His Beautiful Redemption

Saint Angeles teaching hospital, 2:15 AM, Los Angeles The hospital was unusually quiet, very quiet. That kind of silence meant something was coming. Elaine Winters leaned on the nurses desk, writing a discharge note under the harsh white light. Her hair was tied in a loose bun with some strands falling around her tired face. Her night shift had dragged on endlessly, twelve hours. Three emergency surgeries, one toddler with a Lego up his nose. And now it was just silence The coffee in her cup had gone cold again. Elaine was about to stretch her sore shoulders when the emergency door slammed open. BANG A gunshot fired in the air. Screams erupted. Elaine's heart jerked in her chest. Five men dressed in black stormed into the ER. One of them fired again into the ceiling. Phones down! everybody down! nobody moves. The front desk nurse dropped down with a cry, the security guard went for his radio. "Don't" one of them growled at him with a thick accent. I'll put a hole through your f*****g skull". Elaine ducked lower behind the nurses desk, her heart beating rapidly, up and down. She took a peek from the glass. The last man was different. He wasn't holding a gun, he wasn't shouting. He was bleeding. Stumbling, he was dragged between the two other men like a fallen god. "Get me a f*****g doctor" One of the men screamed. No one moved, everybody scared to their bones. Elaine's body moved faster than her brain did in that moment. "I, I'm a medical intern, I can help" She stood up and moved closer towards them. Her primary instinct kicked in. To save live. "Come over then and for everyone's sake I hope you know what you're doing" The man pointed a gun at her. He was weak already, his white shirt completely soaked in his blood. Even in this state he looked intimidating. His face was hidden under a ski mask. The injured man lifted his head slowly and their eyes met. Even beneath the mask she could feel his gaze, sharp, intense and consuming. He said nothing, just staring at her as if he was memorising her face. "Go on then, start stitching him up" one of the masked man spoke to her. Elaine's legs walked faster than usual, her hands trembling but she managed to maintain herself. "Where is the wound?" she asked, trying to hide her trembling voice. He didn't answer her. "Upper right side. In and out" one of the men spoke She took her kit ripped open his shirt. Her heart skipped a bit. The bullet had torn through the muscle beneath his rib. She swallowed hard. She reached for her gauze, alcohol and thread. Her training kicked in. Clean, disinfect and stitch. He watched her every movement, up close. She worked fast and focused. His eyes never left her face. "You're not afraid?" he finally spoke to her. "I am" she answered him honestly, glancing up for the first time. His lips curved up almost cruelly, but there was something else fascination. "I like that you didn't lie" Elaine couldn't bring herself to reply she forced herself to continue stitching even with trembling hands. He could feel the trembles from her body. He knew she was scared, but she didn't run. He wanted to taunt her more. "What is your name?" She hesitated for a while before she answered "Elaine" "Elaine" he muttered under his breath like it was a secret prayer. His head dropped back and he went still. He didn't say anything again till she was done. Elaine pressed the last stitch. She was done finally with shaky breath she exhaled. Blood still coated her gloves, she reached for the saline bag. He's lost too much blood. I need to-" "No" one of the men stepped in front of her "We are leaving". "What?, You can't just go like that. He'll go into shock. He needs fluids at least" She turned to look at the man who was lying motionless on the chair, even though she knew he was conscious. The gun man snapped "We're not staying, you're done." Elaine's heart pounded faster knowing the damage that could happen. "Help him up " the man who had the gun ordered the others. They dragged him up and he groaned trying to stand on his own. "You can't move him like that" She looked up at the injured man his gaze was still cold and indifferent. "Move" he said. One word, sharp and emotionless Elaine froze she looked up at him "I was only trying to help " "Who asked for it?" his voice was cold. There was no vulnerability in him anymore One of his men holding him pulled him roughly trying to remind him they had to leave. He groaned but didn't show pain just endurance. She swallowed hard and moved out of their way . They began to reach for the door, still supporting their boss. He stopped moving, without facing her he muttered . "You're careful that will keep you alive". Soon enough they disappeared into the night, like shadows. They were gone. Elaine stood still shaken by what happened earlier. The security guard finally got up he called the police. Some minutes later, blue and red lights flashed through the windows. Siren. Police. The police man sized her up seeing her hands with blood " Hey miss, are you hurt?" "No I'm not. These aren't mine" she raised her bloody hands. "What happened here?" The police man questioned "I did what I had to, to save lives". She swallowed "A statement is required, Miss. Come with us to the station" "Check the CCTV for anything useful" her turned to his partner "I checked already nothing on it." "They must have tampered with it" one his hand raked through his hair. "Let's go to the station for now" he said gently, helping her towards the door. After Elaine gave her statement, she went home still thinking about what happened earlier. Her thoughts were on the masked man.