Chapter 5
984words
Ernest sat limply on the floor. His left wrist had a bullet hole in it, and blood kept dripping from it onto the white tiles of the surgery room, but he felt no pain. It was because of the fear, a fear that chilled him to the bones and deep inside his trembling soul. The fear had numbed every nerve in his body.
He stared at the red tulip insignia. That was not an insignia to the underworld, but an invitation sent out by Death itself. Nothing could make it out alive where the insignia was seen.
"S-Severia… Corleone…"
Ernest's voice was shaking badly. He looked up with great difficulty at me while I was still sitting on the surgery table. I wiped off the bloodstain on my hand slowly as I looked at him coldly, as if he were dead to me.
Silvio stood in front of Ernest. He was a big, muscular man, and his shadow cast over Ernest completely.
"Ernest Marino."
Silvio crouched and patted his dagger against Ernest's cheek. His movement was gentle, but chilling.
"I heard that you make the rules in Micosa." Silvio smiled, but there was no warmth to it. "When it comes to me, the rule is made up of only two words—Silvio Corleone."
Ernest started to tremble as the ice-cold blade touched his cheek. He gulped as he attempted to negotiate with Silvio.
"This is just a misunderstanding. I had no idea that she's your sister… If I had known who she was, I never would've…"
Silvio gave him a backhanded slap. The crisp slap echoed inside the surgery room. Ernest's cheek became swollen as several of his teeth flew bloodily out of his mouth.
"You had no idea?" Silvio slapped him again. "Did you have no idea when you were feeding her medicine for the past six months? How about when you had her checked to see if she was a kidney match? Did you still have no idea when you were tying her up on the surgery table?"
Silvio's accusations were followed by muffled thuds. Ernest was in a daze from being punched, and he fell limp to the floor like a wasted man.
As I watched Ernest being beaten to a pulp, I was suddenly reminded of the day I married him. He was holding my hand while giving his vows sincerely and earnestly. He vowed he would forever love and protect me.
Forever love and protect me? For the last six months, the man who was supposed to shield me from bloodshed had become the devil who dragged me into hell. However, a devil like him could only bow in submission in front of the Corleones.
I stood up as I climbed off the surgery table barefoot. It felt cold when my bare foot touched the icy ground, but the chill was nothing compared to what I was feeling in my heart. I walked toward the bed next to mine.
Anna was curled up in a ball while cowering in fear. She tried her best to bury herself as deep as she could under the covers.
"M-Mia… I was wrong. Ernest made me do it. I don't want to die. I just want to live…"
The look in my eyes was calm as still water as I looked down at her. "You should live, Anna, but I have my plans for you."
I turned to look at Silvio. "Is the doctor still here, Silvio?"
Silvio raised an eyebrow, and he pointed to the doctor shaking like a leaf at the corner with the surgery blade still in his hand. "He's well and alive over there."
I pointed at Ernest and then at Anna. "Ernest said before that everyone has two kidneys. You won't die with one less kidney. Since he loves his sister so much, let's take his kidney and put it into Anna."
The doctor was so scared that he peed himself. He fell limp onto the floor as his teeth chattered.
"T-That isn't right. If we don't run a blood test for both of them, she might die from her body rejecting the kidney…"
Silvio sneered. The dagger in his hand reflected with a silver light as he pushed it against the doctor's neck. "I make the rules now. Remove the kidney, or you'll die."
Ernest shook his head wildly as he tried to crawl out of the door. "No, Mia! You can't treat me this way! I love you. I really did love you…"
I laughed. I laughed so hard that my tears were falling from my eyes.
"Did your love grow from feeding me all those immunosuppressants, Ernest? Is planning my death and buying a high-value insurance policy out on me the way you love me?" I spoke tenderly as if I were having dinner with him while looking down right at him.
"Don't be afraid, I'll let you witness the whole process. You'll watch while we put your kidney into her and slowly wait for it to rot." Silvio stepped onto Ernest's chest.
"Do it now."
The Soldatos in black grabbed Ernest roughly and pushed him onto the surgery table I had been lying on. The surgery lights lit up once more. The bright lights shone on Ernest's despairing face.
His shrill scream echoed throughout the hospital. He was not anaesthetized at all for the process. Silvio had promised that he would suffer a thousand times over for what I had been through.
I stood outside the window of the surgery room as I watched Ernest convulse on the surgery table while Anna passed out from the fright.
Ernest had once said I was the medical remedy for Anna. Now, he had become the remedy for the woman he loved most. Would he be happy about that?
