Flora’s Guide to a Second Chance at Love and Life

Flora's icy stare cut through the room, sending a shiver down Mr. Atticus's spine.

He took a deep breath, trying to squash the panic rising in his chest, and stood up, pretending to be calm. There was no way Flora would actually do anything to him, right? He was too important, representing a major medical organization. Surely, even the folks from Empire Base would think twice before messing with him.

Trying to muster some sense of authority, he put on a haughty facade. But Flora didn't even flinch. She just stared at him for a couple of seconds, then signaled Jason to take him away, without a word about their destination.

The fear of the unknown gnawed at him. As Jason led him away, Mr. Atticus watched Flora and Connor walking side by side ahead of him. They walked for what felt like an eternity, with no hint of where they were going, and the panic he had tried to suppress began to bubble up again, growing stronger and more uncontrollable. Finally, he couldn't hold back any longer. "Where are you taking me?" he blurted out. No one answered.

Mr. Atticus's anxiety skyrocketed, his mind spiraling with worst-case scenarios. Just thinking about the interrogation methods of Empire Base made his teeth chatter uncontrollably.

After a tense twenty minutes, they arrived at a clearing. Flora stopped, and Connor right beside her. Jason halted too.

It was only then that Mr. Atticus realized his legs were trembling, and to his utter horror, he felt a warm trickle between them. His face flushed with shame. Never in his life had he felt so humiliated. Flora noticed too. She gave a quick glance at his pants and scoffed. "Typical," she muttered. "All bravado and no backbone."

"What do you want from me?" he demanded, his voice shaky.

From their vantage point, they could see the square below, packed with representatives from various factions. Empire Base soldiers stood guard every ten steps, their expressions cold and unyielding, guns at the ready. The gathered factions wore expressions of anger and frustration but didn't dare make any sudden moves.

Ignoring Mr. Atticus's question, Flora started descending the stairs, with Connor following half a step behind. Jason shoved Mr. Atticus to keep up.

As they reached the square, the crowd began to stir, voices rising in protest.

"When are you letting us go?"Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

"Do you think you can get away with this? If anything happens to us, you'll pay for it!"

They had tried to call for help, but all signals were jammed. They'd been imprisoned all night, forced to endure without proper facilities for eating, drinking, or relieving themselves. Those who couldn't hold it had to make do on the spot. The ordeal had them on the brink of madness.

"Let us go, now!" they shouted, desperate to break free. But the moment anyone stepped over the red line, a gunshot rang out, forcing them back in terror.

"Relax, I will let you go," Flora finally spoke, her voice calm and measured. "Not only will I let you go, but I'll fulfill your wishes."

The crowd fell silent, bewildered.

Wishes? What wishes? All they wanted was to get out of this hellhole!

"You've been pressuring Crimson to get Atticus to cure you, right? Well, I'll make sure that happens," Flora said, her voice devoid of any emotion. She took a seat behind a table, and Jason forced Mr. Atticus into a chair next to her.

"Come over here," Flora beckoned to Elio and the group standing at the edge.

Confused but obedient, they approached her. Unlike the rest, they hadn't suffered much. Empire Base had kept them in their rooms, providing for their basic needs. It was a stark contrast to the others, who had been crammed into a large, barren room with no facilities, enduring a freezing night.