Chapter 27

                                    

                                          
Aiden leaned towards her body for the hundredth time. He felt something familiar with the dead girl's face. He wanted to rememorize who she was.
The pale skin that was seemingly dark olive toned, pointed nose, pale pink, plumply lips, and the birthmark under the lower lip...
I've seen her before, but where? He leaned towards the body a bit more.
He jumped to his feet at the loud creak that came up behind. He stood before the body, covering it, and turned back.
"Doctor Jung? What are you doing here?"
Without responding, Shenmi stepped forward, her eyes scanned around, and stopped at Aiden.
Aiden's nails pierced into his thigh. He blinked a few times to escape those black eyes filled with emotions. But they forced him to stay in his current position,
Is she gazing at me? But why? He sent his eyes around the cottage. Shenmi was getting closer. Aiden stepped back as their gap became less than a meter. But she pushed him away.
Her eyes moved to the body, the emotions in her eyes changing. Aiden could feel the war of emotions radiating from her.
Shenmi was about to kneel before the body on the pool of blood on the floor.
"Stop!" He sent a hand before her. As she shot a burning glare, he slowly pushed her back, holding her shoulders.
"Doctor Jung, what are you doing here?" He took his hands away from her. But Shenmi's sight was glued to the body.
"Doctor Jung!" Aiden moved a hand before her face. "Doctor Jung, do you hear me?"
But Shenmi's eyes kept pointing to the body.
"Doctor Jung!" Aiden patted her shoulder.
"Who is she?" Lena and Jasper Hurried to them.
"Doctor Jung, she was Ansela's doctor when she was hospitalized."
"Oh." Lena's eyes moved to Shenmi. After a silence, she nodded slowly. "I'll take her out of here.
Jasper and Aiden shared a look. "Are you sure, Lena? She- she is shocked and-"
"That's why I want to take her away from here." Lena's smile mirrored everything would be fine. "Stay assured."
She touched Shenmi's shoulder. "Doctor Jung, let's go out."
But Aiden wasn't sure whether she heard Lena.
"Doctor Jung." Lena softly turned shenmi to face her. "You and I, let's go out of the cottage."
Shenmi shook her head, her eyes closed.
"Doctor Jung.. we need to talk. I know you are shocked to see your friend like this."
"Sh-she is way more than a friend," Shenmi whispered, her eyes still closed. 
Aiden shot a look at the body. I guess I can recognize her now.
When Ansela was hospitalized, he frequently asked Shenmi about her condition, and he could remember this woman was there with Shenmi.
"Doctor Jung" Lena's eyes moved through Shenmi and stopped at her wounded thigh. "Doctor Jung, you are injured."
"It always was." Shenmi's legs shivered. Lena got closer to her, tightly holding by her shoulders'
"Doctor Jung, let's go to the hospital. This wound is not-" Lena cut herself off and held Shenmi tight, stopping her from falling.
"We need to take her to the hospital." As Lena said, Jasper and Aiden helped her to take Shenmi out of the cottage.
"What happened?" Shane hurried to them while they went out of the cottage.
"She was bleeding profusely. She needs to be taken to a hospital soon."
"I'll take her there." Shane lifted Shenmi in bridal style. "But I need another one to care about her when I drive. We can't wait till an ambulance come here."
"Ansela," Aiden whispered, looking around.
Someone was sitting on the trunk of the fallen oak tree, turned back to them. Because of the black-brown hair cascading downwards in a ponytail and the black t-shirt, Aiden could swear that figure was Ansela.
"But where is she?" Jasper asked, gazing at Shane and Shenmi.
"She's there... I'll talk to her." Aiden got out of the group.
"Ansela." He called her before getting to her. She startled and jumped to her feet, adjusting the black t-shirt quickly.
"Ansela." Aiden increased his volume, and she turned her head, putting her hands down.
"Oh, Aiden." She smiled slightly.
"Doctor Jung... she needs to be hospitalized."
"Shenmi?" Ansela hurried to him. "Where is she now?"
Aiden pointed at Shane, who was taking Shenmi towards the gate in bridal style.
"I'll go with them. Try to keep Erissa's body here until we return. Just do it somehow."
Aiden stared as she walked towards Shane, following her. But suddenly, she turned back. "Aiden."
"Yes?"
Ansela took a deep breath and turned her eyes to his hand. "Keep in touch... if it spreads, call me immediately.
Aiden nodded. "Okay."
Ansela smiled, nodding back.
As she and Shane left with Shenmi, Aiden stepped back to the oak tree's trunk and scanned around.
Nothing seems unnatural. But something is... not right.
He turned back to go to the cottage but turned back faster than a blink. On the oak trunk, a few crimson drops were glistening.
As he touched it, his eyes widened. To ensure, he sniffed it.
It is still warm. But... how?
His eyes turned to the lane.
The sight of Ansela, Shane and Shenmi resting on Shane's hands was slightly blurry.
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