The cup of coffee in front of her had gone cold, but it still tasted good. Stretching herself, Kendall glanced at her wall clock and realized her supposed nap was close to two hours of deep sleep. An elated smile appeared on her lips. Tidying her hair, she wondered about her wanting to take the afternoon off and figured she could just shower at the hospital instead and carry on.
Dr Saari
The name suddenly crossed her mind. She lifted her phone receiver and dialed an internal number.
"Mastura, please arrange for a wheelchair for room 3A of the Northwest Wing. I'll be there shortly."
"3A, Doctor? Our John Doe?"
"Yes. He's woken up from coma this morning. I take it Nurse Teoh hasn't informed you of this. Please also be around when I arrive."
She stood up and looked out the window, a pang of loss hitting her upon seeing the empty lot where there used to be a red pickup. She bit her lower lips and let out a sigh. Brushing aside the melancholy, Kendall exited her room. She headed towards the patients' wards and arrived to see Mastura outside the room 3A. The elderly nurse wore a blue pinafore, a privilege accorded to only the most senior nursing staff.
Kendall knocked on the door, bewildered to hear no response from within, opened it. Saari was fast asleep in bed but there was tell-tale sign of him having a nosebleed. A long-dried trickle of blood from his left nostril ending with a stain on the bedsheet. He clenched his fist so tightly the knuckles had gone white.
What now? More complications?
"Can you get us some wet towels, Mastura? We need to clean him and change the bedsheet as well."
Kendall went to the bedside, placed her hand on the man's forehead, and immediately recoiled away. His body a deathly, jolting cold. A half-muttered curse almost left her lips. Unbelieving. She replaced her hand seconds later. The warmth felt against her skin coming as a relief. Saw a slight movement telling her he was waking up from his slumber.
Did I dream it up? The icy cold touch?
The patient mumbled something barely audible as Mastura entered the room, Teoh following behind her. They proceeded to clean Saari up who was in a semi-awaken, slurry state. Kendall saw his limbs were strangely lifeless.
Minutes later, they saw him opened his eyes fully, squinting to adjust the bright lights in his sight, smiling weakly to the three ladies.
"Good afternoon, Dr Saari. How are you feeling? Do you still remember me?" asked Kendall.
She stepped closer and heard another mumble escaping the man's lips, sounding as though he was out of breath. Kendall motioned to Teoh to pour a glass of water, which the nurse promptly slipped to the patient's lips. Saari emptied half of the glass.
"I feel like a man who had a little too much to drink, Dr Kendall."
"Having a hangover?"
"Like a ton of concrete had fallen on me. The water has helped. Thank you."
"If that's the case, let's postpone the visit of your colleagues until you feel much better. I can prescribe some painkillers if you need any," said Kendall.
Dr Saari rose slowly to a seated position, elbows propping his upper body.
"I'm fine now, Doctor. And I really would like to get this over as soon as possible. I do feel wearier in not knowing."
Kendall motioned to Mastura who rolled the wheelchair to the bedside and helped the patient ease himself into a sitting position. They exited the room and headed out to the sparsely crowded hallway. No words passed between all three until they reached a door at the end of the North Hall. Kendall knocked and entered the room, greeting a nurse and a male attendant already inside.
Peering at Dr Saari, she was unable to read what was going on in his mind as he gazed at the woman lying in bed. Her statuesque features reminiscent of a model from a glamour magazine. Regular breathing patterns. Yet, she was a mere husk. An almost perfect mannequin adorned in hospital gown. Kendall thought she saw a flicker in the woman's eyelids but dismissed it as a mere play of light.
"Any significant change in her condition?" she asked the two nurses.
"None, Doctor. Still the same state as the day she arrived. Vital readings are normal, as always."
They left and went to another room in the opposite hall. Entered another room where the, stoutly built mustached patient in his late 40s or early 50s lay in bed with the same look of solace.
As they headed back to his room, Dr Saari cleared his throat.
"What about Mohir and Syafa? Could you take me to them?"
She imagined hearing him spat out the young woman's name, feeling slightly perplexed.
"You remember my mentioning of complications?"
"Something bad happened to them both?"
Kendall motioned for Mastura to hasten her speed in pushing the wheelchair to Saari's room. Mastura rolled the wheelchair to the bedside, looked at Kendall for a sign to help the man on to bed. Got none and she left. Kendall pulled up the sole chair in the room and sat opposite the newly awaken man.
"Mr. Mohir suffered a heart attack a few months after all of you were brought in. Didn't make it through the trip to a specialist hospital in Ipoh."
"A heart attack? Whilst in coma like the rest of us?"
"Yes, Dr Saari. Despite being in coma, the physical conditions of yourself and the rest are excellent. We monitored everyone daily to detect any abnormalities. One day, Mr. Mohir's heart rate became erratic. We feared the worse."
Kendall thought she caught a glint in the patient's eyes as she continued.
"We don't have a resident cardiologist in this hospital, so we had to rush him to Ipoh Specialist hospital for treatment. The ambulance was in Tambun when they said his heart stopped beating."
"…. And Syafa?"
"I'm afraid her case is even more complicated. She woke up last night from coma and has gone missing. As did one of my staff."
"She ran off with your staff?"
"Perhaps. And a patient was found dead with a broken neck inside her room."
Saari ran his hands across his hair and sighed.
"She's always creating some problem or another …"
"Problem?"
"Yes, Doctor. She's been in some mischief even with us."
"Murder is way beyond any mischief, Dr Saari…"
"Syafa? A killer? That's not possible. She can't…"
"There is no other explanation. She's missing and so is a male staff…"
Another sigh. Followed by a shaking of his head. Saari looked away towards the window, the sun having left to the other side of the building.
"I must admit Syafa is a natural flirt," he said. He didn't turn to face Kendall.
"So, it could be she somehow coaxed him into this?"
Arman was on night shift. Did he…
"I wouldn't know, Dr Kendall. She's created frictions before with her playing of people's emotions."
"Yours, Dr?"
Kendall watched as Saari turn, his gaze on her. Nodded his head.
"Yes, mine. And others too. We treated her with kid's glove as she is the youngest in the department. I cannot imagine her doing something like this…"
"This morning a man by the name of Datuk Samuel Chong came here. Took a special interest in the case. Said he was from the Ministry. Cocky. All high and mighty with me. Do you know him?"
"Samuel? Yes, I believe you've described him perfectly. He's placed high up the company's hierarchy after all."
"Well, I don't appreciate being kept in the dark when one of my patients died under suspicious circumstances."
She stared at him, incensed at losing Arman and then remembering the man she was glowering at was also a patient who had no hand in what had occurred. The thought dissipated her building rage, as she slumped into the chair. Kendall closed her eyes as the emotions building within threatened to overwhelm. She felt a warm on her hands. A warmth which somehow calmed her.
you're not at fault she is the one who did this to you took away Arman took away the love of your life
Kendall opened her eyes and found herself staring deep into a deep, cold blackness. Startled, she blinked, and everything was as it had been. Staring back at her were the eyes of a kindly man who seemed to understand her pain.
I must have dozed off
"I am sorry, Dr Kendall. I too had succumbed to her charms. Allowed my feelings to get the better of me. I'm afraid our… association made her the center of attention at the Department which spoiled her."
Saari withdrew his hand and stood up, inching slowly to the bed. Used the sturdy frame as guide.
"Thinking about her makes me feel helpless. I was so deeply in love with her I choose not to see the games she was playing."
"Why, Dr Saari? I mean, she's got you. The top man. Surely, that would have made her day, shouldn't it?"
"How am I to know what's in her heart. It was only during our quarantine she showed her true colors. The one occasion when she could not play coy with us without the others knowing. Poor Sivanathan was the last. The young man was too green. Too immature to realize that she was only leading him on."
"Sivanathan? There was another man?"
"Yes. They didn't tell you, did they? He died the day they ganged up on me. Saved me from being beaten up and paid for it with his life. I can't prove anything, but deep in my guts I am sure she had a hand in his death."
Another death? They? They who?
Stunned by the new revelation, Kendall pulled herself upright and stood up, started inching away from Saari.
"Wait… Why are you telling me all these?"
"So that you know the kind of person you are dealing with here, doctor. Somehow she has a way with men I cannot explain."
just like the hold she has on your man Arman
Kendall shook her head in disbelief. Her mind was spinning at the dichotomy of contrast between the demure, sweet with the vicious version he was painting of her missing patient.
don't let her looks fool you she's murderous
Cupping her sweaty palms to the lower part of her face, Kendall closed her eyes, wishing it was all but a bad dream. Knowing full well it wasn't. She steeled herself and turned around to face Dr Saari.
"The police…"
"The police would be hampered by a directive from Samuel against proceeding."
"Why would he? Is he in love with her too? God damn it! What are you operating over at this Radian? A circus? A dating agency?!"
"Please, Dr. Samuel has a more personal interest in this. Bernice is his daughter and Syafa is perhaps the only lead he has in reviving her."
"Bernice? The beautiful one?"
"Yes. Eldest of two children. Brilliant scientist, highly dependable associate. She was very independent and wanted away from her dad's influence," he said, adding, "She didn't care much for Syafa's flirtatious ways but kept her professionalism."
"So, Samuel is allowing Syafa and my staff to be fugitives in the hope they somehow will end at his doorsteps?"
"Perhaps. The company is the only life that Syafa has. Her parents died when she was still young. There's no one else in her life. So, there's a high probability she'd make Radian her destination."
Makes perfect sense. But why must she bring Arman along?
"I think she's using your staff as a convenient companion. Cash, ride. She's fond of using people," said Saari as though reading Kendall's thoughts.
"I'm worried about my staff. He can be a little naïve."
"If he falls in too deep…."
The hanging threat did more to Kendall than even Saari completing his words. She knew what he wanted to say but decided to hold back instead.
I must save Arman from her.
yesss you must save the love of your life yesss
The reels of her nightmare replayed in her mind. Seeing Ain, no, Syafa's faced breaking into bloody pieces from her stabbings. The elation in her heart.
Stunned at her vicious thoughts, Kendall shook her head vigorously to rid of them. Decided to concentrate instead in knowing more of what Arman faces.
"Hold on. Why doesn't anyone see through her, Dr Saari? I mean, surely those being charmed by her knew she was with you. Don't they?"
"Look at me, Dr. I'm happily married. Respected by many, and yet, I too had faltered before her charms.
Is she the telepath? Maybe it wasn't at all John, no, Saari, but her all along… Poisoning Arman's mind into accepting her side of the story. Makes sense...
From the corner of her eyes, Kendall saw Saari wobbling, and realized he had been standing far too long. She sidled closer to the lanky man and helped him to the side of the bed where he laid down.
"Please help me find her, doctor," said Saari suddenly.
"Find her? Syafa? Why? If she is heading to Samuel Chong, I say we let him deal with her. There is simply no way for me to even start this. It's not like I'm an authorized person to chase after fugitives."
"Nothing of that sort, doctor. I just think that it would be good to get to her before… Well, I am thinking more of your staff. I'd hate to be in his shoes once she's done with him."
"And here I was thinking you wanted revenge for what she had done to you..."
revenge is where you come in doctor the nasty bitch took your Arman remember
"...What do you suggest? You've turned down getting the police involved," asked Kendall.
"Syafa's probably heading to Cyberjaya. Either to Radian or her place."
"Wait… You want me to chase after them all the way to Cyberjaya?"
this is your opportunity to get Arman back and pay her for what she did to you to the patient who died
A mental image suddenly flashed across her mind of Arman with Syafa, the young woman's arms around his waist, pert breasts pressed against his shoulder muscles. In her mind she saw them frolicking in a serene garden where the birds sang freely, and a sudden deep hatred blossomed in her own heart, their chatter becoming a buzz going louder, more nauseating.
"Yes. I think I can manage a short trip, Dr Saari. If you are up to it. I'll get the nurses to help you clean up and get dressed. Make it an official journey," she said.
yesss think of all the nasty things we could do to the bitch who seduced your Arman when we get her
She smiled at the thought, a scroll of vile retributions again running through her mind with Syafa at the receiving end repeatedly. In a dark corner of the horror show exclusively hers, Kendall spied a black, cold tendril coalescing into the form of a man. A laughter, deep and resonating in her mind. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Saari's hands again hanging limply at his side, a trickle of blood flowing from his nostrils.