Comatose

CHAPTER 1

Gasping, panting, heart pounding, beads of sweat dropped on the pillow from her face. She drew in a full lung of air as she awoke from her slumber.

There was a moment of confusion but Upon seeing the familiar structure of her ceiling and taking in the familiar scent of her room, she slowly began to calm down. She sat up slowly and swallowed hard.

"What a nightmare!" Sophie exclaimed.

Turning to her side she saw her sister, Taylor sitting beside her.

"Taylor, you're here? Thank God. I'm pretty sure I'd have been having a panic attack now."

Silence

"You won't believe the dream I just had. It was ho..rr..ii..ble.. I died. Can you believe that?"

silence

"Speechless? I know, right?"

silence

"Hey, you're not saying anything. You okay?"

Still no response. She looked carefully at her sister and saw she was crying.

"You're crying? What's the problem sis?" She asked placing her hand on her shoulder but to her utmost bewilderment, her hand passed through her.

"Whooooooooooh" she screamed. Shock registering on her face as she pulled back.

"What the.... Taylor, something is wrong with me. Why can't I touch you?" she asked as she made futile attempts to hold unto her.

There was still no response from her.

"Taylor, you're scaring me. Did something happen? Why aren't you responding to me? talk to me. Helloooo"

Taylor sat still, sobbing. There was no reaction to Sophie.

"What is going on?" she asked no one but herself.

Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of something on the bed.

Feets? Whose were they?

Sophie turns, but too slowly to be normal. She tried to say something but her voice trailed slowly, like her words are unwilling to take flight. There is fear in her eyes.

When she could finally speak, she could only let out a loud shriek.

"That's me on the bed. How is that possible? I can't be....no,no,no. Maybe it's another dream. What is this?"

She got frightened. Her chest hurts, and she feels as though she's consumed too much coffee in her head. nervous and trembling. She starts to feel increasingly confined, as if the air around her were suffocating her. She wanted to flee, hide, and run.

She rushed to the door and tried to open it but she couldn't hold onto the knob.

"Haaaaah! This is not happening."

"Taylor, do something. Call the doctor" She yelled but got no answer from her.

"You can't hear me. She can't hear me. What do I do?"

She paced about the room. She had lost all form of composure.

She tried again and again to hold on to Taylor ; anything, to let her know she was here but nothing worked.

"TAYLOR". She screamed.

Just then the door opened and a group of four hurried into the room.

"Mum, dad, is she going to be okay?" Taylor asked.

"We don't know. Let the doctor check her." Mr Tony said.

The doctor went ahead to check her vitals and what have you. All the while Sophie paced about.

"She's not dead...

Everyone sighed in relief.

"Oh thank you Lord" The elderly woman exclaimed.

" ... Yet. She's unconscious. In a coma you can say. "

"But how did this happen? She never forgets to keep her inhaler on her side stool or under her pillow " Taylor lamented.

"That's not what is important now, child. We're glad she's still alive. What do we do now? " Mrs May asked the doctor.

"Nothing much for now. We'll have to admit her in the hospital so we can keep close surveillance on her"

"Will she wake up soon?" Austin, who had been quiet since he stepped in, asked.

"Pray hard." the doctor said, throwing everyone in another fit of panic.

Seeing that none was yet to make any move the doctor said.

"The longer we wait, the higher the chances of losing her.

"What are you guys standing around for? Do you want me to die? " Sophie asked.

They sprung into action as if they heard her.

Mr Tony opened the door and the doctor walked out.

"Pick her up," May said to Austin.

"Why should I? What if....

"She's your fiancée for crying out loud " Mr Tony exclaimed.

Austin hesitated.

"Fine, I'll do it" Taylor said, trying to lift Sophie up.

With how jagged her emotions was, her movements were rough.

"Easy Tay, that's my body," Sophie said, seeing how Taylor moved roughly.

"Okay, okay, I'll do it. Move over."

Austin had no choice but to carry her but not without mumbling incoherent words.

***

The tears kept pouring as Taylor sat beside her unconscious sister.

"Soph wake up. You can't die on me. Soph please wake up."

"I'm trying kiddo," Sophie said.

She tried to get back into her body by laying flat on it, but it seemed not to be working.

It was as if Taylor saw this because the force with which she cried increased. It broke Sophie's heart.

"Stop crying kiddo. I'll find a way around this" she said stretching to wipe the tears off Taylor's face but again, her hand passed through.

"Arrrrggghhh" she screamed in frustration.

Mr and Mrs Silver stood by the door. They were heartbroken to see their daughters like this. One was lying unconscious and the other dejected. They were unsure of how to comfort Taylor.

"Tay, it's been over five hours now. Why don't we go back....

"No mum. What if she wakes up, I want to be here when she does"

"Do you think she'll be happy if she wakes up and sees you like this? You know she hates it when you cry"

"Listen to your mother Tay. I'll hire someone to watch over her. We'll be notified once she wakes up." Mr Tony added.

"Mom and dad are right. You should all go back and rest. I'll be okay" Sophie said.

Taylor looked at her sister.

"I'll be back Soph. Okay?"

After they left, Sophie tried time and time again to get back into her body but it was all a waste.

"This is crazy. What in the world is going on?"

CHAPTER 2

The grief came in waves as she half ran through the halls looking at every door in sight trying to locate when her friend was.

"225, 225" she muttered as she searched.

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand to clear her vision which had become blurry from the tears.

She pushed open the door having the number 225.

She froze as she beheld the body on the bed. Her emotions turned jagged and her insides tightened. She moved closer to the bed.

"Mary, Mary you're here" Sophie said. She waved at her but Mary did not respond to her.

"I told you to come with me. It was just a two days trip. But you refused. See what happened."

*Flashback*

The room was a typical girls room. By that that I mean it was full of pink. Pink walls, pink mirror table, pink rug.

Except for a few things like the curtains, the wardrobe and the bed sheets and the pictures on the wall, practically every other thing was pink.

Sophie laid on the bed watching Mary pack.

"I've never seen you so excited about a trip before"

"That's because this isn't just any trip, it's a vacation. Even if it's just for two days, at least I'm not going there to work."

"And meet new handsome guys?"

"And meet new handsome guys" Mary concurred laughing. "You should come with me"

"Totally out of the question. You know how tight things are for me right now. With grandpa's death and all."

"Yeah! I know. We both know you're the brains behind the scenes even though it's your uncles who own the businesses. Such lazy people."

"Mary?"

"I'm sorry. I wonder why grandpa willed the companies to them. I'm sure he knew they can't do na-da. I bet they'd have gone bankrupt three months ago. If you'd have not been around. He should have just given it all to you"

"And fuel the hate they already have for me?"

"OH! Right! But still, you need rest and two days away isn't going to cause damage."

"I would if I could but...

" Come on girl, two days of the beach, food, boys and loads of fun."

"Very tempting" Soph said laughing.

"It'll just be two days"

"Fine but it'll have to be another time. I'll need to put a few things in place."

"Fine then."

*present*

"Stop this now Soph, I know you're playing a prank. Okay I apologize for going without you. Stand up please"

Sophie reached out to hug her best friend but sadly she couldn't.

"Mary.." she called out softly

"Come sit with me; hold my hand. Eat chips with me. Call me friend or an idiot. Look into my eyes, connect, because I can't accept this. I won't ."

"Mary, stop crying. I'll figure this out" she tried to console her friend. If only she could hear her.

"Get up. Get up you big headed buffoon. Get up, get up, get up" she screamed, surrendering to the grief.

Memories of the years they'd spent together flashed back in seconds.

"Ahhhhhhh! My chest. Sophie you have to wake up ooh. You're not dying on me."

The door opens and ushered in Mr and Mrs Silver together with the doctor.

May pulled Mary up, wiping her tears.

"Doctor, can you now tell me what is wrong with my daughter?" Tony asked.

"We're yet to.....

"You're yet to? Are you sure you can help her? I am beginning to doubt your competence. It's been over two days."

"I beg your pardon sir. I will not stand here and have you downplay my competence. We are one of the best hospitals in the whole of Lagos and I will have you know we are ranked among the best in the world "

"Doctor, do you have children? " May asked.

This question seemed to calm the agitated doctor. He sighed.

"Two of them and I don't know what I'll do if I ever was to lose any."

The room was silent for a minute.

"Look Mr and Mrs Silver, I understand you. I get what you're going through and I assure you, we're doing our best to save your daughter. Just have faith in us.

The doctor did a few checks before leaving.

The trio stood quietly, each lost in their own thoughts. Sophie could do nothing to comfort them and it pained her. These were the people she loved most in the world and they were in this situation because of her. Her carelessness.

***

Tony and May sat in silence inside the car. Each one deeply lost in thought.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" they said in unison.

"What are you thinking?" Tonay asked his wife.

"Is there a chance.. That... This wasn't an accident?"

"That someone might have tried to kill her?"

May nodded in response.

"That's exactly what I was thinking"

They went silent again.

"But it's not possible for someone to enter the house without us knowing, right?" She asked.

"Right! Unless the person is a skilled assassin"

They stared at each other, fear rising slowly within them.

"But then again we might just be paranoid. I mean, who'd want her dead?"

"I just thought of that" Tony said.

"If I recall correctly, we did install a cctv in the hallway, we could check?"

"Alright" With a twist of the key, Tony started the car.

It took them about half an hour to arrive home. Which shouldn't have been but he drove slower.

"What if the killer was still there". He drove with that thought in mind and it seems like it wasn't just him because typical May would have complained of how slow he drove.

It took them almost ten minutes to get out of the car.

"Thers nothing to be afraid off. The gate man said no one came in. Let's go" Tony said.

One would think they were thieves, the way they walked as they headed for the house. What fear can do!

Sitting before the monitor, they sighed in relief. No one entered into her room after she retired for the night. It was due to her carelessness after all.

CHAPTER 3

Eyes drooping, shoulders slouched, she floated through the hallway, sighing at intervals.

It's been almost two weeks since, according to her, a weird and unfortunate incident happened. And she has been cooked up in that room.

Although she was worried and confused about the whole thing, she couldn't help but feel bored. So you can imagine how elated she was on getting out. She waved and greeted anyone she came across, not like they could see or hear her though.

"Hi"

"Hello"

"Your baby is beautiful"

"You looked good for a nurse"

"Gross, detached leg!"

"Get well soon"

"Hello pretty"

Wait! Freeze. Did she just wave back?

Sophie backed up a little and looked at the direction she came from. Sure enough, a petite, dark skinned lady was seated waving at her.

No sooner had she thought of going to her when she found herself there. It was like she teleported.

Strange but it was not the time to think of that now. Someone could actually see her.

"You... You can see me?" she asked, all excited.

"Yeah!"

"You can really see me?" she was bouncing on the seat.

"Yeah! We're the same"

"We're the......

Her morale dampered

"Oh great! Another dead person." Her excitement gone but came back almost immediately. "It Doesn't matter, someone can see me"

The lady giggled. She too was excited.

"I'm Lily. You must be new" she said.

"I'm Sophie. Been here almost two weeks"

"Two weeks? That long? Why didn't I see you? I pass here almost every day"

"I was stuck inside my room. They always locked the door after them so it was impossible to come out. Luckily, the nurse that came to check on me today was quite lousy. Gave me.....

She stopped talking when she noticed Lily was laughing.

"What's funny? " she asked, confused.

"You! Door? You do know you can pass through the wall or door. Right?"

"Right! I'm a ghost. Didn't think of that. Now I feel stupid"

"You don't have to. I didn't get it the first time too. It's cool"

"Lily, right? How long have you been here?"

"Three years"

"Okay, Three.. Wait! What? Three years? Do you mean I can be here that long?"

"It's possible. It depends on what's keeping you here"

"What's keeping me...... I don't get it."

"Right now we're stuck between the dead and the living and there are two possible reasons for that. Love or revenge. Understand? "

"Ummmm... No. You lost me"

"Love, in the sense that you have a boyfriend, fiance or husband that has refused to come to terms with you dying. Get it?"

"Yes, yes. Revenge?"

"Your death might have not been natural...

"Like I was killed on purpose? Murdered? "

"Uh huh" Lily nodded.

"That's not possible. I have no enemies. I do know I have a fiance, so it's definitely love."

"Okay? But that isn't too good as well"

"How do you mean?"

"I've been around this long because of that. He has refused to let me go."

***

Round a table In a dark room, were seated four persons cladded in black clothing. The room was quite dark, only a dim light shone so their faces could not bee seen.

Few tapped on the table while others glanced at their wristwatches. They seemed to be agitated; impatient.

"What is taking him so long?"

Soon a fifth person entered.

"So sorry I'm late. I met with an obstacle on the way." He apologized.

"Keep your excuses, we have more pressing issues at hand." the first man spoke.

"Yes sir." He sits.

"I don't have time to beat around the bush so let's just get to it. I'd like to know Who did it? Speak up! Who tried to kill her" The first man spoke again. He was obviously very angry.

"Not me"

"It wasn't me"

"I didn't"

"I mean who would do that"

"Are you all saying none of you are behind this? We all know she isn't careless enough to go to bed without her inhaler. Someone definitely made an attempt on her life."

"We know we need her to access what the old man left to her; we can't do that if she's dead. Unless, someone else knows" another man spoke.

All eyes fell on the fifth man.

"I did not tell anyone else. I swear It's just the four of you. I wouldn't, but I do suspect you're right."

"What do you mean?"

"On my way here, I noticed i was being followed. That's why I was late. I had to shake the person off my tail. I suspect there is another who knows"

This seemed to drive the first man further into rage.

"This wouldn't have been happening if that darn old fart didn't play a fast one on us. He deceived us and for what? That girl imhe picked up from nowhere." He yelled.

The youngest of them coughed lightly before speaking. "Well,if we're being honest, he picked.....

"Be quiet. No one asked you to speak". He was shut down by the eldest. "So what do we do now? We have to access those businesses. That girl deserves nothing"

They sat quietly.

"May I make a suggestion?" another man on the table asked.

He continued after a light grunt from the first man.

"It might not seem like much but it's the best and maybe the only option we have now. We lay low....

"What?"

"Excuse me!"

"Do you hear yourself?"

"Let me finish. Let me explain what I mean"

They kept quiet allowing him to continue.

"The person who made the attempt on her life is definitely looking for the same thing we're looking for or maybe something else who knows and there's no way he or she wouldn't try to reach out or make another move. We sit back and watch. That way we kill two birds with one stone. Catch whoever it is and also get what we want "

" And how sure are you this would work? "

" It's just a logic and if it doesn't, we loose nothing ".