She rushed into the reception and spoke with the receptionist. The nurse was too busy attending to other matters that she hasn't looked her way since Ismena started trying to get her attention.
"I'll be with you shortly, ma'am, I just need to get these files across first. Kindly wait a few minutes, please." She spoke methodically without looking up, as if it was a poem she is very used to reciting.
Before Ismena could try to explain how impatient she was, Wolfaraine stepped forward from behind her and leaned into the counter. He took the woman's jaw and tilted it upwards until their eyes met.
The nurse's eyes widened to unbearable degrees as she was met with the most unsmiling, intimidating face she has ever seen in her entire face.
"You will leave everything else you're doing and attend to her, human nurse. Do you understand me?" His tone was calm, but his message was not.
The nurse gulped down saliva. Twice.
Fear clearly visible in her eyes, she cleared her throat, "O-Of course." To Ismena, she asked, "P-Please, what c-can I do for you, ma'am?"
Wolfaraine let go of her jaw then, and stepped back. His face blank, he crossed his arms and watched quietly.
"My father was brought here. He h-had an a-accident. I want to know which ward he was taken to."
The nurse requested her information with the enthusiasm of someone who is eager to please. Ismena provided all the necessary pieces ofinformation, and the nurse told her which emergency room her father is in and which ward it's located in.
Ismena thanked her before she and Sandra hurried away from the reception towards the direction the nurse gave. Alphose and Wolfaraine spared the nurse one more glance before they turned and followed the ladies.
Immediately they were out of sight, the nurse took permission from her co-workers and hurried to the bathroom to go relieve her bladder. She'd almost peed herself!
Minutes later, Ismena was hugging a woman that looked exactly like her but a little bit older and a teen who looks like her too.
She held her mother and sister in a family hug, while her mother cried uncontrollably. Ismena stopped crying, choosing to stay strong for her mother. That's the only way to console her mother.
"I was at the s-school when I got the call that he'd been h-hit by a car..." Amelia sobbed, when her daughter asked for details, "I thought it was a prank call, a wrong number. But, they described my husband to me and it was true. They'd already called an ambulance so, I came straight to the hospital. I tried getting you o-on the p-phone over and over—"
"I'm so so sorry, mother. I wasn't with my cellphone. I came as soon as I heard."
"But, you took so much time, Ena..." Valentina pointed out, her lips quivering because she was trying her best not to cry. Like Ismena, she knows that she has to stay strong for their mother.
Ismena shook her head miserably, "I came as soon as I heard, Tina. I was coming from a...very far place."
"New York?" She asked in a tiny voice.
Ismena spared her companions a teary glance before she nodded her head, "New York."
Her sister hugged her again, holding her tightly. "I'm so glad you're here now."
"How is father doing? Have you heard anything?" Ismena asked no one in particular.
"The surgery took all night. The doctor finally came out an hour ago and talked to us. He said father is out of surgery now, but they aren't allowing us to see him." Valentina answered, sniffling softly.
"Why?" Ismena was confused.
"Something about him still being in a very critical stage or something. They said we'll be able to see him in a few hours."
"Okay, okay, that works. No problem. We just wait, right?"
Valentina nodded her head. Ismena nodded too, before she led her family towards the seats and they all sat down. Amelia wiped her tears, and that was when she noticed the people Ismena came with.
"Oh, God. You came with some people and I wasn't even aware of it..." She said apologetically.
Sandra walked forward then and hugged the older woman. Afterward, she sat beside her, holding her hand.
Amelia looked at the two men who did not look like they belonged here at all. They were dressed in all black long suits that were designed to look like a robe, it was confusing. But, their dressing made them look like two huge, muscular assassins.