Angel

Chapter Six

matteo's pov.

The snow crunched under the soles of my worn-out shoes as I trudged through the white landscape at nighttime. Behind me, yards away, the house where I was held captive for the past five years was burning. I tightened my arms around my baby sister and she made a whimpering sound that sounded more like a wheeze. She had been in and out of it when we walked through the tunnels.

"Shh, little devil," I whispered into her hair. "It's okay. I'm here. I'm here."

"Here, I'll take her," A guy, who was walking beside me yapping about some random shit I didn't pay attention to, offered for the third time, his arms extending to me. I jerked away before he could touch my baby sister with his filthy hands.

"Fuck off." I snarled. What's up with those men, thinking they can just take Angel from me? He held his hands in surrender and looked at me with a deadpan look as if to say 'I'm just trying to help, that's all.'

I walked past him, not giving any shit about him. At a near distance, I observed several varieties of cars. I let out a sound of relief as I noticed a private ambulance Dad mentioned. I picked up my pace to brisk walking.

"Help her now," I demanded as soon I finally stood before one of the doctors in casual clothing. The only sign was the cross sign on a band around his bicep. "She inhaled smoke and she passed out. She stopped breathing and I gave her chest compressions. It worked." I explained.

He nodded and asked me a few questions as he immediately pried Angel off me. I fought the urge to punch the innocent guy as soon as he touched her. I reminded myself he was trying to help her, not hurt her.

I felt empty and hollow as he took her from my arms. I wanted nothing more than to demand her back in my arms where I could always know she was safe. But I held myself back, knowing she needed emergency medical help and I was useless in the category.

He covered a small oxygen mask over her nose and mouth. The fog of her breaths appeared inside the see-through mask. I sighed in relief.

The pandemics were speaking to each other and I watched in silence as they fussed after Angel. I lifted my head to my surroundings for Mom, frantically pleading in my mind that she was okay.

Instead, I found Leo.

I sucked in a breath at the sight of my twin I haven't seen in years. He didn't see me. He stood stoic-faced with a few men and he had his arms crossed across his chest, his tattoo-covered forearms peeking out of his shirt and creeping up on his neck. His mouth moved harshly and it looked like he was giving out orders. He was firm, confident, and angry. Nothing like the other half I once knew five years ago.

Neither was I now, I suppose.

There was a pang in my heart as I thought about how different I would find him to be once I spoke to him. We did everything together once and we never left each other's side since we came out into the world together. Now we've been apart for five years.

"I should bring her to the hospital." the doctor said and I ripped away my eyes from my twin.

"I'll come with you," I told him firmly.

. . . . .

I didn't get an ounce of sleep. It was simply impossible.

It was six and thirty in the morning and the hospital was beginning to get loud. I lay wide awake on the hospital bed, wrapping an arm around Angel. A needle was stuck into her arm, connected to the IV drip. Her long, dark lashes fluttered against her reddened cheeks and her long black hair was spread out on the pillow around her like a halo.