Chapter 4
Celeste's POV
"This isn't kidney transplant surgery."
At 2 AM, I was awakened by voices in the hallway. Through the small window in the door, I saw people moving coolers labeled with organ names.
Heart, liver, kidneys, corneas...
My blood instantly froze.
I carefully pressed against the door crack. Dr. Martinez was speaking in low voices with several strangers. They were speaking Spanish, but I could understand key words.
"In three days, that woman... complete harvest... heart buyer offered the highest price..."
"What about her family? Will they get suspicious?"
"No, they signed complete consent forms. Plus that woman isn't well-liked anyway. Even if she dies during surgery, no one will investigate deeply."
I trembled as I retreated to my room. This wasn't a medical center at all—it was a black market organ trade! Thinking of all those unusually detailed examinations these past few days... they were evaluating the value of my organs!
Damn it! I had to escape!
Just as I reached the door, Dr. Martinez's voice came again: "Watch that woman closely. Don't let her run."
My legs went weak. I retreated to the bed and dialed Allen's number.
"Hello?"
"Allen! Save me!" I whispered desperately: "This isn't a hospital—they want to KILL me! This isn't kidney transplant surgery at all. They want to harvest ALL my organs to sell!"
Silence on the other end for a few seconds, then Allen said impatiently: "Celeste, what are you making up now? Surgery is tomorrow and you're still telling stories?"
"I'm not making anything up!" I nearly cried: "Allen, PLEASE believe me just once!"
"ENOUGH! How selfish are you going to be? Vivienne has waited so long, and you want to back out again?"
I heard Dad's voice through the phone: "Who's calling?"
"Celeste's acting up again, saying something about organ traffickers." Allen handed over the phone.
"CELESTE!" Dad's roar came through: "How long are you going to keep causing trouble? Surgery is tomorrow and you're still talking nonsense!"
"Dad, please believe me... they really want to kill me! This place deals in organ trafficking..."
"NONSENSE!" Dad interrupted sharply: "You've loved lying since childhood! Now you want to escape responsibility again?"
Mom grabbed the phone: "Celeste! How can you be so heartless? Vivienne is so sick and you're making up such vicious lies!"
"If you dare run away, we'll disown you!" Dad threatened.
Footsteps approached outside. The door handle was turning.
"Please, I'm begging you..." I pleaded one last time.
"ENOUGH! Go to sleep and stop making trouble!" Allen hung up impatiently.
The door opened. Dr. Martinez entered with two large men, holding syringes.
"Trying to call for help?" Dr. Martinez sneered: "Useless."
I tried to run, but one of the men grabbed me. A rough palm covered my mouth as a cold needle pierced my vein.
The drug flowed into my body, and my limbs began going numb. Then darkness swallowed my consciousness.
I woke up on the operating table. Blinding surgical lights made me unable to open my eyes, my limbs strapped down with leather restraints.
"Perfect timing that you're awake," Dr. Martinez said, holding a scalpel. "Let's begin."
"Please... don't..." I tried to struggle, but the drugs left me unable to move.
The scalpel cut open my chest, and the heart-wrenching agony made me scream in despair.
"Scream all you want—no one can hear you," the assistant said coldly. "Our soundproofing is excellent."
They butchered my body with the skill of practiced killers. I watched helplessly as my own heart was carved out and placed in a cooler.
"This heart will sell for a million dollars," Dr. Martinez said excitedly.
"Liver eight hundred thousand, kidneys six hundred thousand, corneas two hundred thousand..." the assistant listed like inventory.
My consciousness grew fainter as I felt life ebbing away bit by bit.
Finally, my heart stopped beating completely.
Death brought no relief.
My soul floated in midair, watching my body being dismantled. Heart, liver, kidneys, corneas... every organ was packed into coolers, ready for shipment to various locations.
And my corpse, that hollow shell, was carelessly thrown into the basement with several other bodies.
My soul was bound to this broken shell, unable to leave. I could only watch helplessly as maggots began eating my flesh...
Three days later.
In the reception room of Sacred Heart Medical Center, familiar voices could be heard.
"Finally this day has come! Vivienne is saved!" Mom said excitedly.
"Yes, Celeste did the right thing this time," Dad was also excited.
Allen helped weak Vivienne walk in. But I noticed Allen's expression was different from usual—his brow furrowed, looking troubled.
"How are you feeling? Nervous?" Allen asked Vivienne.
"A little," Vivienne said weakly, then complained: "If only sister had agreed sooner. I've been dragging this out so long, my body keeps getting worse..."
"ENOUGH." Allen suddenly interrupted her. "Celeste already agreed. What more do you want to say?"
Vivienne was stunned. She hadn't expected Allen to speak to her this way.
"Exactly," Dad chimed in: "Celeste ultimately agreed. That wasn't easy."
"Right," Mom nodded: "After all, this carries significant risks for Celeste."
Allen looked at Vivienne: "This is the LAST time Celeste will sacrifice for you. After the surgery, you sisters are even."
Vivienne's face changed. She clearly hadn't expected to hear such words.
"Allen, what do you mean?" she asked tremulously.
"My meaning is clear," Allen said calmly: "Celeste has sacrificed enough for this family. After this surgery, she doesn't owe anyone anything."
Just then, Dr. Martinez emerged from his office, his expression looking somewhat complex.
Allen immediately approached: "Doctor, can we begin the surgery?"
