Taint Me More ☑️

Chapter Twenty

All three of us waited in the waiting room as the health workers did their best for Heather. I held Gabby's hands as we did our best at comforting each other.

Adrian rounded the corner and called out to Gabby and I felt a little bit of relief to see him. I knew Gabby needed more than just me for comfort.
She stood up and rushed into his arms and wailed. Adrian held on to her tightly and I gave him a small smile as I mouthed the words "thank you" at him.

We waited a few more minutes, when finally, the doctor walked up to us and told us Heather was out of danger. Relief washed over me and I heard the others sigh in relief.

"Can we go in to see her?" Gabby asked the doctor.

"Are you family?" He asked and Gabby told him she was. "Come with me." He said and Gabby followed behind.

She looked back at us and we urged her to go in and let us know everything later.

As I watched her go away with the doctor, I couldn't help but think of how she blamed herself for what her sister did. Hell, I blamed myself too for not paying enough attention.

We waited for Gabby to come back and it was another long counting seconds for me. She finally came out and told us Heather had gone in and out of consciousness as she went in to see her and had finally fallen back to sleep.

She turned to Brian and took his hand in hers, "thank you so much, I really don't know how to show my gratitude" she gave him a small smile.

"Don't mention it. I'm glad I could help and I feel so much better knowing she's out of danger" he replied. "I wish I can stay but I'm afraid I can't, but hey, look out for her, okay? I'll stop by tomorrow, if that's okay" he added.

"Of course. Thanks" Gabby hugged him.
"Hey. You look like shit" she turned to me and we both laughed at the old joke. "You have blood on your hair" she pointed and I took a handful of my hair and examined it.

I shrugged, even though the sight made my stomach churn.

Gabby appeared almost as bloodied as I did, I knew it was the least of her worries but it was best if she cleaned up, just to wash away the physical reminder of the night.

Adrian said he would stay the night and look after the two sisters and Gabby told me to go home. I knew Heather didn't need a crowd with the state her mind was in, so I agreed and said my goodbye.

On the edge of a mental breakdown, I begged Brian to take me back home, not only because I didn't want to be in a hospital, after witnessing an attempted suicide, but because the more I looked at my blood stained skin and dress, the more real the whole thing seemed to me. I was still finding it hard to believe anything that had happened.

"Are you sure you'll be fine on your own?" Brian asked as he parked the car in front of my apartment building.

"No" I whispered honestly as I shook my head. "But don't bother about me"

"Are you sure?" He asked, "my shoot isn't until six in the morning, I could stay with you till then." He offered and I shook my head.

"No Brian. You should go, you've done so much, I don't even know how to thank you. I can't let you sacrifice anymore" I sagged against the seat. The car was quiet for a few moments and then he grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Take it easy on yourself, okay?" He said in a pleading tone, "I'll see you soon."

"Thank you Brian" I moved to exit the car and stopped myself and turned to give him a hug. He didn't hesitate, he returned it and I held on for a few beats and turned around to leave.

Not long after, he drove off and I went up to the apartment. The moment I opened the front door, I didn't know if I was imagining it but the smell of blood hit my nose. I turned and my eyes dropped to the bloodied towel I left on the couch after the paramedics took Heather away. I went to pick it up and threw it in the wash. I walked on shaky legs to the bathroom to clean up the blood, but I didn't get far enough to get it done. I turned and retched into the toilet, throwing up the entire content of my stomach.

Heather's pale and bloodied body flashed in front of my eyes, then I wasn't seeing Heather anymore, I was seeing Oriana.

My mother's voice began ringing in my head and I began to panic.

"You have blood on your hands, Ilaria" her voice echoed in my head and I looked down at my bloodied hands.

My breathing started to come out in short gasps as I fell to the floor.

"You have blood on your hands"

Blood on your hands.

Murderer.

"No no no" I repeated, shaking violently on the bathroom floor as I crawled my way out. I cried out as all I could hear were those words, ringing loudly in the house.

I wished I had agreed to Brian staying. Or maybe staying at the hospital would have been better than staying back home all alone, with my mother's voice tormenting me.

I dragged myself up and on autopilot, I grabbed Gabby's car keys and headed out. I didn't know what I was doing or where I was going, all I knew was that I didn't want to be around the place that reminded me of the events I witnessed earlier.