Dead

The birds had left the trees, and the once calm resident of Malvin's estate had been stripped of its tranquillity. A home had gone up in flames, and the sound of the siren went off, sending an alarm to the neighbourhood which all jerked up in a hurry in fear of their lives.

The burning sensation in her nose blocked the air supply to her lungs and her battered body grazed the grass on the sidewalk right in front of the burning house.

Deprise flew all around, the fire rose to the sky while Cattleya lay lifeless on the sidewalk, tears running down her dead eyes.

———

A cough escaped my lips, my eyelids felt like they were a million times heavier. I took a deep breath which led to me choking on the air.

"Hey!, take it slowly." That tone, I could have sworn this was a nightmare.

I pushed my head forward with my eyes still closed tightly. My eyes began to flutter open, I yawned for a few seconds which felt like the most sufficient air that had gone into my system for a very long time.

"Hey." I rotated my neck towards the sound of the voice. 

My eyes widened in shock. "Genevieve?." I stuttered in astonishment.

I looked around and I could only be in one place, a hospital ward, I swallowed hard and leaned into Genevieve's arms as I began to sob painfully, I felt her arms wrap around me and pull me closer, the memories of my sister ran through my mind like a short clip from a movie. 

How could I have lost someone I have known all my life just because of some mission that was probably going to fail?

I felt a hooking sensation in my chest that sent me back on the bed, I gripped the hospital bedsheets, my legs moved upwards dragging the bedsheets alongside, my back banged on the bed repeatedly while Genevieve moved swiftly out of the hospital room.

"Gen…" I cried with a subtle tone that could barely be heard.

My sight became blurry and my head went blank.

"Clear!!." The tone of a man hovered above my head.

The image of people in white came into sight, and a smirk hooked up my lips while I stared at them.

"Am I in heaven?, if yes then I am sure this is a horrible mixup!!." I giggled heartedly.

"Genevieve!." I squeezed my eyes to stare at the image of Genevieve that had begun to change to an image of a white man who stood with a nervous smile on his face.

"Who…" I paused for a second before I continued speaking.

I was taken aback in shock, I couldn't have imagined everything or could I? My hands rose to my eyes without me thinking of my actions, I rubbed my eyes harshly and quickly.

"After we called the fire department, I found you laying lifeless on the sidewalks next to a huge tree which I presumed you had hit your back against or many your head so I picked you up, put in my mini-van and drove you to the hospital but you kept calling me Genevieve." He explained to me while he strolled towards me and sat on the stool next to where I lay.

"Oh," I said with my lips in a tin line.

I felt like digging a hole and burying myself in it, how could I have been crying out for her? 

"Are you insane Cattleya?." I thought to myself angrily.

A chuckle was heard from the door, I raised my head to see above the head of the man who had rescued me.

"Hey, Princess," Genevieve smirked.

"I hope she didn't hear all that was said in what I think was her absence!!." I prayed inwardly. 

She took the first step into the room and I could see my neighbor visibly trembling.

"Thank you, Lad!." Genevieve placed her hand on his shoulder.

I watched as she squeezed his shoulder a bit too hard that I could almost hear the cracking of his bones.

"I swear she hugged me." He wailed surprisingly.

Genevieve was silent to his words, she glanced at me and then winked cheerfully. 

How was she able to shift her personality around me with so much ease? Genevieve took the position of the man who I am quite sure was not my neighbor after watching what had unfolded.

"Who is he?." I questioned her with a stern tone.

She sighed and stood up, Genevieve kissed my forehead and then looked into my eyes. "Rest your pretty head." 

I caught her hand as she was about to leave, her eyes trailing up from the spot I had held up to my face. "What's wrong?." Her tone sounded concerned and caring.

"Is my sister dead?." I questioned her.

Genevieve licked her bottom lips before she pressed her lips together in a tin line, a sigh of exhaustion left her lips and she reclaimed her previous position on the stool.

"Do you want me to leave?." She asked changing the conversation.

I gave her an odd look knowing exactly what she was trying to do. Despite the pain of losing a sibling, I knew what I was here for. 

"No." I shook my head.

She grabbed my chin gently, her fingers travelled down to my lips and pinched it in a playful yet very gentle and delicate manner.

"So are you taking up my offer?."

"Offer?." My eyebrows danced at how puzzled I was.

"Move in with me."