Die in Peace

Amnesty Entertainment

Alice went to the agency for the first time. It was one of the memorable days she could have. Everyone was pouring her love & affection for her welcome. Many fans even sent gifts for her. A room was completely filled with the gifts. Even Catherine had a grand welcome. As soon as Catherine saw her, she almost jumped & pulled her into a hug.

"You know, I was really afraid when you got lost that night ", she spoke in a whisper & glanced at her bandaged head, "How is it?"

"I'm recovering", Alice smiled.

"Hmm...Let's click a selfie!"

And that way, Alice winked while Catherine flashed the victory sign.

"I better post it now!", Catherine exclaimed.

"Nope", Alice caught hold of her hands, "Let the hype to surge for a few days. Then, if you post it, fans would gather more quickly."

"Not bad, huh!"

Alice smirked. Just then, Catherine's manager, Aunty Shoo came & glanced at her phone, "Don't post your selfie that soon. Post it later for better impact."

"I know", Catherine glanced at Alice while she smiled back.

"Well, you two need to get some photoshoots for your cover of the album. Director Crook called me this morning."

"But...", Cath looked at the injured Alice, "What about her?"

"Of course, Crook has his plans. So, don't worry."

The girls smiled at each other after Aunty Shoo left.

Despite that, Alice's phone rang & she fished for it in her purse, she said to Cath, "That must be Director Crook."

"Yeah!"

But to her surprise, it was not. Some unknown number. She picked it up, though.

"Hello?"

"I'm Aunty Brigand."

Brigand? Alice furrowed her brows, "Yes?"

"Can you come to the hospital once? Please?"

"Hospital?"

"Yes, Rose...", Madam Brigand hesitated.

"Rose?" Alice was utterly confused.

Rose? Hospital? What was going on?

...

Daniel was at his office when he saw the girl rush outside in a hurry. His brows squeezed together. He took out his phone & gave her a call.

"Hello, Dan?"

"Yeah, where are you?"

"On the way to the hospital."

"Why?" He was afraid something went wrong about Eddie.

"Rose's mom called this morning. She's at the hospital."

"You shouldn't have left alone. It's unsafe", Daniel was extremely worried.

"It's okay. I can handle."

"Then, call me once you reach there," His brows softened.

"Sure."

---

Civil Hospital

As soon as she reached the hospital, Alice made a call to Daniel to inform him that she had reached safely. Then, she made her way to the receptionist.

"Is there a patient named Rose Brigand, here?"

"Yeah", the young receptionist flashed a smile.

"Where's she? Her room number?"

"She's in room number 504."

"Thank you", Alice rushed towards the lift.

...

Alice exited the lift when it reached the fourth floor. She ran around the floor searching room number 504. After 10 minutes of running around, she finally found the room across a corridor. She saw Madam Brigand sitting on the chair near the room. Her face had a downcast expression.

"Aunty?", Alice called her.

Madam Brigand raised her head & a helpless smile spread across her, "You came?"

"Yeah, what happened to Rose?"

"Please come in", Madam Brigand let her into the room.

When they entered the room, Alice was dumbfounded. Rose was lying like a vampire, devoid of blood. Her body was attached to some kind of pipes. The dark circles took a haunting presence under her ogled eyes.

"Rose...", Madam Brigand called her.

Rose slowly opened her eyes & gestured something. Her mom immediately went up & help her sit up with a pillow supporting her back.

"What happened to you?" Alice spoke quietly as if she was afraid to ruin the silence.

"That's...not...the thing...I called...you for...", Rose spoke breathlessly. It seemed that speaking a single word almost took her soul away.

"I...wanted...to congratulate...you...on...your...sucess", she continued breathlessly, "Moreover...I didn't... apologies...to...you. Can you...please...forgive me?"

Alice was stunned beyond words. She was just speechless. Just speechless! Seeing her desolate face, Rose continued, "Maybe...this is...God's way...of...puishing...me. A month...ago...a tumor...was discovered...in...my...stomach. I've...only a few...days...left. If...you forgive...me, I can...die...in..peace."

"Please, Alice", Madam Brigand spoke with tears in her eyes, "I know, what she did was unforgivable. But, still."

Alice felt like her heart was stabbed with a million knives. After all, she was once her best friend & she was not someone to hold grudge against a dying person. So, she lowered her head & closed her eyes, "I forgive you."

A few tears rolled out of Rose's eyes, "Thank...you."

Suddenly, she began huge breaths & the system around her made a strange noise. Alice panicked, "Doctor!"

Rose stabled under her mom's support & spoke, "They won't...come...anymore."

"Why?", she furrowed her brows.

"Because there's no hope for me", saying this she quietly slipped under her bed sheet & closed her eyes.

"If nothing else, I'll take my leave", Alice spoke quietly.

Madam Brigand nodded.

...

Alice passed through Eddie's room to take a look. She sighed softly before heading out to the studio for her photoshoot. She took out her phone to see many missed calls from Catherine. she almost forgot that she's set off her phone to silent mode. So without wasting time, she rushed for the studio.