Bass Case

Chapter 29: Awakening

    I release the knife in my hand backing away with terrified eyes. My hands shake as I flop down into the pool of blood. Vibrato's head hangs crooked with his eyes in an emotionless daze, looking at nothing in particular. His clothes are stained with the crimson liquid, and I can't help but shake at the sight of it. I look at my blood stained hands and begin to cry. What the hell did I just do? I shake my head, crawling over to Brenda who is still, luckily, hanging onto life. She groans, looking up at me slowly. "D-Daniel." She utters.

    "Brenda. You're alive! Don't speak, we're going to get you to a hospital." I can feel her life slowly slipping away. I run into the hallways pleading at the top of my lungs, "PLEASE SOMEONE HELP US!" I begin to hear the sound of footprints from both corridors of the hallway as the many security guards come rushing over horrified at the scene displayed before them. They take Brenda away, trying their best to stop the bleeding; then they proceed to question me. I answer them the best that I can and show them the contents of the desk.
***
    Days of questioning past until finally they left me alone. I'm sure the evidence will prove Forte's innocence. I need to make sure to apologize once he gets out. I sit on a chair beside Brenda who I relay all the information to. She seems to be recovering well. She still can't move well, but she should be able to leave the hospital by the end of the week they said. "Brenda, I'm so sorry." I say for the umpteenth billionth time.

    "Stop apologizing, Daniel. It's not your fault."

    "But still, I can't help but feel like I should take some responsibility. Surely there was something that I could have done." I protest.

    "Daniel. You defeated the killer. That's what we went there for. It's okay. You did well." Brenda smiles at me softly as the nurse comes in to bring her food. She controls the remote for her bed to help her sit up more comfortably.

    I remain silent for a few minutes until finally I utter, "Did I?"

    "What?" She asks, slurping her soup.

    I look up at her in silence, mustering up the courage to explain myself. "I...I killed him, Brenda. Am I really any better?"

    The dark skinned girl looks at me softly with her amber eyes. "Daniel, you didn't do anything wrong." She replies, looking out towards the window. "Being one who was attacked, I'm glad you did it. If our roles were reversed, I wouldn't have hesitated for a moment. I would have struck him down to save you." Then she turns back to face me once more, "You did nothing wrong. You saved me, and I am grateful. You have nothing to feel guilty about."

    "She's right you know." Josh says, leaning against the doorframe. "You saved a lot of people. I know I wasn't there, and I know that must have been horrifying for you...but Daniel, you did the right thing. Don't doubt it for a moment man."

    "Thanks, you guys." I reply, feeling a little better than what I was, "But what would Sarah think of what I did...?"

    Josh approaches me, gently resting a hand on my shoulder, "I knew you'd be worried about that," he sighs, "but why don't you go ask her yourself?" He smirks.

    I jump up from the chair, staring at him with hopeful wide eyes, "She's awake!"

    "Yep. Just a few moments ago. Angelica is explaining to her what has been going on." He chuckles, "But really the first thing she asked was about you."

    "Sorry, Brenda." I say.

    She laughs, nodding for me to go, "Josh can keep me company anyways. Tell Sarah I say hi from down the hall."

    I laugh, waving goodbye to the two of them as I rush down the hall. My footsteps echo throughout the large white space. I can see a doctor look at me oddly, but he doesn't say anything. Then I burst into the room to see Sarah awake with wide eyes as Angelica appears to have finished her story. Suddenly I feel myself stiffen, scared that she may reject me now, but instead she calls to me, outstretching her arms, summoning me to her. I kneel down beside her and she pulls me into her embrace. I burry my head into her neck as we both begin to sob. I can feel her stroke the back of my head, "You've been through so much." I simply nod, unable to muster up any words through my sobs.