The Forgotten Sin (Purifiers Book 1) (26 page)

           
"I want to thank you and your family for looking after our Iliana for the past few
days."

Iliana glanced at Father who smiled anxiously back.

           
"Yes... I have heard about that." Mother said raising an eyebrow at Iliana who
quickly looked away. "I know... I have treated you unkindly and... I do not deserve the
kindness that you have already shown me. Like carrying me all the way up here when you
did not have to, and sharing your home with Iliana." Mother continued. "But I want to ask
another favour of you... please, could you look after our little girl?"

Iliana’s eyes rose up to meet Mother’s, but her gaze was fixed on Kazuki. Iliana did not
even dare look at his direction. There was slight pause before his answer was disclosed in
almost a whisper, but could just about be heard over the hustle of people that roamed in the
corridor.

           
"Of course."

Iliana’s heart and stomach lifted as if she was in roller coaster that was about to fall into a
steep drop.

           
‘He would do that?’
She thought, surprised.

           
It was not only his answer that surprised her or gave her a flutter in the heart, but the
way he said it. Those two words made Iliana feel precious.

           
‘Maybe it was my imagination... There is no way he would think of me as being
precious especially when we always bicker about the silliest of things.’
Iliana said to
herself.
‘Although... I am starting to enjoy our bickering.’

Kazuki turned his back and began to make his way to Jung and Caitlyn who both stood and
waited at the entrance of another corridor leading to the exit.

           
"Take care." Mother said to Iliana.

Iliana held Mother’s warm hand for a brief moment then smiled at Father. Mother handed
back her bag that she had been holding for her before Iliana walked away
.

           
"Honey... what in the world is going on?" Iliana heard Father ask when she turned
her back to follow Kazuki’s lead, hoisting her bag over her shoulder.

           
"Nothing for you to worry about my love. Just be... be proud of our girl."

           
"I am so glad to have you back."

*** Chapter 11 ***

           
A silver Ford Focus parked just outside the hospital entrance as Jung, Caitlyn,
Kazuki and Iliana briskly walked out into the dusk air. Father Benjamin leant over and
swung open the front passengers’ door.

           
"Come on... get in!" He ordered.

Caitlyn got into the front passenger seat while Kazuki crawled in the back sitting behind
Father Benjamin. As Iliana waited for Jung to slide in after Kazuki, she heard a familiar
voice call out.

           
"Iliana!..."

Chloe was standing by Yuki by the benches. She was holding two bunches of flowers both
professionally made up with pink and lilac bows. Chloe was dressed in a simple flowing
black dress brushing just above her knees. A touch of makeup was delicately applied
making her look very attractive.

           
"Excuse me for a moment." Iliana said to the others in the car before quickly
dashing to Chloe.

           
"Hey... Chloe!... You look divine."

           
"Oh... thank you... I was supposed to go to a party but when I got there it was
cancelled. Apparently a few people went a little berserk!" Chloe explained. "It has been a
productive evening."

           
"Tell me about it!" Iliana muttered under her breath.

           
"What are you doing with those people?... And I am sure I saw Kazuki Williams get
in that car?"

           
"It..." Iliana started.

           
"It is... not what I think?" Chloe finished raising her eyebrows.

Iliana bit her lower lip not really knowing what to say to that.

           
"W-who are those flowers for?" She asked swiftly turning the conversation round to
a different topic.

           
"Supposed to be for Victoria and Claire. I went round their house after the cancelled
party to drop them off and to see how they were feeling. However, they both growled at me
and slammed the door on my face... strange I know. But since they are unwell I am willing
to forgive them for that... so I thought I would give one to your Mother and the other to
Mrs. Rawlins, because I am nice like that."

           
"Victoria and Claire
growled
at you?"

           
"Yep!... But that is not the only strange thing I have encountered this evening. On
the way here I decided to have a quick latte at Rosy’s Café shop, and I swear I saw them
again with the rest of their family."

Iliana frowned not understanding why that was strange as if Chloe had read her mind, she
explained in more detail.

           
"Okay, that was not the strange part... they were all heading to the County Hall with
crowds of other people. I wanted to go after them but they all kept grabbing other people on
the way and... now this is the strange part... they kissed them!"

Iliana’s eyes widened.

           
‘Victoria and Claire... are amongst them?’
She thought.

           
"They were kissing anyone they could find... an old man, a young boy... whoever
came close to them. And whoever they kissed just went and followed them." Chloe
continued then let a sigh. "What is going on with these people?"

Looking at Chloe Iliana frowned then asked her...

           
"That night at Lucas’s welcome back party... did you shake Lord Baddesley’s
hand?"

           
"After hearing what I had just said, you ask me that?"

           
"Please... just answer my question."

Chloe squinted her smoky made-up eyes whilst looking up the evening fresh sky as if
struggling to recall what had happened that night.

           
"Hmm... I think so... oh, actually... no, Victoria or Claire always jumped in front of
me when he or Lucas appeared at least ten yards in view of us!"

           
‘Chloe is not affected... thank god.’
Iliana thought with a sigh of relief.

           
"Chloe... I want you to take Yuki and go inside the chapel room in the hospital. My
Mother and Father are there... oh, and so is Mrs. Rawlins. Stay there until I call you."

Iliana headed towards Yuki, undid the simple knot she created with the lead which she had
tied to the bench and took it off Yuki’s neck. Yuki shook her body as if relieved to have it
off. Iliana knew Yuki hated leads but it was only used when she knew she was going to be
away from her for longer than an hour.

           
"W-what?... Why?" Chloe questioned.

A car horn tooted loudly a few times. Iliana could see Father Benjamin waving at her
eagerly. Iliana bent down to Yuki and hugged her. Her soft white fur brushed Iliana’s
flustered cheeks.

           
"I will see you soon Yuki." Iliana whispered then kissed the top of her head as Yuki
whined.

           
"Please Chloe... you must get inside quickly... You will be fine in there."

Iliana headed to the car when Chloe shouted out.

           
"Wait Iliana!... I thought dogs are not allowed in hospitals."

Iliana spun round as she reached the door of the car and yelled back.

"They are not!... But I am sure you can work your way round that!"

           
Father Benjamin drove towards the County Hall after Iliana hastily told them all of
what Chloe had told her. On the way Father Benjamin was filled in on the other matters
they have discovered. Iliana was surprised he could still drive normally when everyone took
it in turns to bombard him with all the information. She still has not even told them of Lord
Baddesley’s past yet and the fact that he is a Miracle like her.

           
Whilst everyone else continued to inform Father Benjamin Iliana glanced out the car
window. They were driving past the City centre where only a scatter of people roamed the
streets. It was much quieter than normal, maybe it was because half the people in the City
were at the County Hall. Iliana had never seen or been to the County Hall before,
apparently it was not far from the police headquarters. Both buildings stood just slightly
from the outskirts of the bustling City centre. The closer they drove towards it, the more
still the streets became until there was not a soul in sight. Just as they drove past Rosy’s
Café shop Iliana perked up on her seat, the same unusual feeling she felt just before Mrs.
Rawlins barged through the door at the hospital room, tickled the back of Iliana’s neck.

Iliana placed her hand up in front of Jung who was still nattering non-stop next to her in the
middle seat.

           
"Shhh!..." Iliana hushed.

           
Father Benjamin carried on driving at the average speed. The County Hall building
was just yards before them with a large fountain silhouetted in front of it. Silence swept
within the car with only the noise of the car engine humming along in the background.

           
"What is it Iliana?" Father Benjamin asked looking up at her in the rear view mirror.

           
"Somethi..."

           
Everybody gasped out loudly in unison. The back of the car suddenly began to lift up
into the air, only the two front wheels were running on the tarmac. Both Iliana and Kazuki
grabbed Jung’s arm to stop him from falling down towards the front window screen.

           
"I told you to put on your seatbelt!" Kazuki cried out grabbing the handle bar above
him with his other hand.

           
"I was not exactly expecting to be thrown around in the car!" Jung yelled back
sarcastically.

Everybody screamed as the car stood vertically up on the tip of it’s bonnet. Iliana held onto
the handle bar above her as tight as she could. She could feel the seatbelt digging into her
stomach and rubbing one side of her neck. It was the only thing restraining her from falling
forwards. The screeching sound of the metal that scraped the concrete ground was almost
deafening. Iliana could feel her grip round Jung’s arm was loosening and as the whole car
flipped right over, Jung slipt from her hand.

           
"JUNG!..."

           
Suddenly the car crashed heavily onto the ground upside down. The screams died
into silence. The four wheels were still rolling pointlessly up towards the sky. Wisps of
white smoke from the bonnet dissipated into the dark cool air. Broken glass littered the
middle of the road. Stirring back into consciousness Iliana could still feel the seatbelt
gripping her stomach. She looked up to only finds her legs dangling down to the dented
roof of the car. Both Father Benjamin and Caitlyn in front were slumped over the air bag
that had blown up. Jung’s body laid awkwardly between the smashed front window and the
front roof of the car. Blood dripped down one side of his forehead. Tears filled up in
Iliana’s eyes with the sight of them lying there so still. A lump grew in her throat and fear
ran through her veins.

           
‘Are they dead?’
Was the only question that circled round in her mind.

Iliana then turned to Kazuki next to her. Like her his seatbelt was the only thing that held
him back into his seat. His silver chain hung from his neck swinging slowly to and fro with
the silver cross pendant following the same movement. He looked so peaceful and
vulnerable with his eyes closed. Trying to get a grip of her emotional self Iliana decided to
release her seatbelt. With a loud thud she collapsed onto the roof. Groaning with the aches
and pain that rippled throughout every inch of her body Iliana slowly crawled over to
Kazuki then also released his seatbelt. A small groan slipped from his lips as he fell from
the seat. Iliana’s heart lifted with so much relief, her emotions got the better of her. Tears
ran uncontrollably down her face.

           
"Thank god!" She sobbed into her hands.

Iliana was about to turn to the others when the dented door behind her flung open and two
cold hands wrapped round her ankles. Iliana screamed as she was dragged backwards.
Broken glass scratched her face and body. She was then flung across to the other side of the
road, her back slammed down on the ground. Iliana cried out in pain. After a few moments
she slowly managed to pick herself up into a sitting position to only be greeted by a pair of
very shiny black shoes. Iliana followed the feet up to the body and face.