The billionaire's beautiful marionette

Lucia's pov

The scream pierced the silence like a knife to the chest.

"Sophia!"

I bolted upright, the wooly blanket slipping from my chest as I bolted to her room where I left her Last night, heart slamming against my rib cage.

The air was thick- too thick- and in the dim light from the hallway I saw her.

She was cringing against the floor by the window,her little frame trembling,hands hugging her chest.

"Cece..." she groaned.

"It ....hurts..."

I rushed to her side in mere seconds, anxiety filling my head as I lifted her into my lap.

"How did this happen?"

"She was fine just yesterday!"

I silenced my thoughts as I felt her skin...it was clammy and burning up but yet she shivered like she was trapped in a tundra.

"Sophia, keep your eyes on me," I whispered, cupping her face.

"What's wrong? What's hurting?".

"My chest," she gasped."I can't...breathe.."

Another wave of anxiety washed over me.This time much stronger .

"Okay. It's Okay. I've got you baby."

I grabbed my phone with unsteady hands and dialed 911.My voice came out hoarse, panicked.

"My baby sister - she CANNOT breathe properly. She's burning up - please just hurry!"

The ambulance lights dyed the world in a frantic red and white. I sat next to her, clutching her hand as they raced through traffic.

"Her heart rate's too fast," the specialist muttered. "Blood pressure dropping - let's prepare the oxygen".

"Is she going to be alright?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"We'll do everything we can love," the woman said without looking up at me.

"Keep speaking to her. Keep her awake."

The woman continued.

I obliged.

"Soso," I murmured. " Stay here with me, okay? Remember our promise?"

Her eyes fluttered open."Always.... and forever..." she whispered with much effort.

"That's right. You're going nowhere."

I promised once more.

The emergency room was icy, sterile and loud - monitors beeping,voices yelling and machines humming in mechanical rhythm.

A nurse took her from me and I stood there for a moment, empty and shaking.

"Miss," someone said quietly.

"We need you to wait outside."

I nodded mindlessly and stumbled into the corridor.

Seconds turned into minutes. Minutes stretched into hours. I sat on a Stony chair with my arms wrapped tightly around my knees like a little girl. I couldn't cry. Not now. I had to be strong. I had to be useful.

A nurse appeared, clipboard in hand.

"Lucia Moretti?"

I scrambled to my feet."Yes.Is she -?"

"She's stable for now. But there's cause for alarm. We suspect acute respiratory distress, possibly made worse by previous smoke inhalation or trauma. We'll be running more tests."

"Whatever she needs," I answered quickly.

"Please."

The nurse hesitated for a moment.

"Do you have a health insurance file with us?"

"No, but she's just a little child. You'll still treat her right?"

She softened."She's receiving emergency care. But for long-term treatment - most especially advanced diagnoses and medication - we'll need either insurance information or an upfront payment."

I blinked. Twice. "uhh, I have...three hundred and fifty dollars. I can give it to you now."

She forced a tight smile. "Our payment department is just down the hall to the left. You can discuss options with them."

Options? There were few options for me to be honest. I didn't have a well paying job anymore.

"Can I see her?" I whispered.

She nodded and guided me to a small room.

Sophia looked even tinier in the hospital bed, her skin pale against the sheets. An IV snaked into her arm. Her eyes slowly opened as I sat next to her.

"Cece?" Her voice was just a whisper but I could hear her.

"I'm here,Soso." I stroked her hair back softly. "I'm right here baby."

"You were sobbing..."

I smiled, holding back brand new tears." No way,I'm too tough for that."

She gave a knowing smile,then frowned.

"It felt like the fire all over again...like I couldn't move...like I was stuck under a rock or something."

My chest tightened.

"Do you think the fire caused my sickness?"

"No," I lied calmly." it wasn't your fault. None of it was."

"But I saw a lady...from the flames..."

She whispered. " The lady was out to get me."

A chill crawled up my spine.

"She looked very threatening but somehow she was still beautiful."

"Baby," I said gently, " sometimes our brains play tricks on us when we're scared. It doesn't mean it's real."

"But it felt so real."

I couldn't say anything else. So I gently held her hand and murmured," I'll figure it all out. I swear."

After she went to sleep, I found my way into the hallway. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a warm glow on everything. I passed the billing office but refused to go in.

What was the point?

I leaned against a worn out vending machine and stared at the broken tile beneath my feet. I was running on luck - no money,a shitty job and an unclear future. And now my sister needed medical care I could barely afford.

A male nurse passed by me and paused

"Are you well,miss?"

I straightened. "Yes. I'm just...waiting."

He looked unconvinced but nodded slowly,then moved on.

I pressed my hands to my face and let out a loud sigh.

This city didn't care about little girls who hallucinated about fires or big sisters who used to dance until their feet hurt because it made them happy.

It didn't care about people like us.

But I did

And I would find a way out of this.even if it killed me.