Chapter Text
The flickering fluorescent lights and the lingering smell of antiseptic would tell you you’re currently standing in the hallway of a hospital. Well not just any hospital, the most renowned one in the country.
BERLINT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Though at this time of day the floor’s occupants were mostly the patients sleeping soundly after their nightly sedatives and few of the other staff. And sitting on a bench in front of the ICU were a couple, looking visibly distraught.
The man squeezed the woman’s hand trying to comfort her.
“Hey, it’s going to be fine. Don’t worry.”
She looked up to meet his eyes. His ocean blue against her blood red ones. Such a contrast. She tried (and failed) to force a smile on her lips.
“I wish she could meet everyone else one last time. The neighbours, her friends…”
“Me too. But this is the best way.”
Memories of their time together in this city come to mind. The day they met. The moment he got down on one knee. Raising their little girl up here. Watching her grow up. All those spring picnics. WInters cuddled up in their home. Now they have to leave all of that behind. Things would never be the same again.
Yet the world didn’t grant them time to mourn. Within 12 hours they’ll have to be out of city limits like they never existed. Vanished from what they called their life. From their habits, routines and customs.
Maybe some things aren’t meant to be. Neither were these two. They were never supposed to find each other and be together, but they did, and had a damn amazing life together. They weren’t just going to give it up, not after what they’ve been through together, not after all that they’ve lost tonight.
The elevator chimed. A woman wearing a white coat came up to the pair. They both looked up.
“It’s time.” She turned and started walking. They both quietly followed her.
They entered one of the rooms. The air conditioner was set on high. The room smelled of the fresh flowers tossed in the waste basket. Illuminated only by the heart monitor, beeping periodically.
On the bed was a girl of seventeen, her ivory skin bathed in moonlight. Her brows were scrunched together as if there was some deep discomfort bubbling up inside her.
Tears welled up in the dark haired woman’s eyes. Watching her daughter’s precious life end like this would be harsh for any mother out there, and she was no exception, even if they weren’t bound by blood.
With the same composure one has when they have to pretend everything is fine when it’s not, she lightly threaded her fingers through her daughter’s hair and muttered out, “You’ve been so strong dear. Just a bit more and all the pain’s going to go away.” She let the tears fall. She turned to her husband and buried her face in his chest, “I just wish she could say a proper goodbye first.” she sobbed the words out.
Her husband kept rubbing circles on her back. He needed to be strong. He needed to comfort her. He needed to support his family now. This was not the time to let his emotions get to him. There would be time for tears later.
The other woman with the stethoscope around her collar gave the man one curt nod. He returned the gesture. All the eyes in the room simultaneously looked at the blinking screen. The beeping halted. The monitor flatlined. She penned down the name and time.
Anya Forger. Time of death - 22:26.
One Year Ago…
Moonlight filtered through the windows casting a shadow on the curtains. It was bright tonight, courtesy of the full moon.
Anya laid on her bed, tightly clutching Director Chimera. The thoughts from her father’s mind kept swirling in her head.
Operation Strix is over.
Donovan Desmond is done for.
Forger family is no longer needed.
She was sent to bed early tonight. The reason said was because she had school early tomorrow. The reason being her father was about to tell her mother everything about the mission and the truth about their forged family.
She had almost forgotten that part. During over a decade of lies and deception, this fake family had somehow become a real home to all three of them.
Was everything really going to end now? She couldn’t help but wonder. What about all their friends and acquaintances? What about Papa’s hospital colleagues now that he doesn’t need the psychiatrist's cover anymore? What about Mama’s coworkers who come over for dinner and compliment on what a happy family they are? What about her friends? What about Becky and Ewen and Emile and Connie and Freddie and Arnold and Tertius? Were those real? What about Damian? How is he holding up from everything? Does she need to tell him the truth about everything now? How would he react?
All the thinking was giving her a headache. She should go to sleep. School starts tomorrow.
Does she even need to go to school anymore?
It’s almost eleven p.m. She should really just sleep. Or she’ll be late again and get a Tonitrus.
Does that even matter now?
Her father would be mad when he has to shake her awake next morning.
Would Papa even be here tomorrow?
She might have to miss breakfast to catch the bus on time.
Would any of her so-called family be in this house by next morning?
Her lids dropped down, dragged by sleep. Staying awake was not helping anyway. It was morning that held all the answers.