Chapter 2 The warmth of death
Arielle's POV
“What? What do you mean by that? Are you annoyed because I couldn’t get to you in time?” Lionel asked, shocked by my outburst.
Inhaling slowly, I clicked my tongue. I wanted to yell at him, call his bluff and ask why he chose to be cruel to me, to look into the eyes of the man that once promised to love me for forever but set me on fire for my sister and ask him why he did so but I stopped myself, what use will it be?
“I meant you don't love me, you love me without bounds, thank you.” I lied and the lights in his eyes returned.
Since high school days I have loved Lionel and when he asked me out, I was elated. He's the heartthrob of the school but he had noticed and had eyes for me alone, we dated and even studied hard to go to the same college.
He started his career from scratch and I helped him make it to the top. I had sacrificed several opportunities to be a supermodel because it would mean I wouldn't work with him and I didn't want that to happen, turns out I should have done so.
“The Doctors will find a solution and you'll be pretty again, I promise.” Mom swore and I fought the urge to spit in her face.
Lionel's phone rang and he went outside to answer the call and Mom tried to start small talks with me but I shut my eyes, not willing to speak with the last person who ought to betray me but did so anyway. Through the pain, I found solace and fell asleep.
I was awoken by muffled voices, it was barely audible but I could hear what was being said, I didn't see their faces as it was dark but I recognized the voices.
“We have to do it, we have no choice, Lisa will be greatly affected if we don't." Lionel said, persuasively.
“But that'll mean we postpone Arielle's surgery, the Doctor already said she's lost electrolytes and her health is deteriorating, she might be paralyzed and have other health complications if we don't have the surgery soon.” Mom countered.
“We can't take her blood if she undergoes the surgery, Lisa has had an anemic shock and needs the blood, Arielle will survive, I'll tell the Doctors to find a way to sedate her so they can take the blood and get the surgery done afterwards.”
“Will it work? She's in pain?”
“Just trust me, it'll work. Arielle should bear the pain, Lisa is our priority now.”
I thought their betrayal and cruelty was limited but their plans showed it can get way worse. As usual, I pretended to still be asleep as they came in. Lionel gently woke me up, a smile plastered on his face.
“The Doctors will give you a little something for the pain, you'll feel faint but you'll be fine, okay?”
“I don't want it.” I firmly said, not wanting to be a blood bank for Lisa, not anymore.
Lionel frowned. “It won't hurt, I promise.” He lied and motioned for the Doctors to proceed.
My entire body was sore with pain, my heart burdened with bile. “I don't want it, I'd rather stay awake.”
His face twisted and his countenance changed instantly. “You don't have a choice Arielle, it's for your good.”
“No!” I cried. “Mom please,”
My mom looked away and my heart sank even deeper, what was I to expect? The doctor injected me with a drug which made my already limbo body lose all of its focus. It felt like liquid fire flowing through my veins and I passed out from the pain.
………………………………
“I'm sorry sir but we can't keep getting blood from her, her vitals have dropped, her blood pressure is very low and her health is worse, if we push any further, she'll die.”
“Try to stabilize her, Lisa needs just a little more blood, the award is this evening, it's the pinnacle of her career, I won't hesitate to burn down this hospital if you mess this up!”
“Miss Arielle's body can't bear it. She'll die-”
“I don't care!”
Though I was unconscious, I could hear what was going on around me and feel the life seeping out of me. With the pain intensifying, I came to prefer death and waited patiently for it to take me.
“The transfusion is complete and Miss Lisa is fine, she can go in about an hour or so-”
“Good.”
“Miss Arielle is non responsive to treatment and might-”
“Find a way to keep her alive. I need to be there for Lisa, I'll drop by after the event.”
Lionel left me for dead, didn't even bother to pretend to care about me anymore and my mother? No where to be found. Lisa was anemic and I've always been the one to donate my blood to her because I have a rare blood type, who knew I'm her guinea pig.
There was nothing to live for, not that I could survive anymore, all my organs began to fail and I faintly heard the doctor saying I wouldn't make it past that night. I woke up, weak but alive, the TV was on.
Lisa had won the award and standing beside her is Lionel and my mother, she was happy and smiling, they all were. They ruined me for her, I laughed sarcastically at myself and coughed out blood.
‘Time to die, if only I knew.’ I muttered under my breath.
I'd make them pay for what they did to me but I was as good as dead, I'd give anything to make them feel the pain. A shadowy figure covered my view of the TV.
“Who are you?” I weakly asked.
“Do you want to live?”
“Go away, I'm a lost cause.” I spat.
“Do you want revenge?”
I laughed. “I'm in unbearable pain, revenge is a myth.”
“What do you want?”
I looked away for a second, an image of Lionel flashing across my eyes. I wanted revenge badly, but I'm dying. “I want to die, the pain is unbearable.”
“No, that's not what you will get.”
“Leave!” I attempted to yell but my lungs failed and I coughed out blood, vehemently.
The figure moved closer and unhooked me from the vent I was on, he carried me in his arms and every touch was painful.
“Do you want to live?’ He asked, again.
I bit my lips and it bled. “Please, save me.” I begged for my life.
He nodded his head and let out a low growl. “close your eyes Arielle, you're now in safe hands, you're about to die.”
I smiled, embracing the warmth death offered.