Chapter 192: Patient 409: Vindication
Athena’s tears fell unbidden when she saw the bright color of Mrs. Mendoza countenance, patient 409, a sharp contrast to the previous near-death state of the aged woman.
She didn’t care for the police officials and people who turned to stare at her in surprise, wondering why she was crying so unabashedly.
They wouldn’t understand, she thought, wiping off the tears that refused to heed her command to stop falling. Her life’s work had been on the brink of being contaminated, being extinguished, and yet there stood a flicker of hope that maybe the gang’s plans would be foiled once again.
She was so engrossed with her thoughts, fighting to stop her tears from falling, that she didn’t notice when the female officer sat near her again, until the latter tapped her reassuringly on the shoulder.
"You see, everything is working well. I’m sure you’ll be out of here soon."
Athena nodded her thanks, fixing her eyes on the screen. Mrs. Mendoza was about to speak.
"Hello, my name is Mrs. Vanessa Mendoza. Some of you might be familiar with the name. My husband and I run the popular Mendoza’s Motors Company."
Patient 409’s voice was very steady and clear, and Athena’s heart warmed at seeing the woman full with life again.
"Well, I met Athena a few months ago upon her resumption at Whitman Hospital. At that time, I was already a patient there, afflicted with the Grey disease, just waiting for my death day because, as we were told, there was no cure. But then, she came, and everything changed."
Athena leaned in closer, her heart pounding.
"I was cured at the first trial..." Mrs. Mendoza paused, her voice thick with emotion as tears streamed down her cheeks, tears of gratitude mingling with relief.