Blood Bank

In a hospital room with pristine walls, the curtains against the open window fluttered in the wind for fresh air.

The afternoon sun rays sifting through the windows and curtains bathed the form of a sickly pale figure on the only bed in one of the topmost VIP rooms of the hospital.

The form was that of a young girl, who appeared to be in her teens.

Her lips were chapped, dry to the point of cracking. Her skin had paled to a yellowish color. Her sunken cheeks, her protruding bones showed just how malnourished she was.

A couple of machinery connected to her form, showcasing her status, ensuring that she was still alive.

Various tubes connected to her frail petite body, providing enough nutrition to keep her alive.

A few needles on her left wrist allowed the IV solution to flow from the bag using the help of tubes into her bloodstream.

An abandoned wheelchair stood in the corner of the room, seemingly belonging to the girl.

A nurse stood next to her bed, looking at the girl with pity as she sighed.

Sigh

"They don't care about her condition at all," the nurse muttered to herself since the girl was unconscious to be able to hear her.

Bang!

The door opened with a loud noise and two figures barged in, startling the nurse who was noting down the vital signs.

"Sir, this is the hospital. Please be mindful of the other patients," she requested the two guests politely.

But all she got in response was a disdainful glance at her.

The two who entered didn't share a single similar feature to the young girl on the hospital bed, dressed in a white hospital gown.

Despite being relatives, they looked at her with a neutral expression, devoid of any empathy or sympathy towards the poor form of such a young girl.

Seeing her weakened form, the woman with long blonde hair and hazel eyes changed her expression to a pitiful one as she opened her mouth while tears trickled down her cheeks.

"Darling, look at her. She has become like this because of me boohoo"

Sniffle

"If not for me giving birth to Lily, she would never be in this condition boohoo"

Sniffle

'Heh. What an actor,' the nurse mused, while internally cursing the man for getting played by such a two-faced bitch.

"Wife, you need not blame yourself. Lucy is our daughter, she deserves the best!" The man announced, his tone soft and gentle, placating his wife by rubbing her back with his big hands.

Sniffle

She had been already clinging to his arm when they had entered the room and by now her entire face was buried into his broad chest.

The man had short, straight light brown hair with matching eyes with looks anyone would say are average.

Sniffle

Seeing his wife's self-blaming state, he couldn't take it anymore as he added, "You don't have to worry a single bit, I will make sure that Lily gets better."

Right at this moment, unbeknownst to everyone in the room, the young girl's eyes fluttered slightly as she tried to open her mouth but found it enclosed by an oxygen mask.

'A ...hospital? Did... I... get... rescued?'

Just as she thought that, she heard sniffling sounds and turned to see who it was but her hazy vision did not allow her to discern their forms.

'A... woman? Mom... is that... you?'

An authoritative voice resounded across the room, bringing her out of her short reverie.

"Cordelia, your sister is in urgent need of blood transfusion. You're the only person in our family who matches her blood type."

"You both are sisters, after all. So you wouldn't want your sister to die, right?"

As he finished his words, he turned to stare at the nurse and shouted at her.

"What are you doing? Draw her blood! Didn't you hear that my daughter is suffering!!"

'But isn't she your daughter too?' the nurse thought but didn't dare voice it out.

"Uhm, sir, your daughter is underweight. If I draw any more blood, there is a chance her life will be in danger," explained the nurse in her ever so polite tone.

Sniffle

'This bitch.'

The nurse cursed the vixen in her mind as the intensity of the woman's sniffling increased.

Seeing his wife's form trembling in his arms, likely due to guilt, he placated, "Don't worry, as long as Cordelia is alive, nothing will happen to Lily. And Cordelia will also live. After all, this is the VIP room with the most attention!"

Turning to the nurse, he shouted, "My daughter urgently needs blood transfusion. Can you take responsibility if something happens to her?"

"But–" the nurse tried to refuse but was cut off.

"Cut the crap already. Who do you take yourself for? Do you know who I am? One word and you will be blacklisted in any hospital in Aritos City."

'Lily has been unwell lately, let's draw more of her blood this time.'

"My daughter is suffering! Her blood will help her! She should be glad that a cripple like her is of use to her kind and nice sister."

"Besides, she has always been in good health. Draw her blood already."

Afraid of the man's retaliation, the nurse swallowed her pride and began drawing another 100 mL of blood from the girl.

'I am sorry, but I gotta live,' she tried to justify herself to not get a guilty conscience despite knowing it would have not much of an effect.

Unable to understand the turn of events around her, the young girl couldn't help but think about all the things she heard to comprehend her current situation.

'Sister?'

'Blood?'

'Daughter?'

'Cripple?'

'Just what exactly is going on? I remember I was about to read the last chapter of 'The Mary Sue's Secret Lover' before an earthquake struck and the roof fell over me...'

Just as her thoughts completed, they came to an abrupt halt as her consciousness faded yet a single thought arose within her before she fainted due to the drawn blood.

'I don't want to feel the cold needles poking my veins anymore.'

Not understanding the source of this thought, Cordelia fainted the moment the nurse finished drawing her blood out.

Unaware that the girl had just woken up and heard their talks, the events continued.

"I will go and submit this blood to be tested before it gets administered."

The nurse excused herself with those words, wanting nothing more than to get out of sight of that two-faced woman.

After the nurse left, the woman had teary eyes as her husband wiped them while constantly placating her by saying good things to her.

"Wife, you don't have to blame yourself. It's not your fault."

"I am sure it's this girl's fault, she is a bad omen. If not for your kindness, I would have long kicked her disgraceful self out of our home."

She inwardly felt immense amounts of joy at every word he told her but outwardly, her expression remained the same teary-eyed, as if she was sad they had to do this to such a young girl.

Alas, if only the man in front of her wasn't so believing of every word she said.

'Serves you right. You're nothing more than a blood bank for my daughter. The first thing I do after she is cured will be getting rid of you...' the woman's thoughts would frighten many if they got the wind of it.

However, her outer appearance seemed just as pitiful as her voice made her seem.

The two then left the room together after a few minutes in which Cordelia's father consoled his wife.

Unknowingly, at that moment a small tear fell out of the unconscious Cordelia's left eye.