Found Obsession

Chapter 86: Hidden by the Hansleys

Then all over again Rose went into denial.

Rose heard the clipboard from the person on the table next to Raven fall. With trembling fingers, she reached down to pick it up. Her tears flowed freely as she struggled to process everything, returning the clipboard to its rightful place on the table. She adjusted Raven's clipboard back on his table as well, her movements shaky and uncertain.

Her knees gave way as she sank back into the chair, gasping in pain as fresh grief wracked her body.

He was gone.

Her mind replayed it over and over. She had left him for only twenty minutes. Just twenty minutes.

Rose entered denial again.

Rose's vacant gaze wandered, her eyes catching on a man across the room who was carefully examining the clipboards. A moment later, she saw the person in the bag next to Raven being wheeled away.

Her mind left her again as she stared into the nothing. Time pass, unsure how much.

Her attention shifted as a woman in a doctor's coat entered looking down. She wore a mask and had her hair tied back, her eyes sharp and purposeful as she eyed her and immediately looked away. Only then did Rose notice the two soldiers stationed outside the door.

The woman moved closer, glancing briefly at the clipboards as she walked. Rose's heart ached as her eyes fell on Raven,in the black bag. The thought clawed at her: How was he going to breathe in there? It was probably to dark in there. 

The woman's gaze shifted to Rose, looking and then as if trying to hide from her. Rose blinked, her grief momentarily disrupted by a faint sense of familiarity.

The doctor hesitated, then stepped closer. "Rose?"

Rose blinked up at her, her tears blurring her vision. She blinked again, trying to focus as her mind worked to place the voice.

"It's me, Mommy," the woman whispered, her voice low as she glanced over her shoulder at the soldiers standing guard outside.

"Mom?" Rose whispered, her voice weak and distant. She couldn't understand why it mattered, why it felt so important right now.

Her mother knelt closer, her eyes full of concern. "Honey, where's Raven?" she asked softly.

Rose raised a trembling hand and pointed to the bag in front of her. Her mother's expression faltered, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face as she glanced at the clipboard attached to it.

"No, baby," her mother said carefully, shaking her head. Her tone grew more urgent as her eyes darted back to the soldiers. "That's not—" She broke off, clearly struggling to choose her words.

Rose's body reacted before her mind could process, standing abruptly and pulling the zipper of the bag down.

Her mother's eyebrows shot up as she examined the clipboard more closely. A look of recognition and faint amusement crossed her face.

"Great," she said dryly, a hint of triumph in her tone. "Did you change them?" she asked, her voice carrying a peculiar edge.

Rose, still in a daze, stared at the clipboard in her hand. Her mind struggled to process what she was seeing. The name on the clipboard wasn't Raven's.

Rose's mind drifted back to the clipboard that had fallen earlier. Maybe I switched them by mistake. The thought gnawed at her, but it faded as her eyes fell once more on Raven's face. His expression was so peaceful, like he was merely sleeping. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Honey," her mother whispered softly, leaning closer, "do you know when the funeral arrangers are supposed to come for Raven?"

"2 p.m.," Rose replied automatically, her voice distant.