Hello Again

6.

Kathryn
       
        
        
        
Lightly yawning as I boredly watched the rom-com movie I accidentally stumbled upon while flipping through the channels, I then took a glance at the time on my phone, noticing it was still early.

My mind drifted to Anna as I wondered what they were doing, feeling a little bit concerned as I knew she would have to drive back home on that giant freaking transformer she's so fond of, praying she would be reasonable enough -like always- not to intoxicate herself and drive.

Unlike Lola...

My lips set into a straight line as I thought of that annoying little child inside the body of a woman, once again finding myself unable to understand why were they still friends. They were the perfect representation of completely opposite characters. One very shy, one excessively bold. One very responsible and level-headed, one completely messy and irrational.

At least she never takes Lola's behavior as an example.

I lightly smiled to myself, feeling so thankful for having such a good kid as my little sister, throwing the remote somewhere on the couch as I casually rose up to look outside the large window, approaching it to take a glance at each side of the street as I thought that maybe I would see her by chance, riding that metallic red monster as she finally came back home.

Unfortunately, nothing came into view.

Not a single red monster. Not even some random car.

Lightly sighing I then walked towards the open kitchen area, taking out some ice-cream from the fridge and a big spoon from the ustensils drawer as I then turned on my phone to text Mark, my eyebrows quickly furrowing as at the exact same moment, an unknwon number suddenly appeared on my screen.

"Hello?"

"Good evening ma'am. Is this Kathryn Bard?"

"Yes, this is she."

"Sister of Annabel Bard?"

"Y-yes why?"

"Ma'am, we regret to inform you that your sister has been involved into an accident. If you would please arrive at St. Anne's General Hospital as soon as possible. Your sister is being transported by an ambulance right as we speak."

The startling, loud sound of the spoon suddenly hitting the tiled floor echoed across the whole room as it simply slipped from my hand, feeling my legs weaken and a very powerful, invisible force twist my heart in a very unpleasant way, a strangled sound making its way past my lips as my breath simply stopped in my throat, small black dots momentarily clouding my vision.

"Ma'am? Are you still there?"

Small tears prickled at the corners of my eyes as I struggled to breathe, loudly gasping for air as that same voice once again reached my ears.

"Ma'am?"

"I...will b-be right t-there..." I managed to squeeze past my almost closed off throat, my limbs violently shaking as I almost unconsciously walked towards the small entrance hallway, numbly putting my running shoes on and grabbing my car keys and purse afterwards.

Struggling to swallow the huge lump already formed in my throat I then went down the stairs and exited our building, slowly closing the door behind me after I've sat in my car.

Only then an ear-piercing, heart-wrenching scream erupted from the very depths of me, hot tears trailing down my cheeks one after one, eyes wide as I blankly stared into nothingness, the large black hole inside of me threatening to consume me completely.

I desperately wailed in solitude in the comfortable confinement of my car, clinging for dear life against the steering wheel as I struggled to even my breaths, feeling so lost and scared, even more scared than I've felt after our parents' tragic accident.

No. I have to be strong! She might be still alive!

With that encouraging thought in mind I then finally found strength to turn the engine on and drive, small hiccups and sobs still escaping my lips as I fastly drove through the city like a madwoman, ignoring the pain in my chest and tears still falling down my cheeks.

                                **

Slamming the car door behind me I then hurriedly walked towards the hospital's entrance, running towards the front desk, clinging so tightly against it as I practically shouted at the nurse in service,

"Where's my sister?"

Blinking a few times, she then blankly stared at me for a few seconds, gazing at me like at a crazy person.

"Ma'am, please calm down,"

"No you don't understand, she's-"

"Ma'am, I need you to calm down," She quickly cut me off, making me want to just jump over the damn desk and strangle the hell out of her.

Calm down? My little sister could be possibly lying dead somewhere in this damned place and she's telling me to just calm down?

Still, with inhuman efforts I relatively calmed myself nonetheless, taking a few deep breaths as she intently watched me this whole time, seemingly satisfied.

"What is her name?"

"Annabel Bard," I quickly blurted out, watching her type away on her computer, growing crazily impatient, even if it lasted only a few short moments, noticing how her blue eyes slowly reached up to mine once again as she finally said,

"I am afraid I cannot give you any information about this patient right now."

"Why?"

That so simple question remained unanswered as the sudden, startling sound of the front doors being slammed open drew my attention, noticing the paramedics hastily rushing inside as I quickly turned around.

Yet what truly made the blood freeze in my veins, was the fragile, bloodied person unconsciously lying on their stretcher.

My Annie.

"NOOO!"

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