Till Death Do Us Part

The Bargain

Chapter 6- The Bargain

Slowly, he began the lonely walk up the hospital hall, past open doors and closed ones, heartbreaks to come and hopes never to be known again. This was a floor set aside for the critically ill, and there was no sound from any of the rooms as he walked slowly by, until he was halfway down the hall, where he heard short jerking sobs coming from an open door. For Paul Blofis, he had to do this. He needed to do this. He had to see the girl before anybody would. The sounds were so soft that at first he wasn't sure what he was hearing. And then he saw the room number, and he knew. He stopped as though he had come to a wall, staring at the door, and the darkness beyond.

This morning, he had a talk with the doctor, Dr. Sedfrey Winfield.

"There's simply no hope for the girl Paul. Nothing was left of her face, not a single bone intact, not a nerve, not a muscle. The only things not totally wiped out are her eyes."

"What happens to someone like that Sed if there's no repair work done? Will she live?"

"Unfortunately, yes. But she'll lead a tragic life. You can't take a twenty-two-year-old girl and turn her into a horror like that and expect her to adjust. No one could. Was she … was she pretty before?"

"No idea. I had never given her a thought. I suppose so. We met only once."

"I see. In any case, she's in for some tough realities. They'll do what they can here at the hospital when she's a little more recovered, but it won't be much. Does she have money?"

"None." This, he was sure of.

"Then she won't have many alternatives. I'm afraid the men who do this kind of thing don't do it for charity. It entails big amount of money, millions of dollars perhaps, It would be a year or two before it is over"

"Do you have anyone particular in mind?"

"Well, I know some of the names. The best one is out in San Francisco."

A little fire kindled in Dr. Winfield's heart. With all his money, international banker Paul Blofis could afford to…

"Do you think you can contact him Sed?"

"Sure." How he admired this guy.

Paul Blofis looked at him with those cold, calculating eyes and he wondered what he had in mind. The wave of admiration almost turned to fear.

"This is strictly confidential Sed, and I hope if ever Percy will recover from the coma, he will know nothing about this. This is top secret between the two of us. If the secret leaks, I shall cancel the treatment together with the annual donation to this hospital by the Jackson Group. I shall discontinue sending money for your charity."

"Rest assured this will be a top secret Paul. We are doing the girl a big favour. We are giving her a normal life, a new face, a new identity. She must be thankful for the gift."

No, this is not a gift, Paul thought.

"The surgery will be done in San Francisco where he is based. Do you want me to call him now Paul?"

He nodded. He was not sure if this time he will succeed.

And now as he entered the cold dark room where Annabeth lay, his mind was certain.

He could see the bed dimly outlined in the corner, but the room was dark; all blinds and curtains had been drawn, as though the patient could not be touched by light. Paul stood there for a long moment, afraid to go in, but knowing that he had to; and then slowly, one foot after the other, softly, gliding, he walked a few feet into the room and stopped again. The sobs were a little louder now, and coming at quicker intervals, with little panicky gasps.