She's dead

3.

“Doctor Blake, you can't do this. Just work on her, I'm going to pay the money.” She pleaded, but he shook his head.

She had rushed Audrey to the hospital and the doctor had told her that Audrey's heart condition had deteriorated, and the little girl would die if they didn't commence treatment immediately. The money Annabel had in her account wasn't even up to half of what the doctor had said, and she tried to reason with him, but he wasn't listening.

“Look, Miss Walter, this isn't a charity organization. I've told you to bring half of the payment as a deposit, so we can commence treatment immediately, but it seems you aren't ready. We can't work on her for free,” The doctor said and turned to leave, but Annabel held his coat.

“Doctor Blake, please, I beg of you. She's my only sister, my world, my everything; she's the only one I have. Please, don't let her die. Take the one with me. I'll look for more to pay, please.” She pleaded.

“I'll be in my office, Miss Walter. When you're ready, meet me there with the money.” With that said, he walked away.

Annabel quickly got up and ran to the ward, where Audrey was placed. She burst into tears when she saw how lifeless the girl looked. Her face was drained of all colors and her breathing was unsteady.

“I'll gather the money, Audrey. I can't watch you die!” She cried and ran out of the ward, but bumped into Roland.

“You!” She frowned. It was all his fault that she lost her job and now had no way of raising money to pay for her sister's treatment. “I hate you!” She snapped and wanted to walk away, but he drew her back.

“I want to help you.” He smiled, his eyes not leaving her body. He had witnessed all that happened between her and the doctor, and wanted to use it to his advantage. After the incident at the hotel, he had stalked her to this place, and he was glad he did. She wanted money badly, he wanted her body, so it was going to be a mutual benefit kind of thing.

Annabel scoffed and yanked her hands away from him. “I'm not here to waste time. I don't accept people's help for free, especially people like you.” She spat.

Roland chuckled. “Who told you that I was going to help you for free?” He laughed. “Nothing comes for free, my darling. I want you to help me, and I'll help you too.” He licked his lips.

Annabel got a whiff of what he wanted to say and scoffed. “Just leave me alone.” She snapped and turned to run, but he held her hand and dropped a card in it.

“Meet me there in case you change your mind. I'll be waiting for you.” He snickered.

“In your dreams.” She glared and ran out.

Roland smirked as he watched her retreating figure. “You'll come back to me, Annabel Walter.”

*

Annabel ran to the hotel and knelt before Mr. Mike. 

“Mr. Mike, please help me. My sister's life is at stake. Pay me, please.” She pleaded.

“You're no longer my employee, Annabel. What payment are you talking about?” He asked, his gaze fixed on the laptop on his table.

“You were supposed to pay for this month—”

“And I said I won't!” He snapped.

“Mr. Mike, please, I have nowhere else to run to.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.

The man didn't even show any signs of remorse. “I asked you to do something that would bring both of us a huge amount of money, but you screwed it up, and now you want my help? Get out of my office.” He ordered.

“My sister's life is at stake here!” She snapped, crying profusely.

“That's none of my business. Get out before I call security on you,” He warned, but she shook her head, still pleading with him. He took his telephone and dialed a number. “Yes? There's a trash in my office I want you to dispose of.” He ended the call.

It wasn't up to a minute, two hefty men rushed in and grabbed her. She pleaded, but her pleas were met with closed ears They threw her outside the hotel premises and dusted their hands.

She ran to different places, looking for where she could get money, but found none. She dialed Sasha, her best friend's line, but the lady didn't pick up.

Annabel ran to Sasha's place, but the door was locked, meaning she had gone to her parent's place, and it was far from there. 

“What do I do?” She cried, and her gaze fell on the card Roland had given her. “I have no choice,” She muttered to herself, and made her way to the address he had provided. 

It was a hotel. When she entered, she showed them the card, and they made a call to him before letting her in. She got to the room number provided and knocked. He urged her to come in, which she did. He had a towel wrapped around his waist.

“I'm here to listen to your offer.” She spoke out, praying it wasn't what she was thinking.

Roland smirked and closed the distance between them. “Spend a night with me and I assure you that all your financial problems will be solved.” He smirked, wearing a smug look she desperately wanted to wipe from his face.

She should have known. All her hopes were dashed immediately. Was he expecting her to sleep with him before helping her? Wasn't there something else she could do apart from that? She wasn't going to do this. This was not how she planned to lose her pride.

“I am not interested in your damn offer. I'll leave now, it was a mistake coming here in the first place.” She sighed and turned to leave, but he pulled her to himself and whispered into her ears.

“What about your sister? Are you just going to watch her die? Do you want to live the rest of your life knowing that you had a chance to save her but didn't?” He chuckled. “If she dies, just know that her blood will be on your head, Annabel Walter.”

Her blood ran cold at his statement. She pushed him away and walked out still, but stopped before the elevator.

He was right. This was her chance to save Audrey and also repay all her debts. What's her pride when her sister's life was in danger?

“I'll do this once then forget about it, so I can give Audrey a normal life,” She muttered to herself and returned to the room.

Roland, who knew she would definitely come back, smirked.

“I'll do it,” She started undressing. “Let's get this over with.”

“With pleasure,” Roland pulled her close and slammed his lips on hers immediately.

****

After they were done, Roland fulfilled his promises. He paid off all her debts and gave her enough money to use for Audrey's treatment. Annabel didn't wait and rushed out of the hotel room, ignoring the pain in her V area.

“If it's for Audrey, then it's worth it,” She comforted herself.

When she arrived at the hospital, she rushed into the ward and met the doctor, standing with the nurses. The looks they had on their faces scared her.

“Doctor Blake?” She called and he turned to face her.

“I came with the money. It's complete. Please, start your treatment on my sister.” She stretched the money to him, but he shook his head.

“I'm sorry.” He apologized.

“What do you mean by 'you're sorry'?” She asked.

“She's dead. Audrey…” He trailed off.

Annabel burst out laughing. “You're playing a prank on me, I get it. I won't take it to heart, but this isn't a time to play. Let's get serious, so you can commence treatment immediately.” She smiled.

“I'm sorry, Miss Walter. Audrey is dead.” He spoke louder this time.

Annabel rushed to the bed. “It's not true,” She placed her head on Audrey's chest, but got nothing. The line on the electrocardiogram machine was flat, meaning that her heart had stopped beating. “No, no! Audrey, this can't be real. Wake up, wake up, please. Big sis is here and she brought the money for your treatment. Open your eyes, Audrey!” She shook the girl, but she wasn't responding. She raised Audrey's hand, but it went limp.

Her eyes widened and she screamed. “Audrey! Please, don't do this to me. You're all I have. You're my only hope. You can't go like that, please, I love you, okay? I know you can hear me. Open your eyes,” She pleaded, but got no response. At that moment, her world came crashing down right before her eyes.

Her only sister was gone. The only gift her father left for her was gone.

She pulled Audrey to her chest, while crying loudly. “Audrey!”