I bet Rae still didn't know the truth. She was probably still believing the kidney inside her came from a healthy, innocent four-year-old boy. Believing that this stolen organ would guarantee her a long, healthy life.
Realizing this, some of my hatred toward her ebbed—just a little.
"Damn it! Room 8868! Call the police now!" My voice rang out sharply as I sprinted down the hall toward the room.
But I was too late. The door swung open just as I arrived and the group of men staggered out—sweaty, disheveled and fully satisfied. They were pulling up their pants, grinning to themselves, their eyes dull and empty like used-up husks.
Clayton moved swiftly, his expression cold and professional as he subdued each of them in turn. Within seconds, they were handcuffed and lined up against the wall, ready to be handed over to the authorities.
The air in the room was thick with the stench of sweat, alcohol and something darker. I stood at the threshold, hesitating, bile rising in my throat.
Rae lay sprawled across the bed, completely naked, tangled in sweat-dampened sheets. Her face was flushed, her lips curled into a lazy, intoxicated smile.
"Kai... that was amazing..." she murmured dreamily. "I want more..."
The words made my stomach churn, but I forced myself to approach her. Covering my mouth and nose with one hand, I shook her shoulder roughly. "Wake up, Rae! Wake up now! We need to get you to a hospital!"
She stirred lazily, rolling onto her side with a soft sigh. "Kai, this was my first time... you have to take responsibility for me, okay..."
I froze. Her first time?
The thought flickered through my mind for only a second—Rae and Kai had never slept together before?
But there was no time to dwell on it. Right now, the priority was getting her to the hospital. She was still my sister and I couldn't stand by and watch her die—no matter how much I despised her.
I dragged her into the car and sped toward the hospital, my fingers white-knuckled around the steering wheel. Halfway through the drive, Rae finally stirred awake. Stretching her arms above her head, she yawned lazily, her voice dripping with that sickly-sweet tone she always used when she thought she was the center of the universe.
"What's the rush, Sis? I just slept with Kai. Are you trying to crash the car and kill us both?"
Her shamelessness stripped away any lingering sympathy I might have had. Gritting my teeth, I tried to explain what really happened—that it wasn't Kai she'd been with, but a group of HIV-infected men.
But Rae only laughed, cutting me off before I could finish.
"Wow, Sis. You're really grasping at straws now, huh?" She leaned back in the passenger seat, smirking. "You're the one who slept with HIV-positive guys, but now you're saying it's me? Please. I was totally sober. I know exactly who I slept with—it was Kai. Don't believe me? Look."
She unlocked her phone and waved it triumphantly in my face, scrolling through a series of messages from Kai.
[Baby, you were amazing tonight.]
[You know exactly what I like—we're so in sync.]
[We went a little too rough tonight. My neck still hurts. Next time, let's make it even kinkier.]
I stared at the screen, speechless. The cruel irony left me breathless.
Kai had taken the aphrodisiac too and in his drugged state, he had mistaken me for Rae. Even now, he still thought the beating I gave him was some kind of twisted sex game.
Rae grinned, completely oblivious to how close she'd come to death. "See that? Kai and I are meant to be. You should really hurry up and divorce him—there's no place for you anymore."
Her eyes sparkled with malice, but her voice took on a syrupy sweetness as she leaned in closer. "Otherwise..." She paused, her grin widening. "I'll spread the word that you have AIDS. Let's see how long you can hold your head up after that."
I turned to look at her, any last traces of pity or sisterly affection dissolving into nothing. There was only cold detachment left.
But Rae, drunk on her own arrogance, only grew bolder under my silence. "What are you staring at?! Think you're better than me just because you're smarter? You've always looked down on me, haven't you?" Her voice climbed higher, shriller with each word. "But look at you now—a pathetic loser!"
She leaned back, her smile vicious. "Dad didn't love you, Mom didn't care about you, your precious Leon is dead and your husband can't stand you. Face it—you're nothing. Nothing but a miserable, worthless loser."
She threw her head back and laughed, the sound grating like nails on glass. "Me? I'm at the top of my game! I'm healthy, I'm beautiful and I'm about to marry rich. Kai will worship me—he'll treat me like a queen!"
I watched her spin her delusions like a spider weaving silk, her glee so blinding she couldn't see the web tightening around her own neck.
I couldn't help it—I laughed too. Cold, quiet and full of pity she didn't deserve.
"Alright then," I said softly. "I'll be waiting to see how that turns out."
