The haunting past

Marcus's emotional state was fragile, and the hospital's sterile atmosphere only added to his distress. He continued to pace back and forth, his eyes fixed on the door to the ICU, willing Sophia to pull through.

As he walked, he muttered to himself, "Please, Tara, don't leave me. I need you." The doctor's words echoed in his mind, "We're doing everything we can, Mr. Marcus, but Sophia's injuries are a bit severe." Marcus felt like he was losing his grip on reality.

The hospital room was filled with the beeping of machines and the soft murmur of nurses' voices. Marcus's eyes locked onto the doctor, who was standing by the nurses' station, filling out a chart.

"Doctor, please, you have to save her. I'll do anything," Marcus begged, his voice cracking with desperation.

The doctor looked up, his expression sympathetic. "We're doing everything we can, Mr. Marcus. But you need to prepare yourself for the worst." Marcus felt like he had been punched in the gut. He couldn't lose Tara, not now, not again,not ever.

As the doctor walked away, Marcus collapsed into a chair, his body wracked with sobs. He buried his face in his hands, his mind consumed by memories of Tara.

After few hours, Sophia's eyes fluttered open, and she was met with the familiar sight of Marcus's worried face. He was holding her hands, his head resting on the bed beside her.

At first, she couldn't quite place where she was, but as her gaze wandered around the hospital room, memories of the fire incident came flooding back.

She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her head, making her wince.

Marcus's eyes snapped open , "thank God. Doctor! Doctor!! tara is awake he screamed" as he held her close kissing her forehead. "Thank you for being alive,I owe you one." He said happily as he gently pressed her back onto the pillow.

"Hey, hey, don't try to move," he whispered, his voice laced with relief. "You're safe now. You're in the hospital."

Sophia's gaze locked onto Marcus's, and she saw the deep concern etched on his face. She tried to speak, but her voice was hoarse from the smoke,the oxygen mask attached to her nose wasn't helping as well.

Marcus seemed to sense her struggle as the doctor walked in he quickly asked if she could take water. "Yes a little" the doctor replied.

He handed her a glass of water. Sophia took a sip, after the doctor detached the oxygen mask,she winced as the cool liquid touched her parched throat.

The doctor examined her and eyes and stepped out after the examination

As she handed the glass back to Marcus, Sophia's eyes searched his face.

There was something different about Marcus, something haunted in his eyes.

"Marcus," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "What's wrong with me?"

Marcus's expression faltered, and for a moment, Sophia saw a glimmer of something else - something raw and emotional.

But then, his mask slipped back into place, and he forced a smile. "Nothing's wrong, Sophia. You're just...you're going to be okay."

Sophia's eyes narrowed, sensing that there was more to his reply. But before she could press Marcus further, Another doctor walked in, a clipboard in his hand.

"Ah, Sophia, welcome back," the doctor said, smiling. "You've had quite an ordeal. But you're safe now, and we're going to take good care of you."

As the doctor began to explain Sophia's injuries and treatment plan, Marcus's eyes was fixed on hers.

Sophia felt a shiver run down her spine, sensing that there was something Marcus wasn't telling her, something important.

Was she dieing?

Why was her captor so concerned about her?

The doctor continued to explain Sophia's treatment plan, Marcus's gaze remained fixed on hers, his eyes burning with an intensity that made Sophia's heart skip a beat.

She tried to focus on the doctor's words, but her attention kept drifting back to Marcus. There was something in his eyes, something that hinted at a deeper connection between them.

The doctor finally finished his explanation and left the room, leaving Sophia alone with Marcus.

"Sophia," Marcus whispered, his voice low and husky. "I'm glad,I'm so glad that I could save you.

I couldn't protect her."

What does he mean by her? Was he referring to this Tara person?who was she?

Sophia's eyes searched Marcus's face, trying to understand the emotions that were swirling beneath the surface.

"Protect who and from what?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Marcus's eyes dropped, and he took a deep breath before answering.

"The fire," he said finally. "I should have been there to protect her. I should have..."

Sophia's hand reached out, and she touched Marcus's arm, feeling a jolt of electricity at the contact.

"It's not your fault, Marcus," she said softly. "You saved me. You pulled me out of the fire."

Marcus's eyes snapped up, and Sophia saw a glimmer of something there, something that looked almost like guilt.

"I didn't save her, Sophia," he whispered. "I didn't save Tara."

Sophia's eyes narrowed, confusion swirling in her mind.

"Who's Tara?" she asked, her voice firm.

Marcus's eyes dropped, and he took a deep breath before answering.

"She was the love of my life."he whispered. "Tara and i was going to get married the week she died."

"I killed Tara, I killed our baby." He said amidst sobs

Sophia's mind reeled, trying to process the words that Marcus had just spoken. What did he mean? Why was he saying he killed tara?

As she looked into Marcus's eyes, Sophia saw something there, something that hinted at a deep connection between him and tara something that suggested that Marcus was a broken man and he was going to remain broken for a long period of time.

Marcus abruptly stood up, his eyes fixed on the Sophia. "I need a drink," he muttered, his voice low and husky. "I need to clear my head."

Without another word, he turned and walked out of the hospital room, leaving Sophia alone and confused.

As she sat there, Sophia realized that she was alone and unguarded. She could escape.

Without hesitation, Sophia threw off the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She was a bit dizzy from the medication, but she knew she had to get out of there.