CHAPTER 67: A GHOST THAT RESEMBLES AVELINA

Lyra’s brows furrowed at what Lewis had said. "What happened to that doctor?"

She opened a drawer, took out her stethoscope, and draped it around her neck.

Lewis leaned in and spoke in a low voice. "He was stabbed four times. She aimed for his groin. The doctor survived, but I’m pretty sure the trauma will stay with him."

"Ah... no wonder you’re so uneasy," Lyra said. "Let’s go, Lewis."

They walked together toward the patient’s room. As they reached the door, Lyra glanced down and read the name on the chart.

"Ivy Burn."

Before entering, they paused at the observation window to check on the patient’s condition.

She was lying asleep on the floor, even though a fully prepared bed lay nearby.

Lyra held the file and reviewed the procedures that had already been carried out.

"They’d started her emergency contraception and post-assault care... good," she murmured softly.

"We’ll check the wounds, see how they’re healing."

She turned to the nurse who had followed them. "Has she had breakfast?"

"She already ate this morning," the nurse replied.

"Does she usually eat well?"

"It depends on her mood, Doctor," the nurse said. "When she has one of her outbursts, she throws all the food away."

"Okay," Lyra said, turning to Lewis. "Let’s go in."

Lewis murmured a quick prayer under his breath before stepping forward. The nurse swiped the keycard and unlocked the door.

As the door opened, Lewis placed a hand on Lyra’s shoulder.

"Let me go first," he said, playing the gentleman.

Ivy didn’t move as they entered the room. Lyra signaled to the two nurses, and together they lifted Ivy onto the bed so she could be examined properly.

Lyra took out a small penlight and checked her pupils, then placed the stethoscope on her chest and listened to her heartbeat.

She paused before moving on to examine the injuries to Ivy’s lower body.

"Lewis, turn around," she said.

He understood at once and turned his back without question.

Lyra knew she should have obtained the patient’s consent before examining such a private area. But she was worry that if Ivy woke up, the girl might attack someone. For now, this felt like the safer choice.

Ivy was still fast asleep until the end of the procedure.

Next, they went straight to forensics to see if the DNA results were in. If there was a match, it would be handed over to the police to start the hunt for the attacker.

Lewis let out a relieved breath, grateful that the day had passed without incident.

"See you again tomorrow," he said.

Then he turned to the nurses assigned to monitor Ivy.

"If anything happens, contact Dr. Ashford before me."

Lyra shot him a deadly look, knowing he was trying to dodge because he was afraid of Ivy.

"Okay, okay," he amended quickly. "Contact me or Dr. Ashford."

After that, they went their separate ways, and Lyra went to the mother-and-child clinic to start her usual rounds.

At noon, Lyra walked over to another building to meet her father. She stopped in front of his office and knocked, but there was no answer.

Since it was already lunchtime, she figured it would be fine to call him instead.

The phone rang twice before he picked up.

"Papa, where are you? Want to join me for lunch?" Lyra asked. The sound of traffic came through the line.

"I’d love to, but I can’t right now." Alex replied, his voice tense. "I’m on my way to Dominic’s school."

Lyra’s brows knit together. "Did something happen?"

"Yes. The teacher filed a complaint," he said. "I’ll call you back later, okay?"

"Okay... I’ll drop by after work." Unease settled in Lyra’s chest as she hung up.

That evening, after work, Lyra went straight to Alex’s office again. This time, Dominic was inside with him.

"What happened to you, Nick?" she asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. She bent down in front of him, gently tilting his head until their eyes met.

Dominic’s eyes were red from crying, though he had already calmed down by then.

When Lyra asked, his eyes grew teary again.

"I saw a ghost, but nobody believed me," he said.

"Yes, that’s why," Alex added, rubbing the space between his brows. "He got into an argument with his classmates over it, and it ended in a fight."

She was puzzled. Nothing about it made sense, and Dominic had never caused trouble before.

Still, she felt sorry for him, wondering what could have made him think he had seen a ghost.

"Tell me, what did that ghost look like?" she asked gently, pretending to be curious to put him at ease.

"It was Mama’s ghost... with only one eye. It’s terrifying!" he said. He stared at his sister, waiting for her reaction.

But when Lyra froze, his fell in disappointment.

"You don’t believe me either."

"No, no—that’s not what you think," Lyra said quickly. "Um... maybe you can tell me where you saw her?"

She forced a small smile, encouraging him to continue.

"I saw her beyond the school gate. She was just standing there, staring at me. Mama is dead, so it must be her ghost!"

Alex leaned back in his chair and let out a tired sigh. "Nick told me the same thing. If he were making it up, his story would keep changing but Nick’s been consistent."

Lyra looked at her father, worry flickering in her eyes.

"What should we do, Papa? Should we call a shaman?" she asked, scratching her arm as goosebumps rose at the thought of a ghost.

"A shaman? There are no ghosts in broad daylight. I’m sure what he saw wasn’t one..."

Alex barely finished his sentence before Dominic’s eyes welled up again.

"You don’t believe me either," he cried, making the situation even worse.

Lyra quickly patted her brother’s back. "Calm down, big boy. You’re not a baby anymore. Just listen to what Papa’s trying to say."

Hearing his sister call him big boy gave Dominic the courage to hold himself together. His crying stopped, though he still sobbed quietly.

"Thank goodness Lyra’s here," Alex muttered in complaint. "Otherwise, my head would already be splitting."

Then he continued what he had been trying to say.

"I think someone was trying to frighten him... or lure him out of the school. Who knows, maybe someone intended to kidnap him."

At the mention of kidnapping, both Lyra and Dominic froze, remembering how terrifying it had been when they were kidnapped.