CHAPTER 13

~The trust of the innocent, is the liar's most useful tool~

~Sun Tzu

Rita Ora: Anywhere

SERAPHINA'S POV

"Who could've done this?"

"I don't know either but, I'm certain it wasn't a coincidence."

I heard distinct voices in my head and my eyes slowly flickered open.

"She's awake! Dad, she's awake!" A voice exclaimed and it was then my vision fully adjusted to my surrounding. From the ceiling to the walls, everything was white and when I tried to move, I felt as though a huge block was placed on me. I craned my neck to the side and realised that I was hooked to multiple machines.

A white door on the far right corner of the room busted open and a doctor with few nurses rushed in, attending to me. I was confused for a bit until everything crashed down on me. I was in a hospital. The cafeteria, the milk, the odd feeling, oh my God. The memory was still fresh.

I attempted to sit up but exhaled deeply when I felt a stabbing pain in my stomach.

"Help her! She's in pain! I swear if anything happens to my daughter your job will pay the price!" A familiar voice growled. I turned my head to the source and saw dad with my siblings, surrounding the doctor.

"Water." I croaked, my voice dried up.

"Somebody get water, Lindsey?"

"On it doctor. "

The nurse arrived shortly with a glass of water, which I gulped down in no time. I closed my eyes, trying to fight the pending headache.

"Dad." I faintly breathed, but I guessed he must've heard it, for he emerged at my side in a flash.

"I'm here baby girl." He softly kissed my knuckles.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't there to save you." His voice cracked. Although exhausted and numb, I still managed to give him a weak smile.

"It's not your fault."

"Her heart rate and blood pressure are okay, but I'm afraid the immune system had gotten a lot weaker than expected." The doctor informed.

"What does that mean?" Asher asked. Severina and Tiffany stood behind him with puffy eyes.

"The poison isn't completely neutralized, and hence the bacteria is rapidly invading her immune system, making it vulnerable to any possible infection from anything she consumed in the past nine hours."

"Fuck." Asher cussed.

"Will I die?" It was best I know now, to save myself from the trauma.

The doctor shook his head with a small smile.

"You won't dear. We will try our best, but I can't guarantee you any positive result for now."  I nodded in understanding. Tiffany wept so hard to the point where Severina was requested to take her outside. I hate seeing my family this way and mostly felt guilty, knowing I was responsible for it.

With the help of the nurses, the doctor hooked me off all machines except the IV, after which they left with dad. Leaving me behind with Asher.

"Hey." He smiled and kissed my forehead.

" I'm so sorry for getting you guys so worried," I whispered, tears welling in my eyes.

"Hey, hey, hey, shhh." He engulfed me in his arms and I broke down, unable to sustain all the emotions. I cried until I couldn't anymore, and Asher stayed the whole time, comforting me.

"We'll get whoever did this. We won't stop until they pay the price." He said through clenched teeth.

"If you touched one Del Varia, you touched the entire clan." His tone was dangerously low.

My eyes started closing on their own accord. Yet, I tried fighting the sleep, not wanting to leave Asher bored, but it was too powerful on my weak body.

"Sleep baby sis." His voice faded in the background as darkness cocooned me.

I woke up to voices again, except now, to slightly louder ones. My friends occupied the hospital couches. Some on their phones, others, sleeping and the immature ones, arguing. Kabia and Miskha of course.

"You still managed to quarrel even in a hospital." At the sound of my voice, they all perked up.

Here goes nothing...

"Thank God."

"You're awake."

"You got us worried to death."

"I left home in my Pajamas."

"I abandoned my car in the middle of jammed traffic, and ran here."

"Girl, I thought you died."

"I scared children with my face scrub."

"Shut up already! Sheesh." Maya shouted and I gave her a grateful look.

They wanted to crack my head open more than it already was. I took in their appearances and couldn't control the loud laughter which escaped me. Bia was the most hideous-looking with her hair rollers and face covered with a black, peel-off mask, not to mention the SpongeBob Pajamas. Next was Kabia. The boy had on a freaking Cinderella onesie. I tried suppressing my laughter, but it proved impossible.

"Cinderella, Kabia!" I just had to point it out.

"We came to visit her, worried to death, and now we're volunteering, stranded clowns in a chic hospital. How kind of you girl." Sarcasm dripped down Kabia's voice.

"Don't say that K. I appreciate all your efforts. I don't know what I'd do without you guys." I sincerely stated. I mean, who would leave their home in ridiculous attires just to visit a sick friend admitted at the hospital? I wouldn't replace them for the world.

"Group hug." I opened my arms and they all crashed down on me, although very cautious not to hurt me.

"Don't get sick belle." Kabia planted a huge, wet kiss on my forehead making me gagged and pushed him off.

"Ewww Kabia. That's gross." Sophia cringed.

"Miss-minding-my-business-hurts-more-than-childbirth. That's what she gets for making fun of our hundred-dollar clothing. I fought back on our behalf, right Bia?"

"That's not clean Kabia." Bia only gave him a disapproving look,  making us laugh.

"How are you feeling now girl?" Maya asked, sitting on the spot Asher previously sat. The idea making me inwardly coo.

Think about your sick ass in bed. My sympathy if you have a nosey subconscious like mine

"Peachy, but okay." I smiled.

"I still can't wrap my head around this incident. It's so absurd." Lalia asserted.

"Me neither. I heard investigations are going on though." Leila said.

"Which lunch lady sold you the milk?" Kabia inquired

"I don't know her name but she's the one I always get my orders from."

"I have never trusted her though. She's never been nice to any of us and...

"That isn't the case with Seraphina. It's out of the ordinary, no joke." Sophia completed Maya's statement, and the rest nodded in agreement.

"She's always been nice and friendly to me." I was lost in thought.

"That doesn't add up, because she doesn't indulge in any form of conversation with students, not even her coworkers. Sarah's a living witness." Malu chimed in.

"Wait, hold up. Wasn't she the same person who dumped a soda can on Seraphina when she complained about her noodles having maggots in sophomore year? Kabia exclaimed. Wait a minute. Is this some sick joke?

"Oh. my. God." My eyes widened and my heart picked up pace. Her fiery red hair, the freckles, the frown lines and the signature permanent scar. How couldn't I have known? All the signs were there? How she often tries to manage her anger around me. Everything was fake.

"She was..."I trailed off,  unable to continue.

"Pretending all this time." Maya nodded in confirmation.

"I always knew her behaviour towards Seraphina was weird and I wanted to bring it to your attention but Lalia advised me not to, saying it'll ignite drama." Leila narrated.

"But why though? Why would she want to go after you?"

"I wish I knew too Miskha." I clicked my tongue.

"Y'all thinking what I'm thinking right now?" Kabia asked and we all shook our heads except for Maya.

"I know what you're thinking. She isn't into this alone." Maya smirked.

"You're smart. " Kabia winked.

"You can't conclude anything on that because there's no evidence. " Sophia said.

"We don't have evidence. We don't even need it." Maya smirked and I looked at her in confusion.

"Oh," Lalia's eyes widened in realisation.

"Okay, I'm I the only one lost here?" I asked.

"Welcome to the clueless club Sis." Leila raised her arm.

"Surveillance camera dumbos. " Kabia snorted.

"The cafeteria's a blind spot I think?" Malu asked and Maya shook her head.

"That's impossible. It's where food's sold." Kabia stated matter of factly.

"Cafeteria not a blind spot. It's eyespot." Not Bia and her weird-ass accent again.

"Oh shoot. Five missed calls from mom. I gotta go." Maya sighed.

"You better run on. You know Aunt shynelle doesn't like to be kept waiting." I joked.

"Let's roll together Dominic. It's about damn time I get off these." Kabia pointed to his Pajamas.

"Cinderella. " Bia drawled in a sing-song voice, making Kabia frown.

"Alright. Thank you so much, guys. You didn't have to."

"Oh please, "thank you so much, you didn't have to" you're stuck with us forever bitch. " Lalia imitated in a baby's voice.

"Oooh, one thing. Girl, the dorms." Miskha started and I perked up. It's my sole topic of interest lately.

"What about them?" I asked.

"Nothing. We're going home. Miskha must you always be gossiping?" Sophia dragged a protesting Miskha outside. I shook my head at their antics and leaned back on the bed.

"I'll call you bitch!" Miskha's loud voice screamed from the hallway. She woke the entire floor. No doubt.

I'd one weird group of friends.

I drank water and was about to take a quick nap until the door opened again, making me internally groan. Americans and bad timing.

Two people walked in, a male and a female, both dressed in formal clothing. I stared at them in curiosity and my hand discreetly reached out for my hairpin on the small bedside table.

"That won't be necessary Miss Del Varia." The female assured me with a small smile, and my cheeks warmed up from embarrassment.

"We understand. Especially for someone who's gone through a traumatic experience like yours." The male filled in.

I remained silent and expectantly waited for them to mention their purpose of visiting. They sure weren't any normal hospital visitors, that I was certain of. Not with those suits anyway.

"Yes?" I asked, unable to withstand the annoyance from their creepy stares.

"I thought you wouldn't ask." The lady smirked, before reaching for something in her back pocket. I exhaled sharply and offered a silent prayer. This is it, life's over for me.

"FBI, and we're here to ask you a few questions. "

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The FBI has joined the marathon. How interesting. Let's see where the tail lies.

Next update coming up soon.

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Xoxo,

mina.