CHAPTER FORTY ONE

Previously on Avenging Angels

Rose calls Lily and asks her to find out about the hospital. Although Lily questions her, she later agrees. Chris stepped into Rose's room at the perfect time.

FORTY

My heels make a loud click sound as I stop in front of the white-painted, slightly worn-out building.

I took a moment to look around the vast ground filled with fresh grass. A couple of patients are on the benches, taking some crisp air from the early morning wind, some in wheelchairs while some with a cast on their legs or hands.

The name which was written in grey painting and italic font shined darkly on my face as though it was mocking me for coming here.

Hope and Love Clinic.

I shrugged off the uncertainties that clouded my vision and walked into the building as confident as I always have been. The first thing that caught my eye was the sign of welcome that was on the wall, behind the receptionist desk.

I didn't feel welcome at all.

I rubbed my sweaty hands on my coat as I moved further into the building, my loose black strands flowing behind me as I walked.

Few people were seated on the waiting chair, using their phones or just staring at nothing in particular. I see a few nurses and doctors running down the hall but other than that, the hospital is quiet and calm.

"Good morning, miss. How may I help you?" the young receptionist with a very bright shade of blonde hair, asked me with a light smile dancing on her pink lips.

I lick my dry lips before I take out a card from my purse.

"I'm a cop from the police station just down the street there. I'm here to enquire about a case" I shoved my badge in front of her and she stared at it for a few seconds before she looked up at me.

"Wow, it's rare to see the police here. What exactly are you looking for?" she asked after returning my badge.

"The year 2000 file, I need to check a patient's record. Can you help me with that?" I bit my lip.

"Umm... That was when we were still in our old branch on the outskirts of town. I'm sure we would still have them in the records room. Come with me" she left her desk and walked down the hall as I followed close behind her, keeping my eyes at nothing.

The way to the records room was quite long and tiring. She took me through various turns and stairs before we finally reached a door that says 'Records' and she stopped.

"This is it" Stella, the receptionist said and turned the doorknob.

She closed the door as I stepped into the dusty and dark room.

"Sorry, it's a bit messy. We rarely come down here" she apologizes as she looks for the light switch on the wall.

The dim, yellow light turns on and it reveals the multiple shelves filled with dusty files and papers. On each shelf, the year was written on it and I quickly glance for any cameras in the room but found none.

"You said 2000, right?" she asked as she went down a shelf.

"Yes," I answered and stood where I was, not wanting to raise any questions.

"The month of May" I added.

I took a seat at the small desk and chair provided at the corner of the room and waited patiently as the rustles of papers filled the air.

I peeked out the window from where I was seated and saw a few children on the playground, running after one another as their loud cackles could be heard from here.

Without realizing it, the shadow of a smile entered my lips as I paid attention to the children.

Their free nature, their lackadaisical laughter, the sparkle in their eyes. It made me wanted to go out there and play with them, just so I could smile and laugh like that one more time but bitter reality made me sit and just watch them from afar.

I can never go back to those times when I would play with my father and laugh like there was no single problem in my life.

Now, thousands of problems hold me down and I fear I may never breakthrough from them.

"Sorry I took your time, it's a bit messy over there" she huffs lightly as she made her way to me, holding a single grey file in her hands.

"May 2000" she dropped the file and I stared at it.

My hands hovered in the air as I contemplated whether to open this new baggage of mystery or I should just forget about this and return home.

Then I feel the weight of my mother's necklace on my neck and it suddenly becomes too heavy for me to stay still.

"Is something wrong?" she asked and I just noticed she has a distinct accent to her tone.

"I'm fine," I said and opened the file.

I passed by May 1st, 2nd and the more I flipped the pages, the more I feel anxious about this.

May 19th...

A shrill sound came out of nowhere and I jump slightly from the shock.

Stella quickly reached for her pocket and took out her phone as she gave me a face filled with apology.

I waited for her to end her phone call and she turned towards me.

"I'm needed at the desk, you can take your time here. I will be back" she said and left only after I gave her a nod.

I hear the click of the knob and I settle back in the chair, the deadly yellowish paper in front of me.

Without delaying much, I flipped the page and May 20th came into my view and suddenly I have trouble with seeing.

I squeezed my eyes and adjust my gaze to the letters as I read the patient's record one after the other.

I finally spotted it.

Rosaline Thorne, on May 20th, five pm, gave birth to a baby girl at nine pm, later died of complications.

I didn't bother reading the type of complications they wrote there because I knew how much of a lie that was.

And I found it.

Avalor Bladderwort, on May 20th, six pm, gave birth to a baby girl at ten pm, was later discharged on May 23rd.

I heard a bell ring.

It was true, my mother and Avalor were in the same place that day.

The day she took my mother's life.

I hold the necklace in my hand tightly as I read the records over and over again. Processing the information and storing it in my head.

I didn't realize how many minutes I stayed in the room, doing nothing until Stella came back, asking me if I have found what I'm looking for.

I said yes, about to leave when I stopped abruptly, determination filled my eyes.

"Where are your CCTV records?" I turned and asked Stella.

I was going to find out what happened to my mother that day.