Chapter 12
The first thing that struck me was the bone-chilling coldness in the air. Instinctively, I crossed my arms over myself to shield myself from the cold.
Throughout the entire path leading to that place, something felt amiss which intensified my fear.
"Where is this place" I questioned the doctor, but received no response as if It was a rhetorical question.
My eyes darted around, scanning every corner in search of my sister, but she was nowhere to be found.
"Why did you bring me here instead of taking me to where Charlie is?" I questioned him again and still got no response.
Where is Charlie's room? And why is it so far from mine? I couldn't stop wondering. There was no way a human being would survive in that kind of empty and desolate plate. And talking of the hallway leading to that room, it was as though the place was a cemetery.
Nonetheless, I remained resolute in maintaining a positive mindset. I couldn't allow any trace of doubt to enter my heart, despite the thunderous pounding in my chest.
The hallway was sparsely populated, devoid of patients, doctors, and even nurses.
"Since you took notice of your surroundings till this place, you should know what this place is, correct?" The doctor still held that annoying smile when I looked at him.
That irked me, but it was not the time to deal with his mockery. I just needed to see Charlie and I will deal with him later. That silly thought flashed through my mind.
It seemed the doctor didn't want to tell me where Charlie was nor the type of room he was taking me to and the reason behind taking me there.
I flashed him a scrutinizing look when we reached in front of a certain room.
In front of the door, I noticed bold letters, yet my mind was in such turmoil that I couldn't read them properly.
M - O - R - T - U - R - Y." Bold words mockingly stared back at me, as if aware of my disoriented state of mind, as I tried decoding the meaning of it. My legs weakened when the meaning of those words sunk in, unable to support my weight, and I promptly lost consciousness.
When I regained consciousness, I found myself in my ward, an IV drip connected to my hand. I blinked multiple times to regain my vision before the reality of what had transpired started to sink in.
She was gone...
My sister was no more...
Charlie was dead...
My inner being questioned why I was concluding when my very own eyes had not seen her body yet. I calmed myself and demanded...
"I want to see my sister!" I spurt with determination.
Upon expressing my readiness to see my sister, the doctor escorted me back to the mortuary. He was at my side throughout my blackout. I was indeed grateful, though I don't know why he cared.
Tears flowed ceaselessly from my eyes like a river as we retraced our steps to the mortuary once again. I couldn't keep them in. I was shaking uncontrollably yet I tried to remain calm.
"Here we are, Marlie." The doctor informed me, opening the door and entering first.
"Marlie..." he called, realizing I wasn't following.
I looked up to face him when he called me.
Yet, for some inexplicable reason, my feet refused to budge. It felt as if every fiber and cell in my body were cautioning me against entering and urging me to flee.
But I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again. Summoning every ounce of courage within me, I proceeded into the room.
But before I could question the doctor again on where Charlie was, I saw her.
Or rather, I didn't see my sister... I saw a lifeless body, cold and rigid. I fucking saw my sister's lifeless body.
"No, no...no...no... Charlie!!!" I let out a loud cry.
I saw my sister in front of me. I saw the cold and frozen body of Charlie.
I stumbled back, not believing what I was seeing.
"Your sister is dead Marlie. I'm sorry for your loss." The doctor voiced as if he didn't care about the state I was in.
His words echoed incessantly in my mind like a mantra. I shook my head continuously as if that would get the words out of my mind. I didn't want to believe she was dead.
The doctor tried to console me but was it necessary? I stayed in the morgue for God knows how many minutes.
I'm unsure when I stopped crying, or even if I did, until the door swung open and the doctor insisted we step out. And there... I finally got a good look at my sister and embraced her cold body, an embrace that felt like an eternity.
Her body felt cold in my arms. Her beautiful and delicate face looked so pale. Charlie was gone for good.
"Let go now, Marlie."
I let go of my sister's body and coldly wiped off my tears. "I am going to avenge you, Charlie," I said with a burning rage.
Mark was taken aback, wondering why I would want to avenge my sister, Charlie.
"What are you saying, Marlie?" he asked with a confused expression.
The sight of Charlie's lifeless body on the table and the memories of my sister's final moments with me caused me to lose my sanity. I never got the chance to apologize for what I did to her.
"I will make them pay Charlie," I whispered to myself. Yes, I must make amends. Therefore, I rose from the table where Charlie's body lay.
My grief had transformed into something else. It had turned into hatred. Hatred for Chad and his family. I wanted them to pay. And now, I wanted to exact revenge on them for the pain my sister went through that caused her to lose control over the steering wheel.
Mark wondered if my current state of mind was a result of my distress.
"From now on, I am going to send that family to my sister, one after the other!" I declared.
"Marlie..." Mark tried to reason with me. He had to, given his position. But he was merely a doctor, incapable of comprehending my pain.
"Perhaps she is losing her mind," I knew that was what he was thinking. Yes, I must have seemed mad. Did he think I was joking?
"What? What are you saying, Marlie?" he sputtered.
By then, he knew I was serious. "I am a doctor and I advise you-"
"Keep it to yourself!" I interrupted, storming out of the room. However, that doctor persisted, incessantly buzzing with words of caution.
"You cannot simply storm into someone's place and claim his life!" He said righteously.
Deep within my soul, I knew I was Marlie. The girl who accomplished what she set her mind to. His words did not faze me. I had no regard for his opinion.
"Marlie!" he shouted, detaining me in my tracks.
He continued, "I have been observing you for the past week. The name Charlie was on your lips from the moment you regained consciousness until now." He scrutinized my face and flashed that irritating smile again.
"Do you think that is the kind of justice your sister would want?" he asked while moving closer and gripping my shoulders.
"I don't care," I uttered with a wicked smile. "I want that family to pay for what they did to my sister, Charlie.
"Bood for Blood, doctor! That's my rule!" I said to him.