Where Is My Daughter

The morning sun rose over the forest reserve, but the atmosphere among the students was far from peaceful. Whispers and murmurs filled the camp as everyone noticed Lily's prolonged absence. The tension was thick, and worry began to spread like wildfire. 

The lecturer, Mr. James, stood before the gathered students, his face lined with concern. "Has anyone seen Lily Martinez?" he asked again, his voice firm but tinged with worry. 

The students shook their heads, exchanging uneasy glances. Alex stood near the back, his arms crossed tightly as he tried to appear calm. Inside, however, he was a mess. The memory of Lily lying lifeless at the bottom of the cliff haunted him. 

Unable to bear the guilt any longer, Alex slipped away from the group unnoticed. He retraced his steps to the cliffside, his heart racing with dread. 

When he reached the spot and peered down, his breath caught in his throat. Lily was still there, lying motionless. Her skin was pale, and her body was unnaturally still. 

"No," Alex whispered, his voice breaking. "No, no, no." 

He scrambled down the slope, stumbling over rocks in his haste. When he reached her, he knelt beside her, his trembling hands hovering over her body. 

"Lily?" he called softly, his voice desperate. He pressed his fingers to her neck, searching for a pulse. For a moment, he felt nothing, and his chest tightened in panic. Then, faintly, he felt it—a weak, slow pulse. 

"She's alive," Alex whispered in relief, but her body was cold, and she wasn't breathing properly. 

Without thinking, Alex cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "Help! Somebody, help!" 

Hearing Alex's cries, the other students and teachers rushed toward the cliffside. Gasps filled the air as they saw Alex kneeling beside Lily's limp body. 

"Call an ambulance!" Mr. James shouted, his voice urgent. 

One of the staff members pulled out their phone, quickly dialing for emergency services. 

"What happened to her?" a student asked nervously. 

"Is she… dead?" another whispered, their voice trembling. 

Alex ignored them all, his focus solely on Lily. 

When the paramedics arrived, they carefully loaded her onto a stretcher and carried her up the slope. Mr. James accompanied them, while the rest of the students and staff stayed behind, their faces pale with shock. 

Alex stood apart from the group, his hands clenched into fists. He couldn't shake the image of Lily's still body from his mind. 

The ambulance arrived at the nearest hospital, and Lily was rushed into the emergency room. Mr. James followed closely, his concern for his student evident. 

Inside the ER, doctors and nurses worked quickly, assessing Lily's condition. 

"Her body temperature is dangerously low," one nurse reported. 

"She has multiple bruises and lacerations," another added. 

The attending physician, Dr. Carter, frowned as he examined Lily's legs. "There's a break in her left knee and swelling in her right. We'll need X-rays to confirm, but it looks like significant damage." 

A nurse handed Dr. Carter the results of Lily's vitals. "Her breathing is shallow, and her blood pressure is dropping." 

"Prep her for immediate treatment," Dr. Carter ordered. "We need to stabilize her before we can address the fractures." 

Mr. James stood nearby, his hands clasped tightly together. "Will she be okay, Doctor?" 

Dr. Carter hesitated. "She's in critical condition, and she's fallen into a coma. We'll do everything we can, but the extent of her injuries… It's hard to say right now." 

Just as the staff worked to stabilize Lily, the sound of approaching footsteps filled the hall. All heads turned toward the entrance as a tall, striking man in a black suit entered, followed closely by a young woman who was the spitting image of Lily. Behind them were a butler, a personal assistant, and five imposing guards. 

The man's sharp gaze scanned the room, and the air seemed to grow heavier with his presence. 

"Where is my daughter?" he demanded, his deep voice commanding immediate attention. 

Dr. Carter turned to face him, momentarily taken aback by the man's imposing demeanor. "Sir, she's in the emergency room. She's in critical condition but receiving treatment." 

Mr. James stepped forward cautiously. "Good morning, sir. I believe you're Lily's father?" 

The man nodded, his expression stern. "I am Roland Martinez, and this is my other daughter, Lena Martinez—Lily's twin." 

The resemblance between Lena and Lily was uncanny, and Mr. James couldn't help but stare for a moment before regaining his composure. "I'm Mr. James, one of Lily's teachers. I'm deeply sorry for what happened to her." 

Roland nodded curtly. "Thank you for your concern, Mr. James. But now, I will take over." 

He turned to Dr. Carter, his gaze sharp. "I want my daughter moved to my private hospital immediately. Arrange for her transfer." 

Dr. Carter hesitated. "Sir, moving her in this condition could be risky. She's stable for now, but she needs careful monitoring." 

Roland's expression hardened. "I trust my medical team. Make the arrangements, or I will." 

The room fell silent, the weight of Roland's authority palpable. 

While Roland dealt with the logistics, Lena approached her sister's bedside, her expression soft with worry. 

"She doesn't look like herself," Lena whispered, her voice trembling. "She's always so strong…" 

The butler and assistant stood behind her, their faces grim. 

"She'll be fine, Miss Lena," the butler said reassuringly. "Your father will ensure she gets the best care possible." 

Within the hour, arrangements were made for Lily's transfer. A private medical team arrived to take over, their equipment far more advanced than the hospital's. 

Roland stood by, watching every detail with a critical eye. "Be careful with her," he said sharply. "If anything happens during this transfer, it will be on your heads." 

As Lily was loaded into the private ambulance, Roland turned to Mr. James. "I appreciate your support, Mr. James. Once Lily is awake, I will ensure she contacts you to explain the situation." 

Mr. James nodded, grateful for Roland's calm yet firm demeanor. "Thank you, Mr. Martinez. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help." 

As the ambulance sped away, carrying Lily toward what everyone hoped would be better care, Roland and Lena followed closely in their black SUV. The hospital staff and Mr. James watched them leave, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on their minds. 

Back at the camp, Alex sat alone, his head in his hands. He had done his part in saving Lily, but the guilt of knowing he hadn't acted sooner continued to torment him. 

What would happen when Lily woke up? Would she tell everyone what she remembered?