Trust and Flirtation

Chapter Four

Lily City General Hospital- January 21st, 2046

"Ian Clancy?"

I looked up. A young nurse was standing in front of me. I would've flirted with her, but I was here for Annika, and she wouldn't like that.

"Is she okay?" I asked, quickly standing up.

The nurse paused for a moment. "She's awake. If you want to see her, now's your chance."

It felt like my heart had sunk at least 12 feet. "Is she going to make it?" I asked.

"We don't know," The nurse replied.

"I want to see her," I said.

I followed the nurse down a long hallway until we got to Room 235.

"I'll leave you two alone for a bit," The nurse told me.

I nodded and walked into the room.

Annika was lying on one of those hospital beds, her face pale.

"Ian?" She asked when I walked in.

"Hey," I replied. "Are you alright?"

Annika shook her head. "I don't want to go."

I grabbed her hand. "I'm right here," I told her. "You'll be alright."

"I love you, Ian," she said, holding out her hand.

"I love you, too, Annika," I said, kissing her hand.

All of a sudden, there was a loud buzzing noise. I looked up at the monitors by Annika's bed. One of the monitors emitted a slow drone as the line indicating Annika's heartbeat, dropped, and slowed to nothing.

I quickly ran outside to the nurse who had helped me.

"She's gone," I told her.

The nurse signaled a few other doctors and they ran into the room which Annika had been in.

I slid down the back of the wall, tears in my eyes. Annika was my everything. I pulled out a picture of me and Annika on one of our first dates. We went bowling on our first date. Don't ask me what I was thinking. Sighing, I pocketed the picture, got up, and walked back to my car.

***

Two weeks ago...

I was thrust on the floor and cuffed.

"Why did you kill her?" I yelled at Dr. Reid.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Reid said.

"Liar!" I yelled as I was hustled away by the cops.

***

Present Day...

"Thank you, Ian," Alan told me.

I looked at him. "No problem, sir."

Alan reached under his desk and thrust a briefcase full of cash towards me. "One Million is in that suitcase," he said. "Just as you requested."

I grabbed the suitcase and walked outside. I popped open the trunk of the Hummer and put the briefcase inside.

"Ian," Alan said from behind me, holding out a slip of paper. "Your next target."

I walked over, taking the slip of paper and unfolding it. Written on it was one word: Mafia.