25Chapter Fifteen
Manfred
I rush to where I heard Franziska. I look at Edgeworth's room. The door is open. Apparently my daughter has been spending a lot of time in his room. It seems he helps her with her nightmares.
I go into the room turning on the lights. I blink a little bit at the sudden light. But then I look around.
Franziska is on the floor clearly passed out, and Edgeworth…
The boy is lying on the ground in a pool of blood.
I look at Edda who must have been aroused by Franziska's scream. She is pale and unsure of what to do.
"Go call an ambulance, woman," I snap. I have no time for politeness at a time like this.
"Yes sir," she says running to do that. I kneel down next to the boy. I feel for the boy's [pulse. It's still there. I sigh in relief. Most of the blood was still being stopped by the knife still in his stomach. The wound didn't look like it'd be fatal, but if the boy lost too much blood he'd die either way. It's hard to say how long he's been like this as well.
"My blood is on your hands; don't let my son's be as well."
I shake my head. Now isn't the time for stupid nightmares!
I go to the bathroom across the hall getting the first aid kit and bringing it back.
I suppose I should leave it for the doctors to deal with, but I can't just let him stay like this for however long it takes them to get here. I have to at least stoop the bleeding a little.
Luckily he'd gotten a hold of one of the smaller knives so the wound isn't large either. I suppose I have several things to be thankful for right now.
I slowly pull it out. Even in his unconscious state, he whimpers slightly. I apply pressure to his wound trying to help it close up at least a little.
It wasn't easy to pull his shirt off his body and wrap the bandage around his stomach. It's the best I can do for him right now.
I look over at Franziska. She seems fine other than having passed out. I check to make sure she didn't hurt herself as she fell.
"Nothing too bad at least.
It seems to take forever for the ambulance to make it. They load Edgeworth onto a stretcher and carry him to the ambulance. I pick upFranziska and follow. I'll need to be there, and I know she'll be very sad if she can't come along.
As we head to the hospital the paramedics ask questions about Edgeworth.
Though I answer their questions I'm drawn more to my own thoughts. How did something like this happen? How did a boy like Edgeworth get to this state.
It's simple, isn't it? This is because today is December 28th. The day teh boy's father died. The day I…
This boy suffers that loss deeply. After all, he was there. He may not have seen it, but he was there.
I know well enough that this whole event shakes him. That's why he grows pale when he sees an elevator and passes out even at the smallest turbulent or earthquake.
This boy is deeply scared, and I allowed this to happen to him. My own loss of sense had driven this boy to something even grown people hesitate to do.
It's impossible to know how our lives would be had Gregory Edgeworth not died that day. I wonder where we'd both be? Would I still have left the country again? That had been my plan after all.
All killing him changed was this boy, right?
And yet because of that choice I made our lives are now intertwined together.
It wasn't a choice though, was it?
There is no excuse for criminal behaviour.
And yet I can't right now. I know Franziska needs me right now. I can't abandon her.
So why did I allow this boy to lose his only family?
Why did I kill the man who stayed silent thought that exchange.
Because he'd brought up the first blow. He'd allowed Blaise to humiliate me in front of all those people. He'd humiliated me.
No other defense attorney had humiliated me quite the same way that Gregory Edgeworth managed.
He somehow managed to ruin my perfection.
Was it truly carelessness?
Perhaps we all just wished for that trial to be done. A whole year of searching and coming up with nothing. A whole year of trying to determine the right culprit.
But if the body was moved then what? If that autopsy was fake then the whole arugment falls apart. But where would the body be?
Why am I even considering this right now? This is not the time for this! That case is over. I've wiped my hands with it.
And yet it nags at me. It knows that I haven't found the culprit, but I just wish it to be over with.
Now isn't the time for this!
As we head into the hospital Edgeworthis admitted into the hospital. I hold Franziska in my arms as I wait in the waiting area.
"Papa?" she asks groggily looking up at me and then around. "Where are we?"
"The hospital."
"Miles!" she exclaims sitting up straight. "Where is my little brother?"
"He's being taken care of. Don't shout."
"Sorry Papa, but Miles will be okay, right?" I can tell she's scared. After what happened with her mother, I can't blame her. Even though she's too young to really remember Illyse she still knows her mother is gone, and she doesn't know why.
How could I possibly tell her?
"I'm no doctor, but from what I can tell he will be alright. His wound was not very big or deep, though he's lost quite a bit of blood."
"Papa?"
"Yes?"
"Why did this happen? I mean why would Miles…?"
Does she understand what the boy was trying to do?
"I mean… if he didn't want to be my little brother he could have just said. I mean…"
"Franziska, this is not your fault. It is not fair for you to blame yourself for this."
"Then why did it happen, Papa? Is he going to do it again?"
I close my eyes. "I will see to it that it doesn't happen again."
She thinks for a bit. "This is because of his papa, right?"
I close my eyes. "Franziska…"
"I mean he misses his Papa so it must be cause…"
I pull her close. Franziska…
"I want to make little brother feel better!" she declares. She gets off my lap and finds a piece of paper and some crayons. She sits on the floor doodling away. The hospital is mostly empty due to the late hour so at least she's not in the way.
I close my eyes. I must remedy this situation tomorrow.
Franziska
When I'm big I'm going to catch the criminal who took Miles' Papa from him. Maybe that way he won't have to suffer like this.
I mean going to the hospital isn't fun.
I start to draw lying on the floor of the hospital lobby. The crayons and paper aren't like what I have at home, but they'll do for now.
I wok hard on my drawing. I'm trying my best to draw those sa-mu-rai that Miles loves so much.
I'm still trying to figure out that word. Apparently it's Japanese.
I forgot to ask Mies if he knows any words that come from German.
I stop in my drawing, maybe Papa knows!
"Papa?"
"Yes, Franziska?"
"Do English people use any German words in English?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because Miles told me that those things he likes, Sa-mu-rai are originally Japanese so it's a Japanese word, so I was just wondering…"
"I see, well blitz is one such word that has been adapted into the English language."
"Oh."
"Though it has a slightly different meaning."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, they do have a word for Blitz, they call it lightning."
"Light-ning," I say. I think I've heard that word before. "So then what does Blitz mean then?"
"It can mean something very swift usually it's used for fighting."
"Oh," I say continuing my drawing.
After what feels like forever a doctor comes out and talks to Papa. I look up from my drawing.
"His condition is stable. He'll need to be in the hospital for a few days minimum, but his life isn't in danger."
"Thank you," Papa says.
"So little brother will be okay?" I ask looking up at the woman.
"Little? Isn't he older than you?"
I stop my foot, why does everyone ask that? It's not my fault he's little!
"No, he's little brother!"
"Well alright, but yes, he should be alright. He'll need to come by for a few checkups after he's allowed to go home, but as long as he follows the instructions we'll have for him he should be perfectly fine."
"I'll make sure he does!" I say balling my fists. I mean he can't leave me too, he promised!
"We should head home and get you to bed, Franziska. It's past your bedtime," Papa says.
"But…"
He opens his mouth, but the woman kneels down in front of me. "Now, that's no way to behave. I know your little brother is not well, but how can you be there for him, if you're all sleepy. If you get rest when he does then you can be there for him when he wakes up."
I think about this for a bit.
"You won't be able to help him if you don't get the proper rest too, now will you?"
"No… I suppose not," I admit.
"I have a son who's around your age. He's a lot like you, he likes to stay up late, but then he just wants to sleep all day."
"One day I'll be a big girl that doesn't need naps!" I declare.
"Of course, but you'll still need lots of rest. You know it's really bad not to get any rest."
"Why?"
"Well, you know your dreams? Well, a lot of time that's just your mind sorting things out."
"So like how I put my toys away when I'm done?"
"Exactly, and there are other benefits to sleep as well. It lets your body recharge."
"Oh, I see. So I should sleep so I can sort things out and helps little brother."
"Exactly," she says.
I nod taking my Papa's hand. He's been really quiet this whole time. I hope he's okay…
Maybe I'll have to take care of him while I can't take care of little brother.
"Umm… will you take care of little brother, Fräu umm…"
"Kraus," she supplies with a smile. "And what's your name?"
I curtsy. "Franziska von Karma."
"My, aren't you fancy, well, answer your question, yes, I will be helping to take care of your little brother."
"Thank you," I say curtsying again.
We get picked up to head back home. It feels so strange to not have little brother there.
Missile whines staring at us as if it's our fault that Miles is not here right now.
I reach down patting his head. "Miles will be back soon, Missile. He just needs to be in the hospital for a bit, but don't worry, someone will take care of him, and then he'll be back."
He wags his tail licking my hand making me giggle.
Then I look up at Papa as Edda approaches to pick me up. She looks kinda sick. Maybe it's because of the whole Miles thing.
"Umm… Papa…?"
"What is it, Franziska?"
"Umm… can I sleep with you tonight?" I ask.
Because of the silence that extended after my question I figured I'd asked the wrong question.
"I…"
He walks over picking me up and taking me to his room.
I rarely get to be in here, but I guess today is a special day.
He lays me on the bed then gets in himself. I crawl in with him after he's under the covers and snuggle up to him.
"Try to get some rest, Franziska."
"You too, Papa," I say.
He wraps an arm around me.
As I drift into sleep I think I can feel my hair getting wet, but that makes no sense. Does it?
Miles
I slowly open my eyes to see a pair of light grey eyes looking at me.
"Franziska?" I ask blinking.
"Little brother!" She exclaims hugging me. I wince a bit at the pain that causes. "Oh, sorry…"
"It's okay," I say. "Where am I? What happened?"
"You're in the hospital because you had an accident."
I try to remember back, but I can't remember anything really. It's all a blur.
Was it really an accident? If that's the case how long have I been out? "How long…?"
"Oh, umm… a few days. We've been coming to see you each day," she says. I look over to the side-table where a vase with flowers in them is.
"Thanks."
"Oh, and I made you a drawing," she says handing me a picture. It was a roughly drawn picture of the Signal Samurai. Some of the colours are a bit smudged, but I can still tell what it's supposed to be.
"Thanks, Franziska, this is really great."
"Of course, you're my little brother so I'll do anything for you," she says with a smile.
I smile back. She really is a good sister in some ways. I'm happy to have her that's for sure.
"But…"
"Yes?"
"You promised."
"Promised?"
"Yeah, you promised you'd not leave me, right, little brother? You promised!"
My eyes widen a little. It probably wasn't really an accident. I still can't remember that day very well, but…
"I'm sorry, Franziska, it wasn't my intention."
"I don't want to lose you, I don't!" She says stomping her foot.
"I know, you sassy girl," I say. "Come on."
She cocks her head to the side.
I move over in the bed a little bit. "You want to come on."
"But is that bad?"
To be fair, she probably shouldn't, but… "Yeah."
"My, you two really are cute siblings," a nurse says coming in."
"Fräu Kraus," Franziska says with a smile. Apparently she's familiar with the woman.
"Hello Franziska," she says with a small smile then looks at me. "How are you feeling?"
"Sore, but not horrible."
"That's good, I'll have to give you a check-up. Your sister's been here every day to visit you."
"So she told me," I say with a smile. "She's a great big sister."
Franziska grins. "Of course I am! I'm a big girl!"
"Ohy, and is that why I had to help you with the potty the other day," she says teasing my sister.
Franziska pouts.
I laugh tickling her.
She giggles protesting.
"Can I borrow your brother for just a little bit to check up on him?" she asks my sister.
"Umm… okay," she says getting off the bed as Fräu KIraus comes over. She check a whole bunch of things I don't understand and writes things on her clipboard.
"I'm going to have to check your scar to see how it's healing," she informs me. I'm not sure I want to see it, but I guess I don't have a choice. I nod.
She lifts my hospital gown, but covers my legs with the sheet so that she's only looking at my abdomen.
Franziska and I look as well. It's only a short thin scar, but I'm not sure if that really means anything.
"Your scar is healing nicely. You should be able to go home soon enough. It'll probably heal well enough that you won't have too bad of a scar. But we're still going to have to check up on it for a bit to see how it's healing."
"I'll make sure my brother follows the rules," Franziska says proudly.
"I'm sure you will, but you also have to take care of your little brother. He'll need you to support him."
"Of course. I'm always there for my little brother. Like I sleep with him so that he doesn't have nightmares."
She gives me a knowing look as if she's saying she knows Franziska is having the nightmares.
Though to be fair I am as well.
Is that why this happened? Is it because of the nightmares?
I shudder just thinking about them. That scream.
I kept hearing it that night. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't even really think. I just… I just lost it…
Is that what happened?
Did I really?
Why would I?
"Little brother?"
I look down at my sister. "Yes?"
"Are you okay? Do you need to get some rest?"
She's taking this "taking care of me" thing seriously. I can't say I'm upset that she is.
"I'm okay, thanks."
"I brought Fleck along so that he can help you feel better."
"I look down at the Jaguar and hug him. "Thank you."
"I'd stay here, but they say no, and Papa needs me too."
"Your father does?"
Is that just her way of saying that she's been staying in her father's room for comfort? I didn't think Mr. von Karma was one for comfort. But the other alternative doesn't really make very much sense.
I mean why would he need help too? I mean sure he faced father, but that shouldn't mean anything…
Right?
"Yeah, he was worried about you."
Mr. von Karma was worried about me? Is she just being silly, or…?
I mean it's not that I think Mr. von Karma hates me, but I also didn't think I was that important to him.
I mean I'm the son of his rival.
I mean I wouldn't say the man would be happy Father is dead, but why even adopt me?
I've wondered that for a year now.
I mean I'm not that special. I'm smart, but I want to be a defense attorney like Father… okay, I'm not sure if I do, but I'm not sure what I want to be.
What would he gain from adopting me?
I don't want to ask him, but I truly don't understand why he would care so much about me.
The next few days pass in a similar fashion. Now that I'm awake I'm able to do more productive things like read.
But I can't wait to be able to get back to my own bed and my own room. I can't wait to go see Missile again.
Maybe then I'll stop asking me the questions that keep coming to my mind over and over again.
Then eventually I was cleared to leave. I got dressed and Mr. von Karma picked me up. He drove me back home and as we entered the foyer he looks down at me. "Come to my office in an hour. I have something I need to discuss with you."
Preview
Miles
"I'm not sure they know how to do a prosecutor properly."
"Oh, and what's that?"
"Because that character was so bad! I mean I'm sure he's just a janitor or something! I mean come on! That was so easy even I could have solved the case!"
I laugh a bit. "Is that so, Sass?"