The bodyguard standing outside the ward searched my bag carefully. When he was satisfied that everything was in order, the other guard gave me a curt nod and motioned me inside. None of them noticed what I had hidden in the loose fold of my sleeve.
Inside, Ariella reclined on a large hospital bed, her back propped against the pillow. She wore a light blue gown that only highlighted the pallor of her skin.
Beside her bed, glass jars of red roses were arranged like trophies, their petals already curling at the edges. The sweet, cloying scent of the flowers clashed with the sharp smell of disinfectant, filling the room with a sickening fragrance.
Ariella's lips curved into a victorious smile as soon as she saw me. Her hand adorned with the thin line of a needle rested protectively on her belly, as though she were shielding something precious.
