Pools of Blood

Chapter 2

I reached the hospital. The City Hospital of my state is well known for its treatment and medical facilities. But that day, an aura of fear and panic was prevailing everywhere. The first Rape case in ten years was bound to instill fear among all. I was taken to the NICU where Jasmine was fighting to survive. The woman was still unconscious. So, I thought of waiting in the lobby. I didn’t know for how long I stood there, leaning on the wall, thinking of my life as it was before the tragedy happened and killed my inner self.

All of a sudden, I felt a touch of warmth on my shoulder. Dr. Min was standing there with concern in her eyes.

-" Is she awake? ", I asked.

-" Yes. She is, but before you go in, you have to know a few things."

She beckoned me to sit beside her on the waiting benches and handed me a medical report.

"Jasmine was pregnant for a few weeks when this incident took place. Her uterus has been ruptured, brutally, So the fetus is no longer alive. Being a doctor herself, she probably would know this too. Although we are trying our best to help her to survive, the pain she is tolerating is unbearable, both mentally and physically. So, you have to be patient with her."

It took me a couple of seconds to digest those words. She was expecting a baby, but they not only pulled her down but also killed her child.

" I have to find those culprits as soon as I can before another Jasmine is found in some dumpster."

-" Yes. Maybe this is the only reason, why she is willing to survive, after so much pain. People naturally tend to give up."

-" Where is her family? I don’t see anyone waiting."

- "Years ago when she joined the hospital as a Neuro Specialist, she had once remarked that she didn’t have any parents. The girl was an orphan. But a year ago, I heard she was dating some officer from Interpol. They even got married. But I don’t know anything about her husband, so I could inform no one. Jasmine had always been reserved about her private life."

- " So can I go in and meet her?"

-" Yes. But not for a long time. The pain is too much for her to bear and we have to give her sedatives."

I nodded my head and opened the cold door that led to the woman suffering in the seventh layer of hell in losing herself and her child.

She was lying on the hospital bed with tubes jutting in and out at various parts of her body. Her body was covered by a warm, thick blanket. She was lying so still as if there was no life in her. It was true. Things she had faced, seen, and fought were enough to kill her. But her heart was beating, her eyes were teary and she looked at me with pain.

I slowly came forward and sat down on the chair in front of her. She was really very pretty. Big black eyes with full lashes, high cheekbones, and a curved pair of lips that were swollen and chapped. Her face was bruised with cuts and patches. Her brown locks of hair were cascading all over the pillow. How can someone torture such an innocent soul, I wondered.

She was looking at me with clenched teeth as if to suppress the storm raging within.

-"Jasmine."

-" Hello Michael", she whimpered.

-" How are you feeling?" I know I shouldn’t have asked this and immediately regretted it.

"I lost my baby", her voice trembled in pain.

-" I am so sorry."

-" I lost my husband."

I was flabbergasted. " What? How?"

-" I was not the only one they killed. They murdered him too. Before my eyes."

She couldn’t control it anymore and burst into tears. Big drops of water trickled down into her hair.

I was speechless. Rape and murder at the same time. What would Bo Chang say?  I wondered. He would probably burn the city to find the criminals.

-" But we haven’t found anybody nearby. Where was your husband killed?"

Jasmine closed her eyes. Her fists were clenched. She was trying her best to overcome the pain down there.

-" Do you know why I have called you, Michael? Why you and no one else?"

I was wondering that as well. I haven’t taken any case for the last few months and due to my over-drinking and anger issues, even my own department has started to shun me. So why would someone ask for my help?

" My husband always used to speak highly of you. He had known you from a very young age. You both went to school together, did your training together. Although I have never met you personally, I have seen your photos from school, college, and camps all around in my in-law's house. He always used to say, ‘ If there is any man worthy of being called savior, it's Michael, my brother."

She paused for a moment and removed a lock of hair from her eyes slowly. I was wondering who the man might be, although in my gut I had a bad feeling. She continued.

-" I wanted to meet you. I wanted to come face to face with the man who was my husband’s best friend. But I have no idea what had happened between you and him past two years. You didn’t even show up at our wedding. He was upset about it. He said that Michael was no longer the man he used to know."

I could no longer endure suspense. I blurted out," Who is your husband?"

She stared at me in disbelief. Her big black eyes flashed a ray of anger.

-"Don’t you know? You have already forgotten him, haven’t you? You owe him your life, Michael."

Realization dawned upon me at last. Everything flashed before my eyes. Our laughs, our joys, our childish fights, our first training, our celebrations. Every detail came back alive as if a cover has been lifted up.

"Alfred Wang", a name came out in a whisper.

-" Yes, Michael Ting, yes". Tears welled up and started to fall faster drenching her hair and pillows. " And do you know what were his last words before they shot him?"

I stared at her with shock.

-" Find Michael".