Vivian didn’t want to keep lying to herself. She crept forward and tried to touch the charred body, but Finnick stopped her.
“Vivian, there’s sulfuric acid on the body.”
Hearing his warning, Vivian merely paused for a second before reaching out stubbornly. Finnick immediately grabbed her hand. As sulfuric acid was harmful to the human body, the consequences would be dire to those who touched it.
Finnick held her tightly, fearing she would escape his hold and run toward the body when he wasn’t paying attention. If that really happened, it would be too late to stop her.
“Listen, Vivian. That isn’t Larry. He appeared after Evelyn’s death. That isn’t Larry,” he repeated firmly. Alas, Vivian no longer trusted his words.
As he had tricked her previously, she refused to believe him. I won’t be tricked easily. Never again.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she glared at Finnick.
“Stop lying to me. Does lying make you feel better? I know what you’re trying to do. Stop it,” she declared and turned to leave. However, before she could step out of the door, she passed out and collapsed in a crumpled heap.
“Vivian!” Finnick gave the police officer a look before he picked her up and rushed to the hospital.
After a thorough examination, she turned out to be fine. The recent events had shocked her immensely and caused her to faint out of a sudden. The doctor said she would be alright and hooked her up to an IV drip.
Finnick sat by her bed and stared at her wordlessly as thoughts flooded his mind.
Vivian soon regained consciousness as she wasn’t really ill. When her eyelids fluttered open, Finnick was nodding off.
He hadn’t slept for twenty-four hours. Vivian took a glance at him and slowly put on her shoes to not wake him up. She left the room for a stroll outside. It felt too claustrophobic being in the ward.
“Little pumpkin, I’m here!” Vivian spotted someone who resembled Larry and called out excitedly. When she turned around, the figure disappeared into thin air.
Vivian felt her head buzzing. Am I seeing things?
Five minutes later, the same scene happened all over again. It was obvious that something was wrong. Vivian had hallucinations.
When Finnick jolted awake, Vivian wasn’t around. He dashed out and tried to find her, but she was nowhere to be seen. After all, he wasn’t capable enough of stopping a person who was determined to leave.
Finnick wandered around the hospital in an effort to find Vivian.
“Did you see a skinny woman this tall in a hospital gown?”
“Did you see a woman about this tall wearing a hospital gown?”
Finnick asked around, but no one had spotted her.
Anxiety grew in his heart. Even if Vivian tried to escape, there’s no way she could escape this far.
He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. Staring at the people walking along the hallway, he was at a loss at what to do next. Suddenly, a commotion caught his attention.
In a daze, Finnick thought he heard Vivian’s voice. Something must’ve happened to her! Without hesitation, he dashed into the crowd and saw Vivian, who he had been wildly searching for.
“Vivian!” She’s no longer the elegant and gentle Vivian I know, Finnick realized with a start. Right now, Vivian was chasing after something invisible, her hair a disheveled mess.
Immediately, Finnick thought she had gone crazy. As he stepped forward and reached Vivian’s side, he heard her muttering, “Little pumpkin, Mommy and Daddy miss you a lot. You’re finally back!”
Frowning, Finnick guessed she must be seeing things. Otherwise, something must’ve triggered her senses.
