Shadows of Darkness

~Chapter 9~

After sitting in awkward silence for several minutes we arrive at the State Hospital.

"Ethan, I thought you were telling me your story, why are we at a hospital?" I ask bewildered at the fact we were at a hospital.

"My dear Cassandra, I never said I was telling you my story. I am showing you my story." He said with great sadness.

Ethan stepped out of the car and starting walking towards the entrance. I followed along and soon we were at the sign in desk.

"Hi, can I see Lily Knight please, I'm her son." He asked in a sorrowful voice.

Then a overwhelming feeling of realisation hit me. We were here the see Ethan's mother. I grab Ethan's hand from below the counter to offer my support. This must be incredibly hard for him, I already feel heartbroken at the sound of his voice when he mentions his mother. He turns to look at me and offers a thankful smile.

"Yes Hun. Room 36. No improvement yet." Says the lady at the counter, almost robot like, like she's said those exact words a million times.

And off we walked to room 36. I had no idea what I was in for, and at the sight of Ethan's mother, I really wish I did.

Ethan's mother was hooked up to what seemed like dozens of machines, tubes and wires connected all over her body. A heart monitor beeping away in the left corner.

"Sit please." Ethan says pointing to a chair in the far right corner. I go sit down and he told me a story even worse then my own.

"My father is a drunk. Has been for as long as I can remember. He used to abuse my mother, my sister and I all the time. One day while my sister and I were at school he beat mum so bad that she had an extreme amount of pressure placed on her skull and her brain stopped functioning properly. When we got home we saw her almost lifeless body on the kitchen floor while my dad went back out to the pub. We called the ambulance, they came, performed surgery and for the past 5 years she has been in here, on life support. My dad is the only one who can turn it off, but he refuses too. Ever since mums been in here he's gotten worse too, so bad my sister ran away a couple of months ago, I haven't seen her since. I hardly go home anymore, I spend my nights here. Sometimes crash at friends, I refuse to look that man in the eye ever again. No one should ever abuse women." Ethan finished with a stream of tears running down his face.

I walk over to him and give him the biggest hug I've ever given anyone.He needs and I need it too. By the sounds of it we've both been to hell and back and just need somebody to vent too. Someone to tell us everything is going to be alright, even when we both know it's not.

As we are walking out of the hospital my phone starts buzzing in my pocket. It's my aunt Leila ringing me, I ignore the call and put the phone back in my pocket.

As I turn around to catch one last glance at the hospital I see her face staring at me with evil, vengeful eyes. My aunt Leila had found me.