Chapter Four
The nursed paled when they realized they forgot to cover up the bruises and scratches on her wrists.
She looked towards her brothers to see the shadow man laughing behind them.
There were white circles that seemed to shine where his eyes were supposed to be.
His mouth morphed into a big menacing smile that reminded her of the cheshire cat.
They won't want you now. Too damaged. You would just be better off dead.
Verena winced at his words and focused her gaze on the chipped marble floor beneath her.
Meanwhile, Praxis felt his blood simmering. It was already apparent that his little sister was being mistreated there. He was going to rip apart all the doctors and nurses in the building.
The nurses looked nervous and fidgety. Even the receptionist looked nervous at the stares of the tall and brooding men standing in the lobby, coming to the realization that their sister wasn't being treated well in the psychiatric hospital.
"She did it to herself." The older nurse blurted out.
Verena didn't even react to the nurse's accusation. She expected it. It was also partially true as she had damaged her own skin by repeatedly dragging her nails over her wrist and arms repeatedly. The bruises were being restrained and grabbed roughly by the nurses.
Praxis stared at her wrists with a look of vexation on his face. There were bruises wrapped around her wrists. That couldn't have been done by herself. She couldn't be a hundred percent sure about the scratches and cuts.
Praxis raised an eyebrow. "The bruises wrapped around her wrists say otherwise. Have you been hurting my sister?" he was grinding his teeth and fighting the urge to strangle the two nurses in front of him.
Both nurses looked alarmed as they saw Verena's brother growing more outraged the more, he observed his sister who wouldn't even look at him.
He saw that her hair was a mess with knots throughout her hair.
She had dark bags under her eyes and looked like she hadn't slept in days. She looked skinny. Way to skinny.
"Mr. Velton, I assure you she has been treated well. We have just had to restrain her at times. That naturally causes bruises. She often acts out." The younger nurse rushed out in a panicked voice.
Neither of the brothers was convinced. Davian was already planning to have the hospital shut down and ruin the lives of the doctors and nurses in this deplorable psychiatric hospital.
"We will be taking our sister right now. Come here, Verena." Davian snapped. Verena flinched at the lethal tone of his voice.
Verena hesitated. She hated it here but wasn't sure if she would be any better off with her brothers.
They threw her in here and never visited.
They never checked on her. Verena was convinced they had forgotten about her.
It wasn't like they ever really acknowledged her when she lived with them.
Now they were suddenly here, acting like they cared about her state and injuries.
Davian hardly even looked at her during her childhood, and now he wants her home.
They had to have a motive that wasn't going to go in her favor.
Praxis noticed her hesitation and relaxed his posture, so he wasn't as intimidating to her. "Come on, Verena. It's okay." He coaxed.
Verena reluctantly walked over to her brothers. Praxis gave her a small smile that didn't ease her nerves in the slightest. She didn't give him any response. Praxis sighed in defeat and motioned for her to follow him.
Davian followed but stopped once he got to the main doors. He turned and looked at the staff who looked anxious and afraid. "Consider yourselves out of job. This building won't be around much longer." He warned with a grin on his face.
After the brothers walked out the door, one of the nurses fainted. All the staff in the hospital felt their stomachs twist in knots as they knew their lives were going to be over.
When Verena exited the hospital, she was immediately engulfed by the cold wind. She began to shiver, and Praxis immediately noticed. He shrugged off his jacket and extended his arm to give it to his sister.
Verena immediately flinched away from him. Praxis couldn't help but feel dejected at his sister's behavior. He didn't want to imagine what was causing her to be so afraid, but yet again, it wasn't like he and his brothers ever treated their little sister with care.
Davian walked out the door and followed his brother and sister to the cars. "She's riding with me," Praxis announced.
"Whatever." Davian waved his brother off as he opened the door. Praxis opened the passenger door for Verena, but she shook her head, opened the back door, and climbed in.
Praxis sighed and looked at Davian, who was about to sit in his car. "I think I should take her to the hospital. Get her physically checked out since she is obviously hurt."
"Good idea. You take her. I'll see you back home." Davian said as he got into his car and closed the door.
Verena felt her heart drop into her stomach. She didn't want to go to the hospital. She has had enough of hospitals. Her brothers were most likely going to leave her there to be forgotten and tortured again.
She looked at the door handle and debated on yanking the door open and running. She could possibly lose them in the thick trees. Verena knew that she wouldn't survive very long out in the wilderness. She would certainly starve to death or be killed by a wild animal. Maybe that would be better.
Do you think you can escape? You will never escape what you have done. The figure whispered in her ear and began to laugh. Verena felt nothing but dread and tears burning her eyes. She knew it was hopeless. She would forever be trapped in her woeful existence.
"Verena? Are you okay? What is wrong?" Praxis asked in concern, interrupting the demonic shadow hovering over her.
Verena just shook her head in dismissal and looked out the window blankly. She didn't see the point of voicing her concerns. Her life never mattered to her brothers her entire life anyway.