Scream Me a Dream

Even though the walk from the car to the door of the hotel was a short one, it didn’t stop the photographers from taking their picture and even stopping them and asking them questions. Soya mostly kept her focus on the hand Ville kept on the small of her back as she answered the questions of who she was wearing, and how she felt about her father’s honor.

She’d been speaking to one reporter for a couple of minutes when both she and Ville heard his name being called. Ville looked over at Soya briefly, seeing that she was still in conversation with the reporter and rubbed his thumb softly on the low of her back, signaling her he was going to step away, before he walked over to the female reporter who had called his name.

“Hello.” He said with a slight smile as he kept an eye on Soya who was only a few feet away.

“Ville Valo, we had no idea you were going to be attending Mr. Toivonen’s dinner tonight.”

Ville chuckled as he looked back at the blonde reporter. “It took some convincing.” Ville admitted.

“How do you know Mr. Toivonen?”

“Ah,” Ville laughed. “I’m sure you already know you just want to hear it come from my mouth.” he gestured towards Soya. “I’m dating his daughter.” At that moment, Soya floated to his side and took his hand. “Soya actually asked me to accompany her tonight.”

“How did you two meet?” The woman asked flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder.

“Ah, we’re old friends.” Soya answered, looking up at Ville who winked at her.

“Soya, what is your father being honored with tonight?”

“Ah,” Soya smiled lightly, she’d actually researched what the honor had been before coming, as her father had failed to mention it when he’d invited her to come. “His donations to the hospitals around Helsinki have made it possible for a lot of in-need families to get care that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to get. Mostly…” Soya trailed off when she was the blank look in the woman’s eyes and smiled. “He’s been donating money to hospitals.” She said simply.

“Ah,” The woman nodded, Soya turned when she heard her name and tugged lightly on Ville’s arm.

“We’re being called in.” She whispered when he leaned down closer to her.

Ville nodded and turned to the woman with a smile. “It looks like we’re being called in.”

“Ah, well thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.”

“Of course.” Ville said as Soya smiled at her, both walking through the doors of the hotel.

“Hi isi.” Soya smiled, letting go of Ville’s hand to hug her father and kiss his cheek.

“Well, you look wonderful this evening Soya.” Jonah complimented when Soya went back to Ville’s side, his arm automatically winding around her waist. “And you clean up very nicely Ville.”

“I do, don’t I?” Ville chuckled looking down at himself.

Soya rolled her eyes and was about to respond, only to stiffen when she caught sight of her mother walking towards them. Elizabeth looked Soya over, ignoring Ville completely, before taking her place at Jonah’s side.

“That dress is a bit revealing, isn’t it?”

“It’s fine Elizabeth.” Jonah said patiently.

“Hmm, I just came to tell you that people are starting to look for you.” Elizabeth said, taking one more look at Soya before walking away.

“Well…”

“I told her to behave tonight.” Jonah said, cutting Soya off. “It doesn’t mean she’ll be nice, but she won’t cause a scene either.” He turned to Ville. “It does mean she’ll spend most of the night ignoring you though.”

Ville shrugged. “That’s fine with me.”

“Come, you’re seated with us.” Jonah said.

“Where’s Aida?” Soya asked.

“She didn’t come out tonight.” Jonah said looking at his daughter as they started their way into the ballroom. “She wasn’t feeling too well so she stayed home; Niina’s taking care of her.”

“Oh, had I known I would have gone and visited her today.” Soya pouted.

Jonah chuckled. “It’s a simple cold Soya, she’ll be up and around in no time.”

Soya bit her lip, before touching her father’s arm causing him to stop and look at her curiously. “And how are you doing?”

Jonah laughed, leaning forward and kissing Soya’s forehead. “I’m doing fine Soya, a bit tired, but fine; stop worrying so much. Now go, sit, I believe Elli and her husband came out tonight.”

Soya nodded and watched her father leave before looking up at Ville.

“He’s fine Soya.” Ville chuckled kissing the top of her head. “Now, do you want to sit or find Elli?”

“Find Elli.” Soya said with a sigh as she looked around the room filled with politicians and their significant others. “I really hate these things.”

“What do you hate about them?” Ville asked curiously as they walked around the room searching for Soya’s blonde friend.

Soya sighed. “I hate how greedy everyone is, how no one is sincere; the only reason they talk to each other is because someone has what the other needs.” She looked up at Ville. “They make nice with each other to get their needs met. When I was younger, they would make nice with me, hoping that it would have pull with my father, if I liked them, then maybe my father would look at their proposals.”

“You come to these things a lot, don’t you?” Ville asked, wondering just how often she had to attend the events, noticing some of the men looking Soya’s way as they made their way around the room.

“When I was younger, yes, but you know that.” Soya said with a laugh. “After I moved to New York, I only attended once a year and I would usually take Josef.”

“Did you-” Ville was cut off when Soya was pulled from his grasp and into the arms of a blonde woman.

“Finally!” Elli exclaimed hugging Soya tightly.

“Oh! Elli! Sweetheart, I can’t breathe.” Soya teased, hugging the woman back before Elli let her go.

“We’ve been waiting for you!” Elli said with a large smile. “You are definitely sitting with us.”

“I think we have to sit with my parents.” Soya said with a frown.

“Please.” Elli said with a wave of her hand. “That’s just for the ceremony, so you all look pretty for the cameras, once dinner starts you can sit with us.”

“Try explaining that to my mother.” Soya teased before turning to the bespectacled blonde man that was standing quietly next to Elli looking amused. “Hello, I’m Soya.”

“Ah, my manners.” Elli said with a wince. “Soya, Ville, this is my husband Tahvo. Tahvo, you remember me talking about Soya.”

“I do.” Tahvo nodded with a smile. “Elli and Inka have been talking non-stop about you ever since you’ve been back. Aapo and I have been very amused by all the stories they tell of you.”

“Don’t listen to a word they say.” Soya laughed. “It’s very nice to meet you Tahvo, this is my boyfriend, Ville.”

“Ah, a very familiar face.” Tahvo teased shaking Ville’s hand.

“Tahvo’s in the music industry too Ville.” Elli said as she waved them towards their table.

“Are you?” Ville asked interested.

“Nothing big, I promise you.” Tahvo said quickly as they sat around the round table, Elli and Soya next to each other, while Ville and Tahvo sat next to their respective others. “I listen to demos that get sent in and pass them off if they’re any good. Sometimes I go out and see the bands but that’s very rare.”

“Those tend to be date night for us.” Elli said with a roll of her eyes causing Soya to laugh.

“That sounds like fun.” Ville said with a smile. “The job I mean.”

Tahvo shrugged. “It is for the most part,” He admitted. “Makes good money.”

“Not that we need it.” Elli said patting her husband’s hand. “Tahvo’s an Ovaska.”

“Really?” Soya asked, having heard of the Ovaskas in her youth, while the Toivonens were wealthy in Helsinki, the Ovaskas were just as wealthy in Oulu, Finland.

“My family’s wealthy, I’m not.” Tahvo said with a sigh.

Elli laughed. “He’s humble, he likes making his own money rather than touching his trust.”

“Refreshing.” Soya laughed, “I heard from Inka that Mikko Takka’s been living off his trust.”

“That is true.” Elli said with a roll of her eyes. “After you left, he spent one more year dancing…horribly, might I add, before he quit. He works for his father and when I say work I mean he sits in an office and twiddles his thumbs.”

Soya shook her head. “I’ve always disliked him.”

“Really?” Elli said with a teasing smile. “I could never tell.”

“Why Soya?” Ville asked looking at his girlfriend curiously, other than Rebecca, he’d never heard Soya talk ill of another person, it was an odd thing for him to hear.

“He’s disgusting.” Elli answered for Soya, knowing her friend would censor her response as to not come across as a bitch. “Very full of himself, lazy and literally lives to spend his parent’s money.”

“No ambition.” Soya said looking at her boyfriend. “That and he can’t dance.”

“That important to you, love?” Ville teased.

“Seeing as he used to be my partner, yes it was very important to me.” Soya laughed, leaning forward to kiss him only for a clearing of a throat to interrupt before their lips made contact. Soya pulled away and looked up, sitting straight when she saw her mother standing by her chair. “Ma-”

“We’re sitting down now, the speakers are about to start.” Elizabeth said tersely, before walking away.

Soya blew out a breath before looking back at Ville. “Ready?”

“Are you?” Ville asked with a raised eyebrow.

Soya nodded, although Ville saw her eyes wander over, following her mother before looking back at him. “Yes.”

“Then so am I.” Ville nodded.

“Elli.” Soya said, picking up her wrap that she’d slipped off and her purse from the table. “We’ll be back later.”

“Luck tyttövauva.” Elli said with a smile. “Lots of luck!”

“Thanks.” Soya laughed, taking Ville’s hand and allowing him to lead her through the hall towards the table where her mother and father sat. “I am sorry for her.” Soya said softly.

“You apologize as if I didn’t already know she’d be a bitch.”

Soya winced. “Ville-”

“Get used to it, because there’s no other adjective to describe her Soya.” Ville smirked. “Don’t apologize for her behavior. That’s not your responsibility.”

“Then what is?” Soya muttered.

Ville chuckled, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “Coming up with ideas on how to make all of this up to me tonight.”

By the time they had reached the table, Ville held out Soya’s chair, smirking at how red her face was, before sitting next to her.

“Nice of you to join us Soya.” Elizabeth said as Soya reached for the linen napkin sitting on her plate.

“Leave them be,” Jonah said patiently, though Soya caught the slight wince on his face. “They both have every right to talk to friends, and don’t act as if Ville isn’t at the table.”

“Are you all right?” Soya asked her father with a frown.

“He’s fine.” Elizabeth said before Jonah could respond.

“I’m fine.” Jonah said with a roll of his eyes. “Stop worrying Soya.”

“I just… I saw you…”

“He’s fine, Soya.” Elizabeth said, causing Soya to look away from her father and towards her mother. “Leave it alone.”

“Its fine that she asks Elizabeth,” Jonah turned to his daughter. “It’s perfectly fine that you ask, I’m just in a bit of pain Soya, but I’m fine.”

Ville looked over at Soya and knew she was biting her tongue to keep from asking more questions, he moved his hand from the top of the table to beneath it, placing his hand on her thigh and squeezing it reassuringly. She turned, smiling at him weakly, mouthing a ‘thank you’. They both turned when the first speaker went up the podium, thanking the crowd for attending.

Half an hour later they found themselves clapping as Jonah stepped away from the podium, having accepted his award, allowing the waiters to come out and serve dinner.

“Soya,” Jonah started once he was settled back at the table, smoothing the linen napkin on his lap. “I went past your studio the other day, I saw that the lot next to it had been bought, did you finally give in?”

Soya gave a quiet laugh shaking her head. “No,” she sighed. “Someone bought it last week.” She shrugged. “Oh well.”

“Told you it might not be there by the time you got back.” Ville teased.

“Don’t gloat.” Soya said grinning at him. “It doesn’t suit you.”

“Of course it does.” Ville teased back, frowning when he felt a vibration in his pocket. He reached into his pocket, thanking the waiter as his dinner was set down, and pulled out his cell phone. “Ah…”

“Who is it?” Soya asked, looking over at his caller ID.

“Jyrki, it looks like. I’ll be right back. Excuse me.” Ville said setting his napkin on the table before leaving the ball room.

“Well that was rude.” Elizabeth murmured, causing Soya to frown.

“I’m sure that anything Ville does wouldn’t meet you approval mamma.”

“Soya, don’t start.” Jonah sighed.

“I didn’t start anything.” Soya said patiently. “Mamma’s the one making snide comments. Ville’s been nothing but polite, but the fact that he has to answer his phone makes him rude, why?”

“I just don’t see why he had to answer now; no one else is on their phone.”

“Because all of our friends are at my apartment, Mamma; Jyrki’s probably checking in with Ville, making sure it’s fine that they stay until we get back.”

“It’s not proper…”

“Enough Elizabeth, don’t spoil the evening with what’s proper and what’s not. If Soya wants to have her friends in her apartment, that’s her choice and hers alone, leave her be.”

Soya stayed silent, as did her mother, as she stared down at her food, only to look back up when she felt a familiar warm hand on her shoulder. “Hey.”

“Hey.” Ville smiled, crouching down next to her. “People are dancing.” He said quietly, nudging his head towards the dance floor. “I figured since dancing is important to you and all…”

“I thought you didn’t dance.” Soya teased.

Ville rolled his eyes. “I might still remember a bit of what you taught me way back when.”

“So old.” She said with a grin, pinching his cheek.

“Do you want to dance or not?” He growled quietly causing her to laugh.

“Yes please.” Soya answered setting her napkin down, taking the hand he held out and letting him lead her to the dance floor. She squealed lightly when he spun her into position, placing on hand on the small of her bare back while the other held her hand out to their side.

“What did Jyrki want?” Soya asked.

“He wanted to know if they could eat the rest of some of your food, apparently your lecture scared them all straight and they want to check before they do things in your place.”

Soya frowned. “Then why didn’t he call me.”

“They seemed to be a bit frightened of you.” Ville teased. “And you forgot your phone back at your apartment, they tried calling you but your phone rang in your room, so they called me.”

“Ville you know you don’t have to stay.” Soya said softly as they swayed to the music playing.

“Of course I do, I’m not leaving you.”

“My mother’s not in the best of moods…” Soya rolled her eyes at herself. “Really, when is she? I just…everyone’s back at the flat and you should be there too.”

“Seeing as it’s your flat, I’m pretty sure your presence is mandatory as well.” Ville chuckled.

“But I’m required to be here, you’re not.” Soya said, smiling when he turned her again. “The rest of dinner is going to be tense, and…” Soya shrugged.

“You want to protect me.” Ville grinned.

“Is that what I’m trying to do?” Soya asked with a small smile.

“It is.” Ville nodded. “And I appreciate it, but I’ll be fine staying. I want to stay.”

Soya took her hand from his shoulder and placed it on his cheek, bringing him down for a kiss. “So getting rewarded tonight.” She murmured against his lips, feeling the smirk that formed on his.

“Good to know love.” Ville said pulling away slowly to look at her, seeing her grey eyes darken. “Very good to know.”

Ville pulled away when he felt a tap on his shoulder, turning when he saw Jonah standing behind him, “May I cut in?”

“Of course.” Ville smiled, kissing Soya’s cheek. “I’ll be over with Elli and Tahvo.” He said in her ear, before he handed her to her father, walking off the dance floor with a smirk.

“What has you blushing pikku tanssija?” Jonah asked taking Ville’s place.

Soya laughed softly. “Just…Ville in general.” Soya said with a shake of her head. “The man has me red in the face on a daily basis.”

Jonah nodded in understanding. “Your friends are at your home?” he asked.

Soya nodded. “It’s Jyrki’s birthday tomorrow. You remember Jyrki, right?”

“One of the men in leather?” Jonah asked.

“That would be him.” Soya laughed. “The one with long hair, not spiky.”

“Right.” Jonah laughed moving his daughter around the dance floor. “I remember.”

“So we’re celebrating, somewhat, tonight.” Soya said noticing her father wince again. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’m fine Soya, my appointment took a bit more out of me today.”

“You’re in pain isi.” Soya pointed out, slowing down their dancing, though her father didn’t allow her to stop them all together.

“A bit.” Jonah nodded in agreement, “But I want to dance with my daughter. We’re almost done for the night Soya, but I was wondering if you would come to the room real quick before you and Ville leave.”

“Of course, anything serious?”

“No, no, nothing serious.” Jonah assured. “I wanted to give you something before you left for the night.”

Soya nodded. “I’ll go up with you, that’s fine.”

“Good, now, you go find Ville, I’ll go grab your mother, if I don’t dance with her by the end of the night it’ll be my head.”

Soya laughed but nodded. “All right.” She leaned forward and kissed her father’s cheek. “Let me know when you leave for upstairs and I’ll follow.”

“I will.” Jonah agreed before letting her go and watching her walk off the dance floor towards her boyfriend. Jonah turned himself to search for his wife.

“Ah, you’re back!” Elli laughed, as she caught sight of Soya. “You know your man hasn’t eaten.”

“I know.” Soya said rubbing Ville’s back affectionately. “Can I talk to you outside?” She said looking down at him.

“Sure.” Ville nodded, excusing himself from the table and following Soya outside of the hotel, surprised to find the street void of reporters. “What did you want to talk about?” Ville asked, noting that she didn’t have her wrap; he shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.

“Go back to the flat.”

Ville laughed. “That’s what you wanted to come outside for, I already said I wouldn’t.”

“The party’s starting to wind down; in about half an hour everyone’s going to start to leave.”

“Then we’ll leave too.” Ville responded.

“No, I have to go upstairs with my father, he wants to give me something. You haven’t eaten and I know you’re not going to eat what they’re serving, I wouldn’t even eat it.”

“Well I don’t blame you, it’s French; you hate French.” Ville teased.

“Go back to the flat Ville, I swear I’ll only be an hour, I just want to talk to my father upstairs and then I’ll meet you back at the flat.”

Ville sighed. “You are very adamant about this, aren’t you?”

Soya nodded. “I just…I know that if my mother’s up there, she’s going to pick a fight and I would rather deal with it by myself than have you there and try to protect me.”

Ville laughed, hugging Soya tightly to him. “It’s my job to protect you.”

“No, it’s your job to perform.” Soya teased. “It’s your privilege to protect me.”

“So full of yourself.” Ville laughed before leaning his forehead against hers. “One of these days you’re going to have to let me into to that part of your life Soya. I know you let me see the good, but you also have to let me see the bad.”

“I know.” Soya agreed softly. “I know that, but right now, I’d rather you didn’t.”

“Fine, I’ll go back to the flat.” Ville sighed, resigned. “But wait with me while the cab comes.”

“Ville, take Nathan.” Soya argued.

“No, no, I’ll take a cab.” Ville argued back already putting his phone to his ear. Soya rolled her eyes, only to blink when she felt something cold hit her cheek. She looked up at the same time Ville did, grinning largely when she saw the small white snowflakes making their way down.

“Something good is coming.” Ville said wrapping his arms around Soya’s waist from behind and looking up at the sky with her. “Right?”

“Right.” Soya nodded, turning her head to look at him. “Something very good.”

Ville groaned burying his face in her neck. “Once the fucking snow starts it’s never going to stop.”

“The very best thing about Finland

“You say.” Ville laughed. “It just means you’re going to start bundling up more and I don’t get to see your sexy figure.”

Soya burst out laughing, looking back at her grinning boyfriend. “Such a boy.”

“Very much one, now if I’m going back to the flat, how is this reward going to work?”

Soya shook her head, leaning forward and kissing his cheek. “We’ll figure something out, I’m sure you will have no qualms in kicking everyone out.”

“None at all.” Ville laughed, straightening when he saw the taxi come down the street. “Are you sure you want me to leave?” He asked one final time.

“I don’t want you too.” Soya said slowly. “But I think it would be best for all involved if you did.” She said a bit sadly. “I’m sorry my mother is so…”

“Bitchy?” Ville finished for her.

“I was going to say hostile.” Soya laughed. “But yes, I guess that too.”

Ville smiled sadly, and in the midst of the white flurries he leaned down and gave his girlfriend a loving kiss, pulling away slowly when he felt her hands start to come up to cup his cheeks. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

Soya nodded, watching as he ducked into the cab before it pulled off the curb. She started to wrap her arms around herself, only to smile softly when she felt Ville’s jacket still around her shoulders. Turning and pulling the jacket around her tighter, she walked back into the hotel with a sigh, smiling when Elli greeted her at the entrance.

She spent the rest of the night with Elli and Tahvo, watching as the ballroom slowly emptied, the politicians sending their significant other homes before heading to the ‘classier’ bars around town.

“I think we’re going to head home tyttövauva.” Elli said patting Soya’s hand with a soft smile. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” Soya said, watching her mother head out of the ballroom, her father close behind. “I have to go talk to my father before I leave.”

“Ah, well, good luck with that.” Elli teased, kissing the top of Soya’s head. “I’ll call you tomorrow; we’ll get together for lunch. Me, you, Inka and your funny little friend, Rosalind, if she is still in town.”

“She is.” Soya laughed.

“And if we’re really nice, we’ll bring our men as well.”

“So nice of you to consider us.” Tahvo said with a roll of his eyes, hugging Soya when she stood. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Soya.”

“Pleasure meeting you as well, Tahvo.” Soya said with a smile before getting pulled into a hug by Elli.

“Lunch tomorrow.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Soya nodded, as Elli let her go, grabbing her purse and leaving with her husband.

Soya bit her lip before she gathered her wrap and her own purse, pulling Ville’s coat, which she had left on after he had left, mostly because she liked being surrounded in his scent while he wasn’t around. She left the ballroom, bidding goodbye to the last remaining guests before making her way to the elevators, pushing the button for her parents’ floor.

She leaned against the mirrored wall, opening her clutch, groaning when she remembered she’d forgotten her cell phone, so she couldn’t text Ville to let him know she was going to be a bit late. Sighing, she closed her clutch again just as the door opened up to her parents’ floor.

Stepping out, she looked at the numbers on the wall, before taking a right outside the elevator and finding the correct door. She took a deep breath, not nervous about talking to her father, but more about her mother’s presence than anything else before knocking.

“Soya.” Jonah greeted once the door opened.

“Hi isi.” Soya said softly as he ushered her in, she looked around the room, frowning when she noticed it was just her and her father. “Where’s mamma? I saw her come up with you.”

“She’s in the bathroom.” Jonah said, waving his hand in the direction of the closed door, where the humming light glowed underneath the crack of the door. He walked towards the safe, twirling the knob with the combination.

“What is it you wanted to talk about?” Soya asked, watching her father in curious interest.

“Not talk, give.” Jonah corrected, wincing when he stood back up from his crouched position, the safe door opening. “Go ahead.” He said waving towards the safe.

Soya frowned, having not seen this side of her father; he was almost boyish in his excitement. She crouched down by the safe, putting her hand inside, frowning when she didn’t feel anything. She touched the bottom, running her fingers along the sides, finally finding purchase. She grasped the tiny box and pulled it out, looking at the black felt box.

“Well are you going to open it or are you going to stare at it?” Jonah asked, though when Soya looked up she noted his flush faced.

“Isi, are you sure you’re all right?” she asked standing up.

“Fine, fine, just open the box Soya.” Jonah chuckled.

Soya rolled her eyes as she placed her wrap and purse on the bed before flipping open the ring box, only to bite her lip in surprise as she looked back at her father.

“It was my mothers, it’s a set.” Jonah said, sitting at the edge of the bed as Soya looked back down at the ring. “You and Ville seem to be getting serious, and…”

“Not marriage serious.” Soya said quickly sitting next to her father, staring at her grandmother’s engagement ring “I…”

“I wanted to give it to Ville.” Jonah admitted. “But I didn’t think it was appropriate seeing as if you don’t marry, the ring would be with him, instead of with you.”

“Oh, but isi I can’t take this.”

“Legally it’s very much yours.” Jonah said. “So of course you can take it, I have my father’s band as well, if you want to matching set.”

“I can’t believe you Jonah.” They both turned to see Elizabeth standing in the bathroom doorway, disbelief on her face.

Jonah sighed. “Now Elizabeth…”

“No, no, for years I’ve seen you give away your mothers jewelry to this girl, but your mother’s engagement ring, my engagement ring.”

Soya looked at her mother. “I…”

“No, Soya.” Jonah said standing and patting her hand. “The ring is yours, Soya, the ring is hers.” He said looking at his wife pointedly.

“It was the one thing your mother gave me, Jonah, and you’re giving it to Soya.” Elizabeth said. Soya stood, placing the ring on the bed.

“You can have it.” Soya said with a shake of her head, she was already on her mother’s bad side, she didn’t want the situation worsened over a ring, especially when she had most of what she now knew was her grandmothers jewelry.

“No, my mother wanted you to have it Soya.” Jonah said picking the ring back up and placing it in Soya’s hand, before looking back at his wife, “You haven’t worn that ring since a month after our wedding Elizabeth, after I got you the set you wear now, it’s been in my mother’s jewelry case.”

“But it’s mine.”

“You’re acting like a child.” Soya said softly, looking at her mother. “If you want it so bad, you can have it.”

“No.” Jonah said forcefully, looking back at his daughter. “No.”

“It’s fine isi.” Soya said putting the box back in her father’s hand. “I understand why you want me to have it, and that means the world to me, but if it means so much to mamma, then let her keep it.” Soya smiled softly with a shrug. “I’m sure that when Ville and I are ready for that step, he’d want to get me a ring.” She shrugged, before stepping towards the bed and picking her things up.

“Soya.” Jonah said softly.

Soya shook her head as she started towards the door, feeling her mother’s eyes on her. “It’s fine isi, I should get going anyway, Ville’s waiting for me.”

“No, Soya,”

Soya turned back around, only to quickly drop her things as she saw her father start for the ground.

“Isi?” Soya said, looking back at her mother who was watching the scene horrified.

“Soya, call an ambulance.”