Death Lilly

Chapter 3

Only streetlights illuminate my path as I walk home, forcing my legs to move faster than they want to go. Police cars zoom past me. They pulled up outside of my building. People were piling outside to watch the scene unfold. I froze for a split second, unsure if my eyes were deceiving me. I rubbed them. Nothing changed, which led to a growing feeling of panic as I watched the forensic van pass by me. Instinctively I knew something bad had happened. My legs began to burn as I ran toward the building. Smoke billowed out of one of the windows. Two firemen were carrying out a boy and his little sister. Ms. Jenks was huddled in the back of one of the ambulances, her eyes catching mine for a second before she began to sob.

Nothing like this had ever happened around here. News crews were already filming, asking people if they knew the victim. I brushed them off when they approached me. With a quick glance, I noticed Grandmamma wasn't outside with the others. I couldn't see Jude either. My heart began to race as I fought my way through the crowd. Most of the neighbors had tears in their eyes, reaching out to slow me.

Slowly I made my way towards the entrance of our building. 'Maybe she was still inside?' I told myself.

"Grandmamma!" I yelled, trying to get under the yellow police tape. "Grandmamma!"

"Ma'am please stop." A young police officer orders me, his hand pushing me back under the tape.

"Where is she?" I whimpered, trying to hold it together. "What happened?" He looks at me as though I will break at any moment. Maybe I will.

"Do you live here? or know someone who lives here?" The officer asks, studying me carefully. I nod. "Ok, what's your name?"

"Lilly Vale. I live in apartment 6 with my Grandmother." I tell him, trying not to cry. It is easy to see that he knows something. The minute I told him what apartment I lived in, his face got emotionless.

"Ma'am I need you to wait here for a minute, please." He tells me before walking away, chatting on his radio. I feel a strong hand being placed on my shoulder. I turn to see Jude standing behind me, a look of sorrow in his eyes. Without thinking, I throw my arms around him and begin to cry.

"Miss Vale." A woman inquired, tapping my shoulder to gain my attention. "Earlier this afternoon two armed assailants broke into your Grandmother's apartment. It is assumed that they were attempting to rob Mrs. Vale." She sucked in a large breath, her eyes glancing suspiciously on Jude.

I shook my head in disbelief. "What? No. Why?"

"Shh Lilly, it'll be ok." Jude soothed, rubbing my arms.

The police officer cleared her throat. "They attacked your grandmother until they were interrupted by Mr. Curson. He fought them off and worked on your grandmother until the building was set alight. We believe the assailants set the fire. We are doing everything we possibly can to find them."

"I need to see her."

"She has been taken to the hospital."

"I need to go."

Jude nods. "I'll take you as soon as I can."

"Excuse me, but we need your shirt." Someone muttered behind me.

"I'll be right back." He tells me.

Ventilators and heart monitors fill the room with a unique, deafening sound that made me uneasy. Not once in my seventeen years of existence had I been admitted to a hospital. I was a home birth, I think that's why my mum died. The thought still makes me shudder when I imagine what she went through to have me.

I stared at the papers, my hand shaking. Jude placed his hand on top of mine allowing me to lean my head against his shoulder. I let out a deep breathe. Tears dropped onto the documents, smudging them.