CHAPTER 42

Billie Eilish: I love you

~Nothing is consistent in life. Even your own brain momentarily abandons you in exam~

~Mina.

SERAPHINA'S POV

Blood-splattered is the fitting description for the scene. The pool spotted a deep red colouration from blood uncontrollably oozing out of the open gash on Sophia's left rib. I supposed from being alerted, Miskha threw the knife as if it were contaminated and raised her bloodied hands to her face, staring at them in utmost confusion. She turned them around several times and looked at the crowd with mouth agape, and eyes the size of saucers.

It's obvious she wasn't herself and was having a hard time trying to digest everything. The crowd, which once stood close to the scene, drew back. Circumventing Miskha's bloodied figure.

"I didn't kill her." She blabbered, moving closer to me. My mind screamed for me to move, but my legs remained glued on spot, working on their own accord.

"Please, stay back!" Severina sobbed. Avoiding Miskha was hurting her, but I understood she did it for security protocols. After all, Miskha did allegedly commit one of the worst crimes in the world, homicide.

"What happ...holy shit!" Maya wheezed.

A vague sound of sirens could be heard in the distance, and it grew louder with time. My best guess was either the Paramedics or police, but I wasn't bewildered either when both cars simultaneously sped in through the entrance and parked approximately a metre away from the crime scene.

The Paramedics were the first to rush out with a stretcher, followed by the NYPD's in their defence gears.

"Miss, step away from the body and raise your arms above your head. You have the right to remain silent or anything you do or say can and may be used against you in the court of law. " There goes the infamous Miranda warning that I've always dreaded in my entire life of existence, now being used against one of my best friends.

Someone bumped into me from behind, sending me almost crashing to the ground but for Enrique's firm grip on my hips. I looked up and saw Ahmed kneeling beside Sophia's limp body. His shoulders shook violently as he sobbed and held onto the stretcher. Kabia gently detached his hands and comforted him while the Paramedics wheeled Sophia away.

At the other end, Miskha's head was pressed against the hood of the police car with her hands cuffed behind.

"I didn't kill her! You have to believe me!" She cried while being cautiously pushed into the back of the vehicle, accompanied by two officers.

The FBI investigators arrived later in the feud, and the female ducked under the barricade tape to the crime scene. Judging from her behaviour and dress code, you could tell she's the lead investigator. And that face though looks so familiar.

"It's the lady who interrogated you at the hospital, post the poisoning fiasco." Severina filled into my thoughts. I knew her face was familiar but was having a hard time decoding where I saw it. They took several pictures and briefly interrogated a few students before leaving.

"Kabia texted, they're going to Bellevue hospital," Aisha informed.

"We could ride in my truck. C'mon, there's no time." Asher rushed.

"Wait, I'm not decent." Bia pointed to her short shorts and cropped halter top. I rolled my eyes and yanked her tiny arms, ignoring her protests. The ride to the hospital was quiet halfway into the journey until Maya broke the silence.

"I think Miskha's innocent."

"Maya, not now please." Severina snapped.

"I'm sorry Maya, but I'll have to cut you off on this one," Aisha interjected.

"Look, I'm just saying okay. I mean, you definitely know an innocent person when you see one."

"No one knows anybody anymore." Enrique crudely remarked.

"I'm just saying what if she's innocent, and was framed or something." Maya, please just shut up.

"If Miskha didn't stab her, then who did? She had a knife in her hand for crying out loud, not to mention bloodied from head to toe. You want to tell me she was playing dress-up?!" Aisha lashed out, astounding everyone with her sudden outburst, given that she's usually the most calm and collected amongst us. Maya remained silent after that, and throughout the remainder of the journey.

Asher parked in an isolated lane at the west wing of the grande hospital and switched the car on security alert. I've got to admit, security alarms were irritating, but in this case, I deemed them necessary. Nobody's safe anymore. 

We rushed inside and made a beeline to the reception. Initially, the nurse was skeptical about giving us Sophia's room number but gave in when we showed her our student cards. I hate those things, but I'm glad we're made to carry them everywhere we go. You never know when shit will come in handy.

We reached the sixth floor in no time with the emergency stairs since the elevator was jammed. The scene I was met with screamed melancholy. Malu was held by the Suraiya sisters as she bawled her eyes out, and Ahmed stood against a blue door with his head lowered, while Kabia sat on the floor with a hand pressed against his cheek.

Ahmed lifted his head, and bloodshot eyes briefly glanced at us before looking away.

"What did they say?" Instead of responding to Bia, Kabia only shook his and pointed to the door Ahmed was leant against, with the word Theatre written in block letters at the top.

I sat on the cold tiles beside Malu, while Bia and Aisha sat on the hospital bench.

"It's okay. She'll survive, she's a warrior." I don't know if I was more of assuring myself or Malu, but whatever the case might be, I just hope to wake up from this nightmare.

Thirty minutes into the never-ending unnerving wait, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. A steaming coffee mug occupied my vision, making me lookup. A girl in probably the same age as us smiled sadly and gestured with her eyes towards the cup. I accepted the beverage and thanked her, it's not every day that you come across people of her kind.

"I'm Hailey." She introduced with her hand stretched out.

"Seraphina." I shook her hand and scooted closer to Leila so she has enough space to sit. That's the least I could do, to return the favour. She's pretty. Forest-green eyes and dark curly hair, a perfect combination.

"She brought us coffee when we arrived," Leila mumbled from beside me. Now that Leila mentioned this, I noticed everyone had similar mugs in their hands.

"You're waiting for someone?" How stupid of me. Obviously, people don't visit hospitals for a stroll.

"Yeah, my twin sister." She nodded with a sad smile.

"I'm a twin too." I don't know what made me say this. I guess I was just glad that we'd something in common.

"Yeah, I noticed you have a slight resemblance to the brunette over there. Although vague, but there are some distinct shared features." She pointed towards Severina.

"You're fraternal too?"

"Nope, identical. Very identical, like photocopy identical. "

"Yeah, I think I got it now. " I chuckled, making her smile.

"I don't mean to come off discouraging, but this ward doesn't hold good news. It hasn't for years."

"Let's just be positive. " I may be emanating an aura of bravery, but believe me I was battling a severe panic attack inside.

"I admire your courage."

"The one inside the theatre, she's your friend?" She questioned.

"Yup."

"I pray they both survive," she mumbled.

"What's wrong with your sister?" Her smile dropped and got replaced with sadness.

"Coronary thrombosis, a disease of the heart." I took her hand in mine and gave it a light squeeze.

"She'll be fine. They'll be fine." If so, then why wasn't I convinced by my own words?

We chatted for half an hour until a door on Hailey's left opened, and a middle-aged man in surgical scrubs walked out. At the same time, a young woman speed-walked towards us with a worried look.

"That's my mom, I'll talk to you later." Panic and terror was all you could read from Hailey's face, as the doctor removed his mask. My heart was beating ridiculously fast. Whether from panic of hearing bad news, I don't know, but I felt uneasy.

"Holly Marshall. "

"We're the family." Hailey's mother was already weeping.

"Mrs Marshall we tried our best. We truly did." Oh my God.

"However, the infection had already overpowered her immune system by the time she was brought in." The doctor continued.

"Wh..what do you mean?" Hailey stuttered.

"The surgery wasn't successful. My deepest condolences, Mrs Marshall. " He patted Hailey on the shoulder and left. A young nurse walked out of the same room moments later, consoling the mourning family.

"I'm so sorry, Hailey." I hugged her.

"It's okay, it was nothing unexpected. I just wasn't expecting it to hurt this bad." She wept. They left shortly after the corpse was rolled out of the theatre.

The Marshall's got us all sitting on hot seats, scared to death.

"This ward doesn't hold good news. It hasn't for years. "

Hailey's words kept repeating over and over in my head. Perhaps a miracle happens for our sake. Malu's cries were louder by now, and even the guys could be seen wiping at their eyes.

Mr Harts and Mrs Roberts arrived an hour later, followed by Sophia's parents, who flew all the way from Ohio. It was a house full by now, and anxiety was spreading like wildfire. The theatre door opened and everyone stood up. A nurse ran past us into another room, only to sprint back moments later with a heart defibrillator. This magnified the tension to the maximum level.

After four hours of endless pacing and brief naps, the door reopened and the woman who holds the answer to all our questions walked out.

"Sophia Buhari. " A nurse called out from a notepad. We all rushed to the doctor's side but gave space for Sophia's parents.

"I've got both good and bad news."

At least there's good news for the most part.

"Parents, I want you to know that everything in life happens for a reason, and maybe, just maybe, this is Sophia's peace."

I held my breath, scared that any single sound might turn the tables. The doctor exhaled and took Sophia's mother's hands in hers.

"Sophia is a true fighter. However, she lost a huge amount of blood and hence, couldn't make it."

"What!?" Sophia's mother pulled the doctor's collar.

"I'm so sorry, Mrs Buhari."

"No! you're lying. You're not telling the truth. My baby girl isn't dead! My Sophia is not dead, right Matteo? She's not dead right?" Her husband didn't know how to react. The middle-aged man helplessly looked from his trembling wife to the doctor.

"Sophia, you're not dead, you're not. Sophia!" The woman repeatedly hit her husband's chest until she fell on the cold tiles. Ahmed was full-on sobbing and weeping, likewise Malu and the Suraiyas.

"You call this good news?!" Asher barked at the horrified-looking doctor.

"Yes, there's good news. I just thought I should give you time to get over this first."

"We'll never get over this and you know that, so might as well tell us the unworthy news." Severina sobbed.

"Sophia may not have survived the surgery, but her baby did."