you might lose all your saliva today". Monica joked making the three of them chuckle

"Dora, you should go and have your bath while I tend to her". Monica said to Dora who nodded and left towards her closet to pick a new change of clothes

After Dora left, she took her seat beside Violet and dropped the first aid box on the floor then dropped her phone and the water bowl on the bedside drawer.

"Do you mind if I remove your shirt to treat the wound?". Monica asked in a motherly tone as she stared at Violet who could only manage to shake her head

"Try to stay still, don't move too much. It will hurt you, but I'll be careful". Monica soothed as she set to work in cleaning and treating Violet's wounds

***

"I'll just go and check out the food. Here my phone, you can call your mum". Monica said standing up along with the first aid box and the water bowl.

"Thank you ma'am". Violet smiled grateful

"It's no problem". She smiled back before walking to the door

"Monica?". Annabelle called into the phone the moment she picked "are they back, are they alright. Is everything okay? Do we have to come over?". She rushed her questions at once

"Mum". Violet chuckled a bit. Her mother is such a worry queen.

"Oh my God Violet, is that you. Philip, it's Violet, they are back!!". She heard her mother call out to her father then shuffling and her father telling her mother to put the phone on speaker before her father's voice boomed through the phone

"Violeta Anastasia Archakos, where on earth have you been?! You had us worried, you little sinister cub". Taking the phone from her ear for a moment, she winced at his loud stern voice

"Don't scare her, all that matters is she's alright". Her mother scolded her father. She could imagine her parents face in that moment which made her giggle

"Are you seriously giggling at such a serious moment?". Her father asked. She could imagine him shaking his head as he stared at the phone incredulously

"I'm sorry dad, I couldn't help it". She smiled. How much she missed her parents in such a short while. Her idea of running into the forest really was a stupid one

"You're something else really". He said

"I'm your daughter after all". She grinned

"No doubt about that". He affirmed

"So what happened honey, where were you all? I called Monica a few hours ago and she said Dora had called to explain that you'll both be back soon and your phone had gone off". Annabelle said

"Yes mum, actually we had a bit of an argument, took a long while to settle, then we wandered off not noticing the time, but we're back now though, safely". She said the truth in the best way she could to not worry her parents. There was a long pause on the other side of the phone that she checked to be sure the phone call hadn't cut, then she heard her father ask a question which caught her off guard just as Dora came out of the bathroom fully dressed

"Where did you wander off to?". Dora who was coming out of the bathroom stopped in her tracks, eyes wide as they both stared at each other. She had heard the question because Violet had kept the call on speaker as the phone laid close to her ears

"Violet". Her father's calm voice brought both girls back from their shock as they both bit their lips unconsciously

Violet looked at Dora who mouthed she should tell her parents where they have been but not how and why they got there, at least not now. Violet nodded her head just as her father's scowl sounded through the phone as he called her name once again, this time stern and demanding an answer

"The forest". She whispered so low, her parents didn't catch it

"Violet we couldn't hear you, say it a bit louder". He mother said before her father could talk

"The forest?". She said a bit louder this time only it was more of a question than an answer. She could hear the sharp intake of their breath

"What the hell do you mean by the forest Violet? Just what were you doing there". Her father bellowed through the phone as he let out a string of curses after. His stern voice made her jump a bit, closing her eyes as she let out a silent wince at the discomfort it gave her. Even Dora who had settled by her side also jumped a bit, her eyes wide in anxiety and fear

"Don't curse in her presence Philip". She heard her mum reprimand her dad

"Well why can't I, you heard her didn't you? If she thinks she's grown up enough to walk into the forest then a few curse words in her presence should be nothing". Her father scowled

"Regardless, she's still a teenager, I'll not accept you cursing in front of or at her. You're angry right now, go and walk it off, when you're better you can talk to her". Her mother said sternly and she heard shuffling and her father muttering something as his footsteps sounded indicating he left

"He seems really angry". Dora mouthed while she just sighed giving a small smile. She really felt bad, if only she hadn't run into the forest, her parents wouldn't be having a small argument

"I'm sorry mum". She said into the phone after some moments of silence

"Hmmm. You're okay and that's all that matters. Why did you go into the forest in the first place Violet? You know how dangerous it is, what if you had gotten lost in there forever? What if you never came back out? We were all worried about you". Anabelle said sternly but calm

"I'm sorry mum, I didn't really intend to make you both angry or worried. I just… I… I'm sorry mum". She choked on the tears threatening to fall out her eyes. It's a good thing Dora had left to help her mum out in the kitchen

Anabelle sighed into the phone "it's okay Violet, as long as you've realised your mistake. And about your dad, he's not angry at you. You know how protective he is. He is just angry he wasn't there for you when you were possibly in danger. Is everything alright? are you both good?". Anabelle asked referring to Dora

"Just a few bruises and some wounds, that's all. We are all right".

"That's good to hear, you should rest up. Your dad will come to pick you up in the afternoon tomorrow. My regards to Dora and Monica".

"You won't ask me any question?". Violet asked surprised

"Of Course I would, but first I'd like you to be better before throwing you questions, wouldn't want you using your tiredness or injury as an excuse". Her mum joked making her smile

"I love you mum. Tell dad that I love him too". She whispered

"We love you too princess. You should sleep"

"Wait...mum..hmmm.." . Violet began but stopped

"What's it dear?". Annabelle asked gently

"It's nothing. See you both tomorrow. Goodnight". She shook her head, changing her mind. It was better she asked in person if she's ever going to.

"Goodnight love. Sleep tight". Annabelle replied blowing her a kiss through the phone

"Hmm. You too mum". Violet whispered as the call cut. She sighed as she placed the phone on the bedside drawer and closed her eyes for a bit then opened it and stared around the room. She has been in Dora's room for as much as she can count. Right now she's wearing one of Dora's nightwear that Monica had changed her into after cleaning her wounds and applying first aid. Even her foot is now wrapped in bandage and isn't hurting that much again, since Monica helped set it right. She winced remembering the sudden pain that went through her body as Monica helped set it right.

"This has been a memorable day". She whispered then chuckled humorlessly as she recounted the day's memory