Annie opened her eyes. She squinted when the room's brightness painfully stabbed into her eyes. She waited a moment, giving her eyes a little time to adjust. Then she tried opening them wide again to see the white ceiling above.
That was not her room ceiling. Her room ceiling was a very pale pink.
She tried to sit up but instantly winced as a sharp pain pierced her head. She dropped her head back onto the pillow with a groan. And she felt unusually warm.
"Annie?"
She saw Big Sis' face beside her.
"Annie, take it easy," Big Sis advised, "You've a fever."
"And a splitting headache." Annie shrank when a sudden pain burst in her head again. She glanced at the ceiling and rolled her eyes to see the surrounding room from where she lay. "Where am I? Judy Perkins Memorial?" The room was similar to one where she had awoken in months ago.
"Yes, Annie," Big Sis confirmed.
"What am I doing here?" Annie asked weakly, "I'm not here for a little fever, am I?"
"Don't you remember?"
The younger sister tried to sit up again, but stopped when the headache struck. "I remember getting into a cab and going home."
"Annie, you never made it home," Big Sis said, "You've been robbed."
That got her eyes wide open. Which she shut again immediately as the sunlight from the window was too bright. Mercifully, Big Sis went to close the curtains.
"The police found you and brought you here," Big Sis added.
"Robbed?" Annie uttered, "What did they take?" She forced herself to sit up, resisting the throbbing in her head with all of her will.
"Everything," Big Sis replied.
Annie took a deep breath. "My handbag?" she listed her belongings, "I hadn't much money in it, just enough for the cab fare. Lipstick, powder. My student ID. My bank card and handphone!"
"They're all gone," Big Sis told her sympathetically.
"My house keys!" Annie exclaimed.
"We'll have to change the locks at home." Big Sis stepped next to the bed. "Listen, the police want to talk to you."
Annie noted that she was wearing a hospital gown. "Did the police take my dress for evidence or something?"
Marie watched her younger sister for a moment. "Yes," she said finally, "I'll call Mum and tell the doctor you're awake."
"Yeah, maybe the doctor can give me something for this pain."
"Annie, the doctor is going to check you for any sign of rape," Big Sis informed her gravely.
"What!?" Annie whispered sharply. She was starting to feel sick.
Rape!? What could have happened to her that... that... She was only fourteen. She could not have been raped, could she? And what did the test involve. Oh no, was someone going to poke inside her!?
Annie was embarrassed to have someone, never mind that it was a female medical professional, examine her most private secrets. She definitely did not want to recount the procedure later. She did not want anyone else with her that time. Well, maybe she could trust Marie, but Big Sis would definitely feel uncomfortable while her sister was being... Annie did not want to recall the details.
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