"We're here to see Riele Downs, can you please tell us which room she's in?" she said hurriedly. If I didn't understand or was aware of the condition currently, I would've assumed she spoke rather rudely at the nurse

The hospital was quite busy; Either with doctors running from one ward/room to another or other white coat clothed doctors yelling instructions at nurses.

The door screeched open cutting me off and immediately the sounds of different feet scraping the floor reached my ears. I snapped my head over to the door only to find my friends standing there with their mouths wide open as if they just witnessed one of those myths our grandparents often told us, coming true

"Oh my God, Riele" Ella was the first person to break down. Before I could do anything, something obstructed my vision of the room as I felt arms around me, squeezing me tightly. The silent sniffles I heard made me realised who it was.

"Where's Lee and Daniel?" I asked to try and clear the dense air but as soon as the question left my mouth, the air became denser. Everyone had their mouths glued shut and their eyes driving away from meeting mine.

I breathe in before mustering up enough courage to ring the doorbell. I waited for about two minutes before ringing it again but no one answer. I began to knock heavily on the door in hope that they'll hear me and open the door but nothing happened.

I huffed in defeat looking around the street before looking back at the door. "Where could they be?" I asked out loud.

"Good Morning. Who do you request for?" a voice asked behind me. I whipped my head a hundred and eighty degrees before coming face to face with a woman of about sixty years or there about. Her grey hair was packed in a brown beanie with a few strands peeking out of it.

Her red flare trousers blew left and right due to the slightly windy weather, which she accompanied with a white blouse with several necklaces jingling around her neck that seemed to compliment her pale skin. Her blue eyes were still staring at me, hoping I'd answer

"I'm looking for the lady who lives here. Riele Downs" I said watching as she seemed to rack her brain for an answer which was evident from her wrinkled up forehead.

A light bulb seemed to light up in her head as she opened her mouth to talk "Oh, I know her. She was admitted to the hospital about two or three days ago..." she trailed off, obviously trying to remember how long it has been but I had other plans

"Hospital, what happened?" I asked though I knew about this before thanks to the blackmail man but he never gave me full details of what actually happened.

"Very bad. Very, Very bad" she muttered to herself for a while before looking up at me. "It seemed she fell from her wheelchair and then passed out from panic attack. I think her son was taken as well. I heard he was vomiting blood. What happened, I do not know" she replied, her eyes far away as if in a trance

I bit my lips in concern "Do you know which hospital they're in?" I asked hoping she would know

She pushed her round glasses farther up the bridge of her nose before replying "I don't know the name but I think it's called Emma... Emmaniel or something like that" she said looking exhausted from all the thinking she just did

"Emmanuel" I beamed before thanking her. I sped down the few steps on her pouch before stopping a cab and boarding it straight to the hospital. My heart seemed to try and break free from it compartment as the cab got closer to the hospital

'Calm down Sam. It's for Grandpa; Just play it cool' I tried to lighten up my mood which helped a little but once the cab stopped in front of the well-known hospital my heart jumped to the back of my throat as I got out of the cab but not before paying the driver

I tried to swallow down my anxiety but nothing helped. After great effort I took baby steps into the hospital till I got in front of the nurse at the reception. I managed to swallow the lump that formed in my throat before speaking

"Hello miss. I'd like to see Riele Down please" I said watching as her curtain of blonde hair was shifted away from her eyes before she spoke to me

"Name?" she requested. Her yellow eyes studying me

"Samuel Brown" I replied biting the inside of my cheek

She nodded before parting her lip gloss coated mouth "Room 12B" she said before I nodded and ventured down the hall I thought would lead me to the room. After minutes of walking I was face-to-face with a white door with *Room 12B* written in bold black letters.

Muttering a silent prayer I twisted the handle of the door before entering. Closing the door behind me, I came in sight with a woman lying on the single bed with white bed sheets, sleeping peacefully.

I walked over to her watching her peaceful state just as a thought crossed my mind 'Is it right?'. I gulped before running my head though my dark brown mass of hair, frustrated. "No, I can't do this" I muttered silently.

"But grandpa" I sigh before rubbing my eyes in exhaustion. "I have to do this. Grandpa is all I have; I can't afford to lose him. But is it right to actually risk the life of a family in the process?" I asked myself.

Having this inner conflict between my mind and brain, I didn't notice that Riele was awake. Until her voice rang cross the room, "Samuel? Is that you?" she asked, her voice seeing weak and hoarse.

Turning to face her, my heart thumped loudly in my chest. 'God help me' I thought before replying "Yes, Riele. It's me" I smiled weakly watching as her face lit up a little.

"What are you doing here and how did you know I was in the hospital?" her brows furrowed up in confusion.

"I went to your house then after several knocks on your door a sixty year old woman informed me that you were here, including the kids" I explained before taking a sit on the white plastic chair at the foot of her bed.

"Oh, that's Lillian. She lives next door. Very nice of her though" she smiled making me smile as well.

"Where are the kids?" I asked seeing as the room was empty. I knew that Lee must be in another room but where are other children

A frowned danced on her lips making me feel bad for asking the question "Lee got poisoned, Daniel is with him currently but Mary got kidnapped and we still can't find her" she replied

A gasp left my lips in shock "What? For how long has she been kidnapped?" I asked as she moved to reply but got interrupted as she began to cough uncontrollably. I panicked then ran for the small table beside her bed.

Grabbing the jug and glass cup, I poured the content of the jug into the cup before handing it to her. Thankfully, she was able to drink it and fortunately, calmed down. "I'm so sorry. I should never have asked" I apologised

"No it's ok. She has been gone for about a week or so. I'm not really sure" she said running her hand through her hair which stuck to the sides of her head due to the sweat that rolled down her face. My mind went back to the blackmail man and I shivered in fear

"Let's forget about that, why did you come here though?" she asked making my heart thunder in fear.

I hesitated but before I could register what was happening, my mouth moved in its own accord. "I'm here to update you on the sacrifice. Grandpa and I found something that may help Jace regain his memory" I said

Her almost empty eyes seemed to spark up. Her lips curved up into a smile making me hate myself the more. Sitting up with great difficulty, she replied "Really? How?" she smiled so wide, I wondered if her face hurt her

"Well... According to what we found, it seems like the only way is for you to die. That's the sacrifice Riele. YOU have to die" I explained. The smiled on her face tugged downwards. I could almost feel her walls scattering.

"I-I have to d-die?" she asked looking up at the cracked up ceiling of the hospital room. Her hands began to shake and immediately the machine next to her began to beep loudly as she found it harder to breathe properly

I stood up from the seat, rushing over to her side "Riele? Riele? Are you ok?" I shook her but she proved unresponsive. I swallowed the huge lump in my throat 'What have I done?'. Just then Several people came rushing in, all dressed in white coat or white gown.

"Sir we might need you to excuse us" a nurse said before ushering me out towards the door. The last thing I saw before the door was slammed in my face was Riele with an oxygen mask on her face and tears rolling down her cheeks

Heyyy guys.... Hope you all enjoyed this.

I just want to say a big thank you to those of you who shared my book, Magnificent; I really appreciate it; and to those of you who haven't, this is an opportunity for you to

Love you guys so much

Stay safe♥