Toxic Bloodlines by E.E. Ossai

Author:E.E. Ossai [E.E. Ossai]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: E.E.Ossai
Published: 2023-05-25T00:00:00+00:00

It was the day Kim finally woke up from her coma. I had to face the realization that I played a role in one of the worst nights of her life. On my way back to mine and Ian’s room, the door opened, and two cops walked out with Arik’s dad. The man walked right past me. I had a few things I needed to get off my chest, starting with how he’d been treating us since that day. I followed him.

Elenore blocked my path. “What are you doing?”

“Get out of my way, Elenore!”

“We are not doing this again.” She pulled me back toward our room. I forgot how strong she was.

“Stop it!” I struggled with her. He was getting away.

“You need to calm the hell down. Look around, Sara. Arik’s dad is in DEFCON 1 – don’t provoke him!”

I pulled my arm out of her grip. “Let go of me! I kept quiet the last time he came in there yelling at Ian - He can’t talk to us like that. We’ve been locked-up in here for a week! WE HAVE RIGHTS!”

A nurse shushed me.

“Keep it down.” She waited for the frowning nurse to walk past us before she continued. “I think it would be better if you used this energy to go and see your friend first. I think she’s awake.”

I felt a knot in my stomach. “I can't -”

“It's better you than him.” A cop walked past us; it was pretty apparent that he was spying. Elenore whispered. “Arik’s dad's up to something; I can feel it. He won't even let anyone see Arik. That whole floor is locked down. You saw what he was like with Ian; you should break the news to her, not him.”

Hearing Arik’s name made me feel like throwing up from the guilt I had been pushing down; the image of him all mangled up and the smell of the blood was burnt into my memory. I have no idea how he survived. Elenore dragged me toward Kim's room. “Go and see your friend.” She pushed me to the door.

I looked inside and saw her yawning. “What if she doesn't want to see me? It's my fault all this happened – I can’t.” I walked away.

“Nuh-uh, come back.” Elenore yanked me back by the neck of my hoodie.

Pushed her off of me. “Stop it!”

“Sara. Get a grip. This is happening – it’s done. Period. Whose fault it is doesn’t matter anymore; what matters is your friend. So, stop feeling sorry for yourself and go in there.” I looked into the room again. Kim sat up, confused, I imagine.

I took a deep breath and reached for the door handle. I tip-toed in. The guilt already weighing me down. I felt nauseous. I had to think of something to say.

“Welcome back to the land of the living,” I nervously blurted out, regretting that ill-timed joke.

Everything after that was a blur. Seeing her sitting there made me realize that I couldn't be the one to tell her about her aunt.

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