A sudden thunderclap shattered the silence, jolting Vivian out of her daze. She found herself standing by the glass wall of her office, staring out into the stormy night. The world outside mirrored the turmoil within her—dark, chaotic, and relentless. Her body was trembling, each wave of pain and weakness crashing over her like the relentless storm outside. Her legs buckled beneath her, and she collapsed against the wall, her hands grasping desperately at the cold glass to steady herself.
Her vision blurred, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the ghostly reflection of herself in the window. The thunderclaps felt like they were targeting her soul, each one a reminder of the storm raging inside her. When she looked down at her hands, they were smeared with blood—fresh, vivid, as if it had just happened. A strangled, painful sigh escaped her lips, and she stumbled towards the door, desperate to escape the haunting visions.
The office was eerily silent, deserted, save for the echoes of her ragged breaths and the relentless pounding of rain against the windows. Despite the fear and the memories threatening to consume her, a part of her was still drawn to the windows, as if seeking some solace in the storm.
But the past was too close, too raw. The memories of that night surged back with a vengeance—two men lying dead by her hands, their lifeless bodies etched into her mind. The weight of what she'd done pressed down on her, suffocating her, and she fled through the empty corridors, her feet barely touching the ground as she burst into the bathroom.
There, she faced her reflection. The woman staring back at her was a stranger—a monster. Her eyes, wild and frantic, searched for something human in the distorted image, but all she saw was blood. Her hands trembled as she tried to wash it away, scrubbing furiously under the cold stream of water. But no matter how hard she washed, the blood wouldn't fade, wouldn't disappear. It clung to her, staining not just her skin but her soul.
She scrubbed until her skin was raw, until the water turned pink and the soap stung like fire. But still, she couldn't rid herself of the stains. Her hands were bleeding now, mixing with the phantom blood she couldn't escape. In a final, desperate act, she drenched herself in water, hoping to cleanse the horror from her mind. The cold shock brought a moment of clarity, a brief respite from the madness, and she stumbled back to her office, soaked and shivering.
Vivian collapsed into her chair, panting, every breath a battle. The room was dark, the only light coming from the occasional flash of lightning that illuminated the storm outside. She pulled her shrug tightly around her, trying to find warmth, trying to hold herself together as the memories continued to assault her.
She glanced at the clock on her phone—it was a quarter to seven. The office was empty, everyone long gone. She should have left too, but the storm, the walls, her own exhausted state, all conspired to keep her trapped in that chair.
The storm outside raged on, and every clap of thunder sent a fresh wave of terror through her. She stared out the window, her eyes wide and unseeing, as if the storm could wash away the darkness inside her. But instead, it only amplified it, each lightning strike illuminating the depths of her guilt and despair.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated, the sudden noise making her jump. Her heart raced as she fumbled for it, her hands still shaking. The name "Laura" flashed on the screen, and for a moment, the storm inside her calmed. A faint, calm smile crept onto her face. Laura—her one anchor, her one source of light in the darkness. Someone was on her side, if not everyone.
"Laura..." she whispered, her voice soft and full of relief.
"Viv!" Laura's voice was bright, cheerful, a stark contrast to Vivian's dark thoughts. "I was discharged some time ago, and I thought I should let you know."
"How are you feeling now?" Vivian asked, her voice trembling, trying to sound normal despite the chaos within her. She cared deeply for Laura, almost like a sister, and hearing her voice brought a bittersweet comfort.
"I'm all good," Laura replied. "Even my scar is fading. I hope to join you soon, as soon as possible."
"Take your time to recuperate," Vivian said, her voice tinged with sadness. She felt a pang of guilt for not being able to protect Laura as she should have. "Don't worry about anything."
"Are you okay, Viv?" Laura's tone shifted, sensing the unease in Vivian's voice.
"Yes, yes, I'm good," Vivian lied, trying to mask the turmoil inside.
"Where are you right now?" Laura asked, concerned.
"I'm at the office," Vivian responded shortly.
"Why? Why are you still at the office? It's too late!" Laura's worry was evident.
Vivian forced a laugh. "I'm just going, don't worry."
But Laura wasn't fooled. "Okay, then I won't disturb you anymore, but do visit me when you get free."
"I will visit you soon. If you need anything, do let me know. I'll get it for you on my way when I come."
"Okay," Laura replied happily. They exchanged goodbyes, a goodbye that Vivian never realized could be their last.
Vivian stared at her call log for a long time after hanging up, her mind numb. She placed her phone on the table and curled herself into a tight ball, wrapping her arms around her knees. She settled deeply into her chair, like a child hiding from the world, cocooned in a blanket of sorrow and fear. The storm outside continued to rage, each thunderclap resonating with the storm inside her, her soul dancing with every rumble, her heart racing with every flash of lightning.
Tears rolled down her cheeks, blending with the rain that pounded against the windows. The storm outside was fierce, but the one inside her was even fiercer, threatening to tear her apart from the inside out.