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Cristina nodded nervously, trying to convince herself he was right. She took a shaky breath and stepped closer to the twins again. Their faces looked peaceful, almost as if they were asleep.
Frederick sighed, recognizing the panic of a rookie.
“Are you sure this is the career you want?” he asked gently, resting a hand on her shoulder. “Most cases in here aren’t easy to see. These girls… every sign points to poisoning. Sudden simultaneous death in healthy children doesn’t just happen.”
Cristina clenched her jaw.
“I want to do this,” she said quietly. “I want to help people who can’t speak for themselves anymore.”
The doctor gave a tired smile and lifted a small glass vial containing a pale pink liquid.
“This was found beside their beds,” he explained. “Whatever killed them came from inside their own home.”
Cristina felt sick.
Who could hurt two innocent little girls?
Frederick pulled on surgical gloves and reached for the scalpel.
“Hold the first child steady.”
Cristina gently adjusted the twin’s small arms. The room fell silent again.
But the second the blade neared the girl’s chest, Cristina jumped backward with a scream.
“She moved!” she cried. “Her hand touched mine!”
Frederick exhaled impatiently.
“Postmortem spasms happen. It’s involuntary muscle movement. You’re letting fear get the best of you.”
“No, doctor! Touch her yourself!”
Trying to prove her wrong, Frederick stepped forward. He checked the girl’s eyes. Nothing.
Then he pressed his hand against her chest.
Suddenly, he froze.
His face drained of color.
Slowly, he lowered his ear toward the child’s tiny body.
Heartbeat.
Weak.
Slow.
But unmistakably real.
And then both of them heard it.
A faint little giggle escaped from the girl’s lips.
Frederick stumbled backward in horror.
Cristina dropped to her knees beside the table and pressed her ear against the child’s chest.
“She’s alive!” she shouted. “I told you!”
Still trembling, Frederick turned toward the second twin.
Right in front of them, the other girl’s fingers slowly curled against her stomach.
Another weak heartbeat.