Death Will Always Win

didn't make it

Pain. Madeline awoke to her entire body aching. She tried to move but just the small tightening of her muscles caused shocks of pain to shoot through her. She let out a small cry and relaxed back onto what felt like a bed. The world, at first just a darkened blur, began to brighten and focus in. She was...in a bed in a dull room lit by bright fluorescent lights. Again, she tried to move but the stabbing feeling shot through her again and she resigned herself to immobility. At the very least, she was able to tilt her head down.

She had been wrapped up in a series of bandages and splints, brownish-red seeping through those bandages all over her form. It took her a few moments to remember what happened. Uncle Lewis yelling at her, Conner in the park, the car...the car! They'd be hit! And if she was this bad, then how was Conner? That made Madeline resume her struggle but, once again, found the agony too much.

"...you think she'll make it Doctor Allen?" A faint voice came from the nearby doorway.

"Probably not." came another calm, yet unnervingly detached voice. "We might be able to repair some of the damage but it's a long-shot. Not much of a point." Boy? Was he talking about Conner?

"No point? What do you mean no point?"

"I'm not marring my good record with a girl who's more than likely going to die anyway. I have a reputation to uphold."

"So you're going to let her die? Just like the boy?" Die? Conner was...Madeline squeaked in horror as she tried to push herself up. No! No no no no! It wasn't possible.

"It would've been nearly pointless for him as well! I have the best survival rate for my patients in this hospital. And, I'm not going to jeopardize that-" The doctor suddenly stopped and then let out what sounded like a grumble. "Oh, she's awake. I swear if she heard anything..."

Each of Madeline's sobs made her body shake and feel like it was tearing itself apart. No, it couldn't be true. She heard it wrong. Conner wasn't dead. He was fine. He had to be fine.

"Ah, Madeline Shandon!" The cold voice she heard finally had a form as he approached. He was tall and older from the look. Short, tightly slicked back grey hair topped his head and he had an air of...clean about him. Not a good kind of clean. Like he preferred to stay away from anything that might mar his perfect image. It was a sick sterilization that made her squirm nearly as much the fake smile plastered on his face. "My name is Doctor Allen. I see you're awake."

"My, my..." Madeline coughed and a twinge of coppery taste hit her tongue. She tried to swallow it. "...my brother. He's OK?" Dr. Allen halted for a moment, his smile faltering slightly.

"Unfortunately, your brother didn't make it. He passed before he arrived here." Bullshit! She just heard him! He had a chance to save him but the heartless asshole wouldn't touch him if he wasn't a "sure save". Madeline clenched her fists, despite the pain that nearly made her black out again. Her mouth opened and she coughed once again.

"L-lie...you...lie..." She sputtered to him as she shut her eyes. The tears began to stream down her face. She didn't hear what he replied with through those tears. It didn't matter what he said or did. Her brother was gone. Madeline was going to die soon too. And, even if she lived, Uncle Lewis would get even and that would probably finish her off.

Madeline didn't know how long she cried for. Hours? Maybe. Nothing mattered to her. She didn't see the doctor leave. Or when the nurse dropped off her food and tried to apologize. She just laid there, sobbing and waiting for either death or her uncle to take her.

However, neither would approach her first. Instead, a sudden chill swept through the room. It was a deep cold, one that pierced her blankets, her blood, and even felt like...it went deeper. Through her into something far inside her being. Her tears suddenly stopped and she looked about the room.