The True Queen

"This will be the final time that you'll have to undergo this treatment and also the most painful," Marianna told Anna. She stared at the latter with doting. Even though she's not her real daughter, she treated her like one.

She doesn't regret the help she has given her for the past year. Anna Rong has encroached into her heart through her attitude and determination. She's the embodiment of Arianna, her deceased daughter.

She can imagine her daughter to be like her. Anna and Arianna have similarities like being disfigured and silent but insanely smart. She smiled, but a slight pain remains in her heart. Anna grabbed her hands and c.a.r.e.s.sed them.

"Mom," she called out in her raspy voice. Marianna's heart swelled, the very first time she heard her call her that in the hospital, she vowed to herself that she would be the perfect mother. "You don't have to worry. I'll get through this."

Marianna can see the determination in Anna's eyes and nods. She looked at the busy doctors and scientists that are specialists in cell development, dermatology, and surgery. She has chosen them from all over the world to make sure that Anna will receive the best care.

This facility is one of the best in the world. Anna's undergoing surgery to restore and remove the scars in her entire body. But due to the extent of the damage, Anna's body has to recuperate first and even after that; the injuries will never heal. They were too deep.

To make her look normal again, Marianna pushed the scientist to make a breakthrough drug that will speed up cell regeneration. In the past year, she has to be injected monthly with x-cell drug to help regenerate the damage to her skin and face.

But she has to experience excruciating pain for three days when the drug is at work. After that, she sheds the dead skin on her body like a snake, but the process is prolonged. This is practically a miracle drug that the entire Han Advance Pharmaceuticals have been working on in the black market since fifteen years ago.

After this, she has to undergo surgery to ensure that there are no scars left and she survived the side effects. Marianna stared at her daughter and felt like crying.

Anna's always so strong and stubborn. She has never told her that it hurts but still has a smile for her. It means she has to be strong too. After this, she'll introduce Anna to the world as her daughter and she can finally…start with her revenge.

**************

"Is everything ready?" The head doctor asked the others as he donned his suit for operation. He looked at the solemn faces of the people around him, and he knows that he can't screw up or their heads will roll.

They proceed to the operating room where the unconscious Anna lies on the bed. The patient looks to be peacefully asleep, the vitals are normal, and she's breathing fine, but the doctors know that this is the calm before the storm.

The x-cell drug has a significant side effect, and something might go wrong in an instant. The cell regenerated might be too much for the body or might attack the organs that might lead to organ failure.

Also, surgery might be needed to ensure that her heart keeps on beating. In previous test subjects, the heart beats erratically and sometimes stops beating or worst explode, so they have to pump the heart manually.

This is a terrifying drug, and this is the reason why they're here. They have to keep this girl alive until she pulls through. There's total silence when the monitor beeps like crazy.

Everyone flings themselves into action.

"Prepare the blood for the blood transfusion!" One doctor ordered.

"The cells are regenerating fast, and the body can't keep up, it's attacking the blood!" One doctor stated, but they all remain calm under pressure. They're the cream of the crop, the best of the best.

"The kidney is starting to fail!" One of the nurses shouted amidst the flurry of people.

"Administer the counter drug! We have to keep x-cell under control!"

"She's losing it!" One of the doctors shouts. "Defibrillator!"

A series of shouts, the beeping of the machines and people running around are the scene inside this operating room.

And the change in Anna slowly becomes visible.