Author's note:this chapter introduces some new ideas I guess, kind of turning the plot around in a different way. I hope you like it. And… I know I have absolutely no right to do this, considering what a terrible job I have done at updating, but I'll do this anyways, because I live off reviews. Three reviews please, and then chapter 13 :) Sorry. I hope you enjoy this…
Chapter 12
The doctor didn't know how to reply. She came over to DW, looking pretty devastated herself, and put an arm around her. DW shook the arm off her shoulder and solemnly walked over to her older brother's broken, half-dead body. She felt hot tears gushing out of her eyes as she whispered, "This is my fault. All my fault."
"No it's not," Arthur tried speaking out, "DW, it's okay. It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself," of course, no words came out. He watched desperately as a doctor led his sister away, helping her back down onto the cot. He felt odd staring at his body from outside of it. Over the last few hours he had discovered that he was able to walk around through walls, objects and people without anyone seeing him, even though he could clearly see himself. "Come on," he sighed, trying again, "Can't you see me? Can't you feel some sort of presence, or whatever I am right now? DW, can't you hear anything?" he shook his head, knowing that there was no point. He has read and watched movies about out-of-body experiences before, but he has never actually believed in them. "So ghosts are real," he announced to himself, somewhat sarcastically "And I am one of them. And to think, all this time, I thought they were made up." He stared back at his deformed body. "At least I don't feel as awful as I look," he muttered with sarcastic optimism.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"Great to see you again, Katie," the familiar, mocking voice laughed slightly. Kate popped her head up, afraid to meet the eyes of its owner.
"Paul," she whispered.
"The one and only," he taunted. He enjoyed seeing the fear in Kate's eyes. She didn't speak. "Kate, do you remember what I told you about letting out that girl?" his tone, full of obviously fake patience, reminded Kate of how Paul talked to her when she was smaller.
"That girl," Kate stammered, trying to build up courage "is my sister."
Paul raised an eyebrow, "And that idiot who drove off a cliff… let me guess, he's your brother?"
"Actually, yes," she replied, "And he's not an idiot."
"Aw, how cute, Katie, you're getting all defensive," Paul snarled. He held her gaze, intimidating her. "What about us, Katie? Lola, the others and me? Aren't we like family to you? Weren't we the ones there for you, taking care of you, protecting you from your alcoholic daddy?" his tone gained anger as he spoke, "Why would you let us down like that? Don't you give a shit what happens to us? These guys are more than we've ever dealt with. Ever. And you set them against us. Thanks to you, we're all going to die now!"
Kate stood up. "I'm sorry Paul, I really am. But DW is my sister. When I went down to give her the tray of food… have you even seen her? I have never seen a girl look so bruised and scratched and cut before! It broke my heart. And when I found out that she was my sister, you know there was no other option for me…" Kate could see the anger disappear from Paul's eyes. "If you were in my place," she added quietly, "I know you would do the same thing." With that, Kate turned around and walked away. She couldn't help remembering the frightening stranger's words: "Don't let anyone out. And if you do, you're dead."
KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP
"HELLO?! Can't anybody see me? Dammit!" Arthur shouted as he ran around the hospital, hoping to find someone that would notice. "ANYBODY?" Arthur popped his head through the door of a crowded waiting room, the people all staring up at the TV screen in excitement.
"And the search goes on for the others involved in the car accident that has left a young man, now identified by police as Arthur Read, hospitalized," the reporter spoke through the screen. "The hospital has told media that Read's conditions are serious, and his chances of survival are very slim."
"Oh, come on, that's bullshit…" Arthur grumbled, "I'm not gonna die…" Then he remembered what his body looked like. "On second thought…"
"Police are currently investigating the cause behind this car chase which has been the subject oif almost every conversation in our little town," the reporter continued, "Muffy Crosswire, Elwood City News. Now we'll be getting into sports with Pete Hollinger. Pete?" "Thank you Muffy. Today in sports - "
"Muffy a reporter?" Arthur shook his head, a slight smirk on his face. Look at me… the talk of the whole town. I am quite the celebrity, Arthur thought sarcastically. Now, how the hell do I get back into my body? He walked back into the hallway, remembering how much he hated hospitals. As he reached the front hospital, a shady figure wearing a tight hood caught his eye. "Son of a…" Arthur muttered under his breath as he realized who it was. "Hey! Where the hell do you think you're going? Get the hell back here you son of a bitch!"
The figure turned around. Did he hear me? Arthur thought. The man walked towards him, staring him straight in the face. "I'm gonna kill you," Arthur threatened, "I swear." The man did not seem to react, as though he has not heard. He kept walking towards him. "Don't pretend you didn't hear me you piece of shit. When I wake up the first thing I do - " just then the man walked right through Arthur. "What the hell?" Arthur turned around to find the man standing across from a doctor - the one that was in the room with DW.
"Paul, please tell me you didn't do this…" she said, her voice low.
"Okay, Dr. Parker, I did not do this," Paul replied.
"Tell me the truth Paul. What the hell did you do?" she sighed.
"Rachel - " Paul shook his head, "Sorry. I mean, Julie. I didn't have a choice. That guy helped the girl get away. If I didn't try to stop him, Bob would kill me, and Lola and everyone else. What was I supposed to do?"
"You were supposed to call the fucking cops, Paul. Do you know what they've done to this girl?" Dr. Parker half-shouted.
"Yes, thank you, I am well aware of what Bob does to little girls. But the cops? What the hell are you smoking?" Paul yelled, traces of anger beginning to show in his voice.
"Keep it down, Paul," she said coldly.
"Come on Rachel, what do you want from me, dammit? You refuse to see me for three years, now you're talking to me like I'm some sort of murderer…"
"I refuse to see you for a reason, Paul. That boy is going to die. Because of you. And you know Bob is going to find Kate, and DW, and after torturing them until they're unconscious, he'll kill them. Because of you. And you're saying you're not a murderer?"
"What do you want me to do, turn against my friends?"
"Your friends?"
"People I owe my life to. You want me to turn them in to the cops?"
"What I want, Paul, is for that poor family to stop suffering already. And I want you to realize your mistake and fix it. But I never get what I want…" with those words, Dr. Parker walked away, leaving Paul standing in the middle of the large foyer.
"What the hell?" Arthur repeated.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"Are we ready?" Dr. Parker asked as she walked into the operating room.
"Yes, doctor," replied the team of surgeons.
"DW?" Dr. Parker looked at the terrified girl, "Are you alright?" DW nodded. "Okay," Dr. Parker took a deep breath, and gave DW anaesthetics. DW looked up at the doctors standing over her, took one last glance at Arthur and gave in to the desire to sleep.
"Dr. Parker?" one of the surgeons spoke up.
"Yes?" she said without taking her eyes off what she was doing.
"I really don't think this is necessary…" the surgeon spoke hesitantly, "I mean, there is such a small chance that this surgery will be successful. And this procedure might harm the girl. Considering the patient's chances of survival, doing this is just being very unfair to both of them."
"Dr. Wesley, I don't want to hear it," Dr. Parker snapped, "Just do your job."
"I don't get why you - "
"Just do your job!"
DWADWADWADWADWADWADWADWADWADWADWADWADWADWADWA
That was weird, Arthur thought about the conversation he has just witnessed, maybe being invisible isn't all that bad…
Arthur wandered back to the operating room. "Oh god…" he muttered, seeing himself lying cut open on an operating table. He turned to DW, who was also lying on an operating table, also cut open. "You know, you really didn't have to do this," he told her sadly, as though she would be able to hear. Arthur couldn't watch, and left the room. He reached another waiting room, watching as a man about his age persistently bothered a receptionist.
"You have to tell me what room!" he insisted, "Please, this is very important. I have to see him."
"I told you, he is currently in surgery. I am afraid you're going to have to wait until tomorrow," the receptionist answered in frustration.
"Just tell me the - " he cut himself off. Arthur watched as the young man turned around to face him. "Arthur?" he asked in shock.
