Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Demanding my attention with a solemn expression, Mark beseeched me to follow him.

Without hesitation, we proceeded to his office where he designated a seat for me, positioning himself across from me.

Retrieving a photograph of a young girl, Mark placed it delicately into my hands. That Puzzled me. The face was unfamiliar.

"Who is this?" I inquired still looking at the face of the girl in that picture.

Mark, mustering a faint smile, responded, "My younger sister."

Why would he give me his sister's picture? I almost questioned him but was caught by the expression on his face.

A glimmer of tears glistened in his eyes, indicating his profound grief. Although unspoken, I could sense the unbearable sorrow he carried within him.

"Has she passed away?" I queried, somehow aware of the answer.

"A few months ago, at the hands of her male companion," came his sorrowful admission.

"Then you should understand why I have this pain and the thought of vengeance on my mind." I declared.

"I yearn to seek retribution and obliterate anyone responsible for my loss but, will it bring back my little sister?" He paused for a while and resumed talking with a question.

" Marlie, would it truly bring your sister back if you resort to that?" He asked.

Realization dawned on me and I asked myself within. Will it bring back my sister? Would it even relieve her of the pain a little she felt when she was alive?

His question lingered, prompting me to consider the weight of my actions.

Frustration seething through my veins.

What should I do then? How should I get justice for my sister?

So, I merely vented my frustration on Mark. "What would you have me do, tell me?" Shall I allow my sister's death to be in vain?" I asked in frustration as I started sobbing again.

"I can't ask you to stop since I know the pain you are going through. Perhaps there is another way than shedding blood." He said calmly.

I scoffed, barely containing my anger. Was he mocking me? What other option could there possibly be? Fuelled by my fury, I vented my dissatisfaction towards him.

"Perhaps...you say?" I asked sarcastically and continued...

"Perhaps your sister did not hold significance to you, hence your lack of vengeance," I retorted, my tone filled with annoyance as I turned to face him directly.

But Mark didn't barge. He sat there looking intensely at me, who had been pacing angrily in his office.

"My sister obtained the justice she deserved, and I did not have to shed blood for it,"

I lingered, curious about his interruption.

"I won't deceive you; I too desired to end the life of the man who caused her death, but, I questioned whether that would truly bring peace to her soul,

watching her brother kill for her and going to jail?" He revealed, calmly transitioning from the desk to his chair.

"Marlie, you can seek revenge in an alternative manner other than spilling blood? You don't have to waste your life away all in the name of seeking justice. Think about this carefully. I am willing to help you if it's not spilling blood." He concluded.

I begin to rake my brain, but nothing. Damn it!

No matter how I tried, the brain was completely blocked.

"Take a rest and think about it later. Moreover, ask yourself whether they killed your sister or if was it just a coincidence car accident." Mark said showing me out.

"And don't think too much else you might see your sister again in your sleep and have nightmares." He murmured to me with the hint of a bothersome smirk gracing his face, escorting me out of his office back to my ward.

Yeah, that was the only thing missing, his mockery. Annoying! Throughout the night, I pondered intensely on how to avenge my sister. I held onto a picture of Charlie which Mark gave me. He had said it was among the things found in the wrecked car we were in.

No matter how I tried, I couldn't get anything. I didn't realize when I succumbed to slumber on my hospital bed.

Mark was right, the thought of my sister led me to meet her as I descended into a deep sleep.

*****

[A Nightmare]

I got a call from my sister asking me to go to her husband's house.

I have to say, she sounded a bit off on the phone, but that didn't stop me from going there.

I asked her why she wanted me to go there but she simply told me that it was her husband's special day and she wanted me to be there and join in the celebration.

And what was so special about his 27th birthday?

I scoffed and rolled my eyes at the irony. I mean, why should I be there? It's her husband's special day, not mine. So why should I bother?

Yet, hearing her plea on the phone, I couldn't help but groan in agreement. She's my only sister after all. As much as I hate that Chad, I will still have to go there for my sister's sake.

I didn't bother to dress up for the so-called special day. I just wore my white crop top and deep blue denim jeans. I pair them with my white sneakers, tie my hair in a ponytail, and then compliment my overall look with my fluffy baby handbag.

"Mmm, my 23-year-old look was perfect. If I was a little slimmer, except for the face, one would think am Charlie. Same height, though she was a little 3 years older than me.

I took a cab and went straight to the house. I have to say, the house was magnificent. We are rich but them, I will say they are filthy rich.

I went to the main gate where I saw the security man and greeted him.

I think he might have known me or my sister might have informed him of my visit because he politely greeted me back and opened the door for me.

"Thank you, Mister." I thanked him politely.

I headed to the main door after that. Just the entrance and I was enticed. "Not like the cold stare of its owner," I whispered to myself.

As much as I wanted to look around the majestic house, I still wanted to meet my sister first. She can take me around the house later.

Just as I was about to reach the main door, something huge fell just right beside me.

I shrieked and moved away from whatsoever that fell from so high. I gradually turned my head to my side despite the fast thumping of my heart.

A figure caught my attention and I noticed my sister's husband, up on the balcony from the third floor with his usual cold face and wine glass in his hand. He sipped on it nonchalantly. I had to immediately shift my gaze as the nerves in me were shaking with fear.

Why did I even agree to go to that house knowing this evil creature was there?

As my eyes landed on the thing that fell, I was shocked to see it was a person, not something.

I retraced my steps back and covered my mouth in horror as I saw blood splashed everywhere on the ground.

My body started trembling as the cold air of the night blew on my body, making everything worse.

Though I was terrified and trembling in fear, I still wanted to move to the person and check if she was okay.

I knew it was a female because of her dress and her long hair. My eyes landed on that blonde hair, a crazy thought flashed through my head but I shoved it aside. It must be just a coincidence that she has the same blonde hair as my sister. I told myself.

Just as I mastered the courage to move to her side, I heard loud laughter, startling me.

I raised my head and saw to my surprise, Chad's mother and sister laughing out loud with glasses of wine in their hands as they stared down at me and the woman on the ground with disgust, while Chad seemed calm looking down at the sight.

My stomach churned as I turned and immediately knelt before the woman on the floor, hoping that my guesses were wrong and that it wasn't my sister.

However, to my horror, it was Charlie, my sister.

I screamed and crawled back. My body stiffened and I couldn't move a muscle as I stared at the scene in front of me.

I gained a little strength and yelled for anyone to call the ambulance, but to my despair, even the maids started laughing with Chad's mother and sister, while Chad smirked devilishly.

"I feel overjoyed looking at her!" Someone said through laughter.

"Finally we have raided ourselves of this wretched woman!" I heard another voice say.

Many demeaning words followed after that. I knew those voices, but my tears didn't only cloud my eyes, they did with my mind so I couldn't hear what they were saying.

I crawled back to where Charlie lied and held her in my arms.

"No- no - no-- Charlie, please! Don't close your eyes. Stay with me please, sister. Charlie, please. I promise to take you to the hospital, just please don't close your eyes." I said through my cries and the laughter around me became even louder than my own voice.

"Ma- Mar- Marlie..." Charlie called me with a voice softer than a whisper.

"Yes... Charlie, I'm here, sister. Don't worry, I will protect you. I won't let anything happen to you." I cried out as I held my sister tighter in my hands. Her body was getting colder each second. I darted my eyes around to see if I could get help but no one was willing to help.

"Marlie - H-E-L-P M-E! Please help--- ME!" With those last words, my sister's body went limp in my hands and she stopped breathing.

" CHARLIE!... CHARLIE!... CHARLIE! NOOOOOO!" I screamed all my lungs out and woke up from my sleep.

[End Of The Nightmare]

I realized Mark and two other nurses were by my side. They had been trying to wake me from the nightmare, I guessed.

Mark looked at me with a worried face, yet tried to give a smile.

"It was just a nightmare, Marlie," Mark said trying

to calm my nerves

My whole body was drenched in cold sweat as tears fell from my eyes profusely.

Even after waking up, I still have that chill I felt in the nightmare.

What was that Nightmare all about?