Chapter 4 - The Bitter Medicine
For a heartbeat, Maya couldn't breathe.
The little boy looked painfully thin. His gray sweater was stained and wrinkled. His bare feet were tucked tightly against his chest, his skin pale and translucent under the dim hallway light.
When he recognized Maya, a wave of profound relief washed across his bruised face.
Then silent tears began rolling down his cheeks.
He didn't sob out loud. He was too exhausted to make noise.
"Maya..."
He lifted one trembling, hollow arm toward her.
"Please... help me."
Maya dropped to her knees on the dust-covered floor.
"Oh, Noah..."
His arm shook violently as he reached for her apron.
"I'm so hungry," he choked out.
The heavy oil painting slipped from Maya's fingers.
It crashed onto the marble floor with a deafening crack, shattering the glass frame across the hallway.
The sound echoed down the quiet corridor, but Maya barely registered it.
"Noah... what happened to you?" she asked, her voice cracking. "Why are you in here?"
He tried to crawl toward her, but winced in agony before collapsing back against the cold concrete.
"She says... I'm bad," Noah whispered, his voice hoarse.
Maya swallowed hard, a terrible knot tightening in her throat.
"Who, Noah?"
She already knew the answer. But she needed to hear it from him.
"Celeste?"
Noah gave a tiny, weak nod.
"She gives me vitamins every night."
"What kind of vitamins?"
"They're... dissolved in water," he murmured, struggling to swallow. "It tastes bitter. Like metal."
May you like
Maya leaned closer, gently cradling his small, cold hand. "What happens after you drink it, sweetie?"
"My legs feel funny," Noah whispered, his eyelids fluttering shut. "I get cold. My heart gets slow... then I fall asleep."
