I started out surrounded by lights, same as everyone, but they faded one by one. The one I loved was killed before me for being by my side, the one I trusted more than anything betrayed me and left for the sake of money, the ones who talked and cared for me...their kindness turned to hatred and fear. One by one, the lights around me died and I fell into darkness.

I started out wandering through dimly lit darkness, but as I walked the lights changed to be brighter- but dull. The last one who openly opposed me was shot to death, the last one who refused me was forced to leave, the ones that feared me came to like and revere me. My world is full of light, but it is fake and lifeless.

The first thing Amara noticed when she woke up was the smell of anesthesia and disinfectants. Within a few seconds a wave of pain crashed over her. Right, her siblings and mother had beaten her up yet again. It was Amara's bad luck to have ended up in the hospital again for the third time this month. When she was able to look around again, she noticed a note on the bedside table. Struggling, she squirmed over and picked it up.

"You useless trash, ending up in the hospital again. I hope you have enough money to pay the bills"

"Those leeches!" Amara prepared to throw the paper across the room, but before she could, the door opened. A tall man with dark, coffee brown hair walked into the room.

"Miss Blackthorn, please refrain from moving around when you are hurt." The man walked over and grabbed the note from her.

"Hmmm," he turned to face her. "You have to pay your medical bills?"

Amara turned her face away from him. "Yes, my family never does." She tried to keep her voice call and carefree, but failed miserably.

"Well...I'm afraid it will be quite expensive. You have a mild concussion, two broken ribs and deep cuts."

Amara winced. This was the most severe beating she'd had before, normally she was sent to the hospital to get some stiches, and that would be it.

"Additionally, you also have signs of malnutrition and starvation, so your recovery will be quite slow. You'll probably have to stay here for two weeks, and then be sent home and monitored. If you cannot stay at your home, you could stay here until fully recovered, but that would be much more costly."

"So how would it cost?" Amara was dreading the answer

The doctor paused before answering. "To leave in two weeks it would cost around $30,000 dollars, to stay until fully recovered would be closer to $80,000."

"Um...." Amara knew she didn't have enough money for either. "Would I be able to leave early?"

"I'm afraid I wouldn't allow you to leave earlier in your state. How much money could you pay?"

"$875 dollars," Amara replied turning away.

"Hmmm, how about a compromise?"

"Hmmm, how about a compromise?" Cassim looked at the girl on the cot, who had turned her grey eyes away from him and was making sure to keep it that way. A smile tugged at his lips when he thought about it.

"...What compromise?" She asked, being very wary

"Simple, you work stay until you can go, and then work here to pay off the rest that can't be covered by insurance."

Amara turned to look at him and after a bit reluctantly agreed to his offer.

"Alright, the main problem is what you know about medicine."

"I...don't know that much. I know enough to help out, but not enough to do that much."

Interesting, so she actually knows some medical knowledge. "What do you know?"

"I know how to diagnose some illnesses, injuries and sicknesses and some prescriptions, but not much else." Amara was glad she had studied medicine after Blake's death. It would finally pay off.

"Alright, two months after you recuperate, you'll start working as an intern. You'll work in my division so you'll be need to meet the people you'll be working with soon. If you need anything else, you can just ask the nurses to get Cassim Grey for you. I'll leave your medicine on the table and go, now."

Cassim left the room and Amara watched him leave. He seemed like a nice guy, but she didn't trust him. He would surely end up hating her sooner or later, regardless of how nice he was. He'd just treat her nicely until she trusted him and then break her like everyone else. Sighing, Amara relaxed and tried to go back to sleep, but before she could, the door slammed open.

Amara's stepbrother Will and her sister Cady walked into the room. Cady was short, with shoulder length dyed blonde hair, and her face has at least a pound of makeup on it. She was wearing a glary pink dress and seven inch heels. Will looked more casual, with cocoa brown hair streaked with blue and a hoodie and jeans. Following them were Amara's father Alexander and her stepmother Maria. Maria and Cady laughed at seeing Amara in the hospital cot.

"Well we'll, it's the little bitch of our family," Maria sneered.

"Looks like we didn't beat her up enough, if she's already awake," Cady slurred.

Both women started laughing and soon Will and Alexander joined in.

"No wonder Karen left you! Who would want to stay around someone like you!" Will always joined in after Cady, so it wasn't that surprising. The blow still hurt though. Karen had been Amara's best friend, and one of the two people she trusted, but she had helped Cady and Will torture Amara. She had also held Amara down to watch her boyfriend Jax die. He had been shot thirteen times in front of her, while Karen and Amara's family had laughed.

Amara balled up her fists and sat up to punch Will, but before she could the door opened again and a familiar man with coffee brown hair and blue eyes walked through.

The door opened, and a familiar man with coffee brown hair walked in. "Excuse me, but don't disrupt my patient. If you do, I will get security to escort you out." Cassim's eyes glowed with a mischevious light as he leaned against the door frame and regarded Amara's family with an arrogant air.

Cady stares at him, almost drooling over him. "Hey hottie, why are you protecting this bitch? Come on a date with me, I can assure it will be worth your time." Cady slid up to him and pressed herself against him speaking in a honey covered voice.

Amara felt her hope plummet, of course he would go with her. She looked like a gorgeous rose, while Amara was a bitch and thorny. He would be no different from everyone else.

Cassim felt a wave of disgust at this girl who was pushing herself against him. With as much force held back as possible, he shoved her off of him and into Will. "Miss, I believe that what you just did would be considered harassment. If you don't want to be put on trial, then leave right now. Also, do not call Ms. Amara a bitch, it is not proper conduct."

Cady stood there gaping unable to process what had just happened. Amara stiffled a laugh.

"I'm sorry Miss, do you not understand me? Can you understand English, or would you prefer for me to speak in a different language? Or is it a mental problem or is you hearing messed up? Maybe you should go get your ears checked out?"

Cady regained her senses. "Hmph! Like that would ever happen! You'll regret refusing me!" Cady sashayed out of the room, shortly followed by Will and Amara's parents.

As soon as they left, Amara burst out laughing. "That...was...hilarious!" She barely managed to talk through her laughter.

Cassim grinned. "Glad you enjoyed the show." He took an elaborate bow before coming over to her bed and handing her a tray with food. Amara took it and began to eat.

"I have a request," she said hesitantly

"Yes?"

"Would I be able to go to my home to get my phone and earbuds?"

He laughed and cocked his head. "What for?"

"Well, it will be boring to sit still and stare at walls for two weeks, so I want to entertain myself and listen to music."

"Oh?" His eyes twinkled with curiosity and humor. "What type of music?"

"Broadway." \(**Does anybody reading this listen to Broadway? What musicals? If so, I might put in references to musicals**\)

 He laughed and told her she could go once her body recovered a bit. He left soon after, quietly closing the door. Who knows, maybe he's different. Amara thought, hope rising in her.

A bit after Cassim left Amara's room, his friend Jake rushed over.

"Cassim, we have trouble!" he was panting heavily and had cuts and bruises all over his face.

"Heather, right?" Cassim took a guess. Heather was a woman who kept forcefully trying to take Jake's shop. Recently, she'd started hiring gangs to attack and make a bad image, but Cassim had gotten people to protect the business.

"Yeah, she started shouting in front of the shop for me to get out and take responsibility for beating up her brother. I came out to smooth things out, and she got five people to attack me. Leo is keeping them busy right now, but I'm not sure how long he can last." Leo is Jake's assistant, and a close friend of Cassim.

"Alright, let's go." The two ran off to the North Shopping District.