Under the Knife
908 Words
The scalpel felt heavy in my hand as I looked down at my four year old son lying unconscious on the table. One mistake and I would lose him forever.
“Starting the main incision,” I said. My voice stayed calm even though my heart was pounding.
The surgical team moved around me in perfect sync. I had brought my most trusted people to this neutral clinic but the pressure still crushed me. This was not just surgery. This was my child.
“Heart rate is holding for now,” my assistant reported.
“Good. Keep it that way,” I replied. I worked carefully opening the small chest. “Retractor please. I need clear access to the left ventricle.”
Two hours in things started going wrong. The scar tissue was thicker than the scans showed. My hands moved fast trying to clear it without damaging the weak heart muscle.
“Pressure dropping,” the anesthesiologist warned.
“I see it,” I said. “Give him more of the stabilizer. His wolf blood is fighting harder than expected.”
Lucas voice crackled through the intercom from the observation room. “Soren talk to me. Is he okay?”
“He is stable but we have complications,” I answered without looking up. “The veins are narrower than I thought. Pass me the finer tools.”
Asher spoke next. His voice was low and steady. “You have this Soren. Breathe. I am right here.”
Lucas jumped in again. “How bad is it really? Tell me the truth.”
“Bad enough that I need complete focus,” I snapped. “Both of you stop talking unless I ask you something.”
The room went quiet except for the beeping machines and my quiet commands. Sweat rolled down my back. I kept working cutting and repairing with every bit of skill I had.
“Clamp slipped,” my assistant said suddenly.
“Fix it now,” I ordered. “We cannot lose blood flow. Hold the field steady.”
For thirty terrifying seconds the entire team scrambled. My heart raced as I fought to regain control. Finally the monitors settled again.
“Good work,” I said breathing out. “Now the patch for the septal hole. Carefully.”
Lucas hit the intercom button. “You are amazing Soren. I always knew you were the best. Our boy is lucky to have you.”
Asher replied sharply. “She is doing her job. Stop trying to make this about you.”
I ignored them both and kept going. “Suction here. Perfect. The left side is almost rebuilt.”
Halfway through the most delicate part the power flickered once. Then twice.
“What is going on?” I asked.
The head nurse checked the system. “Backup generator is on but we lost one monitor for a second.”
My stomach dropped. “Someone check the circuits. This should not be happening.”
Lucas voice came through again. “Is someone messing with the equipment? Soren be careful.”
“I do not know yet,” I said through gritted teeth. “Just let me work.”
I pushed forward focusing on the final repairs. My hands never stopped moving. “Increase the suppressor. His healing factor is spiking again. He is trying to shift under anesthesia.”
Asher spoke softly. “You are the only one who can do this. I believe in you completely.”
Lucas added. “Please save him Soren. I cannot lose both of you.”
Their words pushed me harder. I made the last major repair and stepped back slightly. “Closing the outer layer now. Keep his vitals steady.”
The room felt electric with tension. Everyone was on edge. I was so close to finishing when the main overhead light flickered again and the power cut completely for four long seconds.
In that sudden darkness I heard footsteps outside the OR that did not belong to my team. My blood ran cold.
“Someone is in here,” I said urgently. “Lock the outer doors now.”
When the lights came back on the monitors showed new chaos. Liam’s heart rate was crashing fast.
“Defibrillator ready,” I ordered. “Charging to two hundred. Clear!”
The team stepped back. I pressed the pads to his small chest. His body jerked once. Then again.
“Come on Liam,” I begged under my breath. “Fight for me.”
The line went flat for three horrible seconds before jumping back with a weak beat. I kept working but my mind was racing. Someone had just tried to sabotage the surgery from inside.
“Pressure is still dropping,” my assistant warned.
“I see it,” I said. “We are in the critical window now. One more stitch and we are done.”
The intercom crackled with a distorted voice that was not Asher or Lucas.
“Stop the surgery doctor. Or everyone in this room dies.”
My hands froze for half a second. Pure terror shot through me. Someone was watching us. Someone wanted my son dead and they were willing to kill all of us to make sure it happened.
I looked down at Liam. His small heart was struggling under my hands. The final stitch hung in the balance as alarms screamed around me.
This was not over.
- Writer
