Sinful

2- Unknown Deaths

“Patient’s name, Julia Rue. Death’s cause: Pellagra and anemia. She was fine two days ago but her body began to undergo inexplicable changes, ultimately to death.”

Exhaling, I lit up my cigarette, explaining the cause of the death of my recent patient to my assistant, Anna, after staying in the hospital for the past two days. Exhausted, I put the cigarette in my mouth.

“You cannot smoke.” Anna frowned, displeased with my habit of smoking, but my exhausted hazel eyes met hers. Not liking my action but ignoring it, I sighed.

“Shut up. We are facing an endemic problem and your biggest concern is my smoke?” I growled, glaring at her to not infuriate me than I already am.

“You are the only surgeon we have. If anything happens to you, we will be devastated.” Anna reasoned, to which I sighed, taking a long inhale from my cigarette and releasing into the sky.

“What do we have here? Solis family is our last hope and, unfortunately, you are the only member left.” She reminded me, frowning, but I shrugged.

“Not my fault if my parents cannot produce another offspring.” Mumbling, I finished my smoke, crushing it under my feet. Discontented, Anna opened her mouth to speak but I spoke up first.

“It’s all their fault.” My jaw clenched, pressing my foot harder against the cigarette.

“Whose?” She asked, arching a brow in perplexity.

“Ever since those Hemsworths have moved into that cursed castle, things have fallen apart.” I growled, hating that family living in our land.

Ever since then, unknown deaths have begun to spread in Glaze. People are dying at an immense rate. We are already short on population. We will be doomed if this continues.

“Seriously, Doc?” Anna’s eyebrows furrowed, resting her hand on her waist.

“What?”

“We are the people of science. You are the only doctor here and if you believe in those stupid superstitions then what’s gonna happen to us?” She scolded me, hitting my back with her clipboard to snap out of my thoughts. She had always admired me and I think of her as a little sister.

I am trying my best to make her a surgeon too. If something happens to me, she can help our innocent people.

“But, it’s not a hunch, I swear. There is something seriously wrong with those people. Have you seen their skin, Anna? It looks like blood is a foreign concept to them. And why do they only come out at night?” I argued, but it deepened her anger.

“Snap out of it, Doc. You are only imagining things because you feel powerless for not being able to find the cause of this condition. People are dying and here you are, blaming some people because they shifted into an old castle.” She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“You are not realizing it now, but soon you will see, Anna. Mark my words.” I growled, gritted my teeth, kicked the cigarette, it fell down. Cursing under my breath, I ruffled my hair to make it messy and went to my cabin from the corridor.

Leaning back on my seat, I was looking out of the window, watching the darkness dispersed in the sky. Night began to fall, ever since the deaths, the load on my shoulders increased immensely. I barely had time to rest or go home.

“Doc,” knocking on the door, Anna entered.

“What is it now?” I asked rudely, writing our recent victim’s report.

“You should rest, I can take care of things. You haven’t been home for two days.” She sighed, worried about my health.

“Are you sure?” I asked, glancing from my file.

“Yes. You should, Aubrey would be waiting for you and probably furious too.” She said softly, curling her lips upwards but it brought a smile to my lips too.

“You’re right. I should get her some flowers and dinner too or else she won’t let me in.” Curling my lips upwards, I thought about giving her a surprise by coming home.

“Great.” She smiled, showing me a thumbs up.

Getting up, I began to set my things. Delighted to go home and rest for a while, reassured that Anna will take care of things in my absence.

But, my hopes to greet my wife were crushed when a shouting came from the lobby. Since it was night and late too, minimum staff was present.

“Help! Is anyone there!?” My smile wiped instantly as I ran, rushing towards the lobby to see who’s the next victim now.

But, when I reached there, I saw her for the first time. The daughter of the Hemsworth’s, the legal owner of that castle.

Cress Hemsworth.

My jaw dropped at the angelic woman before me, having the bluest shade of eye color I have ever seen followed by wavy long raven hairs, looking like a porcelain doll. Her features were unmatched, undeniably exquisite.

So that’s her… I thought, staring at her, not expecting I would ever look at anyone except for Aubrey but she had a strange charm as if she could attract people with one eye contact.

“Are you the doctor here?” Her soft, velvet like tone came. Blinking, I came to my senses, releasing an inaudible gasp.

What the hell was I thinking!? What happened to me?!

Shaking my head, I noticed she was holding an old woman, Miya, the local store owner.

“What happened to her?” I asked dominantly, regaining my posture coming closer as I helped her to make Miya sit on the waiting seat.

“I was buying groceries at the local shop. She collapsed there.” She lied. Lifting my gaze, she was wearing a dress with no pockets. She doesn’t have a bag with her either.

How was she buying anything when she doesn’t have the money?

“Seems like you forgot your bag at the store.” I muttered, rolling my eyes and checking Miya’s nerves.

“Oh? Yeah, I panicked so badly that I must have dropped it.” She mumbled innocently, her tone was coated with sugar and it began to irk me.

“Anna, Kylie, Emma, Get the stretcher and prepare the IV drip.” I ordered after checking Miya, getting up, realizing this is going to be a long night; another night where I cannot rest.

“Is she going to be alright?” She asked innocently, glancing at Miya as they were shifting her to the stretcher.

“We can’t say for sure. You stay here, if we need anything, we will let you know.” I replied honestly, sternly, she nodded timidly, going with everyone, taking Miya along to treat her first before anything else.

But, I couldn’t help but to glance at her for a second before leaving. There is something about this woman I cannot put into words or perhaps it was beyond my knowledge to do so, but it was definitely something depraved.

Who- No, What are you?

“Doc!” Anna called, snapping me out of my thoughts and paying attention to my patient first.

I did the blood test and she showed severe symptoms of anemia and abrupt blood loss despite having no physical sign of it. What is happening? How is this possible? She was fine.

After stabilizing her for the moment, I rushed out to let her know about the condition of Miya, hoping she could at least inform her family.

“Cress-” But, the moment I walked out, she was no longer there.