Sunlight streamed into the ward from the window. The finger of the woman in bed twitched slightly, and the heart rate curve on the monitor next to her fluctuated.
Charis struggled to peel her eyes open. It felt as though her whole body was enveloped in plaster, and she couldn't move anything except her fingers.
She made a feeble, guttural sound from her throat, "Hello? Is anyone there?"
Catherine, who had fallen asleep on the table, suddenly awoke when she heard her daughter's voice.
"Luke, she's awake! Charis is awake! Come quick!" Catherine called at the door anxiously.
Then she rushed to the bedside and held Charis's hand tightly.
Now that her daughter had finally woken up, tears of joy rolled down Catherine's cheeks.
Charis felt as though her whole body was on fire. She had to pause a few times before she could finish one sentence. "Mom... Why... Why are you... Here?"
Catherine wiped her tears with the back of her hand and explained shakily, "You got into an accident after you entered the haunted house. Someone from the Larson Group took you to the hospital and called me and your father."
Just then, Luke rushed into the ward. He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at Charis worriedly. "How are you feeling now? Does it still hurt? Do you want me to call a doctor?"
Catherine shot Luke a warning glance, scolding him for having spilled the beans.
Only then did Charis realize that something was terribly wrong. She struggled to turn her head in the direction of the window and saw her reflection in the glass.
Realizing that she was wrapped in white gauze from head to toe, it all came back to her. She recalled rushing into the burning haunted house to save Brandon only to be trapped inside, choking on thick smoke and being burned alive by the hot flames.
Charis remembered that her body literally caught fire at the time. She clearly remembered the excruciating, searing pain.
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