I finally let out a sigh as I unlocked my dorm door. Ivy wasn't in the room, but the sound of flushing quickly dispelled my concerns. My body screamed with weariness as I slumped down on the bed. Ivy's hissing was followed by the clicking sound of the bathroom door.

"Soph..." I was startled to get to my feet when I heard her faint voice followed by the sound of 'thud. ' I ran up to her unconscious form. When I touched her, I realized she was burning up. Oh, my God!

I sprinkled water droplets on her face in an attempt to stir her up, but it was in vain. I wiped her key body areas, such as her forehead, hands, feet, and cheeks, with a moist towel several times. She was still unconscious. I grabbed her phone and dialed Mysie's number, instantly informing the rest of our friends.

"Sup, drama queen?" Mysie said as she picked up the phone on the fourth ring.

"Mysie, it's me, Sophronia," I attempted to sound optimistic, although my tone was tinged with fear and anxiety.

"Soph, are you alright? You sound a little anxious. " I could sense her nervousness and impatience in her voice.

Taking a deep breath, I explained her about Ivy's condition. She hung up, claiming she'd be there in five minutes. I resumed rubbing Ivy's feet. "Ivy, please get up!"

There was a knock on the door after a few minutes. I opened it, revealing a concerned Mysie, Sapphire, and two university nurses.

"Boys are making arrangements in the infirmary. Let's hurry up and get her there!"

Ivy was paler than usual. Her lips were chapped and pale. Her breathing had slowed somewhat, and she still had a temperature. We were all concerned and apprehensive. I noticed Mysie, who appeared to be on the verge of tears but kept her composure. Seeing her sister in such a state was difficult for her. Saphy and I, on the other hand, did our hardest to remain calm for Mysie but failed terribly.

It had been 10 hours since Ivy had passed out. We had to admit her to the hospital since the infirmary nurses couldn't find out what was wrong with her. All we could do was pray as the doctors attended to her.

It was 5 in the morning, and no one had eaten anything yet. Intense worry had sucked up all of our appetite and satisfied our thirst. Ivy's parents were in even worse shape. In the meantime, her parents called, and Mysie, overcome with anguish, informed them about her sister's situation. They were determined to visit her and arrived in a matter of hours. They were filing vital documents and going through the motions at the counter.

I cast a glance around the hospital room at each of the people waiting to learn about Ivy's condition. Ryder consoled Mysie as she sobbed in his arms. Sapphire was behaving in the same way with Felix, after all, Ivy and Felix had been close friends since high school. Austin and Damien sat on the bench, while I stood outside Ivy's room, praying for her.

The ICU door burst open, revealing Ivy's doctor, Dr. Matthews. We all raced up to him, eager to hear what he had to say. He took a long, deep breath and said, "Ivy had food poisoning, but she's out of danger now. Don't worry. Is she allergic to anything? " The newly fed information was enough to make us hold our breaths, and heck, it did!

Mysie was quick to reply, "Yes, she is extremely allergic to nuts, and raisins. She frequently gets diarrhea and vomiting after eating it."

Dr. Matthews nodded before continuing, "Yes, we discovered allergic patches in her blood. She had been passed out for a long time due to excessive dehydration. We've given her antibiotics and anti-allergic meds to help her recuperate more quickly."

"When will our daughter open her eyes, Dr. Matthews? " I was completely unaware, when her parents came on the scene. Her mother's face was adorned with dried tears. Her father appeared weary, his brow creased, and his eyes glittering with hope as he listened to his daughter's condition.

Dr. Matthews exhaled, his spectacles firmly in place on his nose, "We have no clue when she will open her eyes, and I apologize for that. It could take a few hours, but I'm confident she'll be completely alright within few days. " He then excused himself, leaving us all in the pool of mixed emotions.

"Bella, our girl is safe. She is going to be all right. Have faith in God. " Jeff, Ivy's father, gently kissed her wife's head and drew her into a loving embrace.

Sapphire and I were successful in sending them back to rest and freshen up, which they desperately needed. Damien's house was where Ivy's parents were staying. Later, Saphy accompanied Felix to a nearby café to cheer him up; he also resembled a hideous monkey with cowlicks all over him. So, I was the only one who stayed in the hospital, along with Austin, who hadn't left his spot. Saphy said she'd bring us our meal from there.

I took a seat next to Austin, but he seemed to be deep in thought. I called out his name three times, but received no response. I softly shook him, which caused him to flinch.

"Huh?" His brows wrinkled; his face flushed with befuddlement.

"I've been calling you, but you were spaced out." I cracked a smile.

He flung his arms around me and drew me into a tight hug seemingly out of nowhere. His unexpected act stunned and stiffened me. I was going to back away when I heard him sobbing in my ears and decided against it.

"Austin? Ivy is going to be fine. Don't worry! Austin? " I inquired softly, but he didn't respond. Something moist on my shoulder prompted me to stroke his back in a comforting manner. I had no idea why he was sobbing, but knowing that the reason had to be significant, I did my hardest to put my insecurities aside and assist him. After all, I was his friend!

"Soph, it's entirely my fault. I'm to blame for everything. I'm the one who's responsible for Ivy's situation. I'm so sorry, Soph. I'm really sorry! " I pulled him apart and forced him to face me. His eyes and nose were a little red, and his cheeks were puffy and red. Even though he wasn't sobbing anymore, his eyes were still glassy.

"What exactly happened? What are you apologizing for?"

"Actually, Ivy and I went to an ice cream parlor on Friday night. I was the one who ordered our ice creams, and Ivy informed me of her nut and raisins allergies. I was on the phone while ordering a Tutti Frutti for her, and it just... It had just slipped my mind. I failed to inform them, and she ate the ice cream. If I had only paid attention, none of this would have happened. She'd be all right. She'd be with us, laughing about, cracking jokes, and teasing me, but my one blunder cost her her life. I'm extremely sorry... I'm extremely sorry. " Tears streamed down his cheeks one after the other.

I wiped his tears gently, rubbing his back in a soothing manner, "Austin, relax! It's not your fault. It's not anyone's fault. Ok? It was just a mere coincidence, and everything simply occurred," I sighed, running my hand through my unkempt locks.

"What counts now is Ivy's well-being and speedy recovery. So, just put it out of your mind and pray for her. Austin, guilt is a very overwhelming emotion. Don't let it reside in your heart, otherwise you'll never be able to forgive yourself. " He was wracked with remorse, and I couldn't blame him. In his position, anybody would be. After all, we are all humans, and expressing emotions, as well as guilt, is in our nature.

"Guilt is the worst emotion a person can have. When you're pleased, you smile; when you're unhappy, you cry; but when you're guilty, you point the finger at yourself. You can't think straight, and there's a lot more. It has the ability to ruin you, create terrible memories, and inflict a great deal of pain on you. You'll find serenity sooner if you let it go quickly. " I turned to face him, only to find him looking me down.

He squeezed my hand lightly, "Thank you, Soph. I feel much better now. I'll probably go for a walk outside. " He rose up and ran his hand through his hair.

He halted in his tracks after a few steps, returning his gaze to me, "You know, you sounded like you've lived through these raw feelings." I stayed silent, smiling as he walked away.

"I didn't just live it, I was drowned-perished by it; to such an extent where there was no point in surviving, but it looks that it's not always up to you to pick your fate," I mumbled as I rested my head against the wall before falling into a deep slumber.

"Just kill us, please. I beg you. It's better to die by your hands than the hands of those rascals. Please, my child. Just close your eyes, and do it. Free us from this agony. I beg you... Please set us free..." A young woman, with his husband, and a toddler in her hands, cried, and begged to kill them. She sobbed and sobbed, her gaze falling on the two most important people in her life. How could life be so cruel to them? It had only been a year since she had given birth to the lovely angelic baby boy, and her child had yet to experience the outside world. She was devastated, shattered, and hopeless, but she was also furious. She was enraged, a mother's fury directed at God; she bombarded him with questions, taunted him, questioned his justice, and spewed her own contempt. That wasn't the life she imagined when she married the guy in front of her, whose eyes were bloodshot not from weeping, but from waking up countless nights to assure the safety of his family; yet that was the moment he was on the verge of losing them to those cold-hearted bastards.

"I'm so sorry. I can't do this! This is not me. I'm not a monster. I can't kill anyone. No... No... Please just no... Leave me, let me go. My home is waiting for me. Mamma, dadda, cherry-merry? Where are you all? Save me! Just get me out of here. " The young girl, no more than seven years old, sat in front of them, gripping her knees and wailing as if there were no tomorrow. She couldn't take her gaze away from the peaceful sleeping toddler in her mother's arms. That tiny creature was her soul bliss, and she would not, under any circumstances, kill her peace with her own hands; but, did she have a choice? No, of course not! Either she or those nasty laughing bastards who had no pity on any human had to kill them.

"C'mon kitten, kill them. KILL THEM NOW! OR ELSE YOU KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN, DON'T YOU, MY LITTLE KITTEN? " The man with the red-yellow teeth, tatted body, and several piercings yelled at the girl, causing her to shudder and sob harder and louder. He yanked her soft brown locks and handed her a sharp pointed dagger already dripping with blood. The blood of the people, who were killed right in front of her eyes, and she did nothing to save them.

The bald man's repulsive voice reverberated in her head, making her shiver even more. "KILL THEM NOW! KILL THEM NOW! KILL THEM NOW! "

"NOO! " My eyes burst open, only to see the last two persons who had been having quite a few encounters with me.