CHAPTER 9 — TOO LATE
1737 Words
The convoy of black SUVs came to a sudden stop beside the deserted roadside.
Everyone stepped out immediately.
The AI navigation system pointed toward a steep cliff hidden behind thick bushes.
“This way,” Mr. Walters said, his voice tense.
Without wasting another second, they rushed toward the location.
The deeper they went, the quieter everything became.
Only the sound of dry leaves crunching beneath their feet filled the air.
Then…
Sarah froze.
Her trembling hand slowly rose to her mouth.
“No…”
Lying at the bottom of the rocky slope was Ellie.
Her uniform was torn.
Bruises covered her arms and face.
Small cuts stained with dried blood marked her skin.
She lay completely still, as though the world had forgotten her.
“My baby!”
Sarah screamed and ran toward her.
Dropping to her knees, she carefully lifted Ellie’s head into her lap.
Tears streamed down her face.
“Ellie… please…”
“Open your eyes.”
“Please don’t leave me.”
“My baby girl…”
“You can’t leave your mother like this.”
Her cries echoed through the empty valley, breaking the hearts of everyone present.
Even Jayden had to look away.
Ethan lowered his head, clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
For the first time since childhood, Darius couldn’t bring himself to move.
He simply stared.
The words he had spoken earlier that day echoed endlessly inside his mind.
“She’s only here for the money.”
“I could never accept her as my sister.”
His chest tightened.
A wave of guilt crashed over him.
Mr. Walters quickly took out his phone.
His hands trembled as he dialed the emergency number.
“We’ve found her,” he said urgently.
“Female, approximately eighteen years old. She fell down a cliff and is unconscious. Please send an ambulance immediately.”
After giving their location, he turned to his sons.
“We can’t wait.”
“Help me carry her up.”
The three brothers rushed forward.
Jayden carefully supported Ellie’s shoulders.
Ethan lifted her legs with surprising gentleness.
Darius hesitated for only a second before stepping in to help.
Together, they carried her fragile body back toward the road.
The climb felt endless.
Nearly five hours had passed since Ellie disappeared.
The sky was already darkening, painting the horizon in shades of orange and grey.
No one spoke.
Only Sarah’s quiet sobs followed them.
At last, flashing red and blue lights appeared in the distance.
The ambulance arrived.
Paramedics rushed out with a stretcher and immediately began checking Ellie’s condition.
One of them looked up.
“We’re taking her to the hospital now.”
They carefully placed Ellie inside the ambulance.
Sarah climbed in beside her, refusing to let go of her daughter’s hand.
As the ambulance doors closed, she whispered through her tears,
“Stay with me, sweetheart.”
“You promised we’d have a better life.”
The siren pierced the evening air as the ambulance sped away.
Mr. Walters quickly got into his car, with Darius, Jayden, and Ethan following behind.
No one said a word for several minutes.
The only sound inside the vehicle was the hum of the engine.
Then Jayden finally broke the silence.
He turned toward Darius.
His voice was calm.
But every word carried weight.
“You better pray she survives.”
Darius didn’t answer.
He kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
For the first time in years, he wished he could take back his own words.
He remembered the look on Ellie’s face outside the classroom.
The disbelief.
The pain.
The silence.
He had thought she was pretending to be strong.
He had never imagined she would leave the school in tears.
Or that she would end up fighting for her life.
As the ambulance disappeared into the distance, Darius closed his eyes.
A single thought haunted him.
If Ellie dies…
I will never forgive myself.
Darius lowered his head.
He wanted to defend himself.
He wanted to say he never meant for any of this to happen.
But the words refused to come out.
Instead, guilt settled heavily in his chest.
Beside him, Ethan finally spoke.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
“I warned you.”
Darius remained silent.
“You judged her before even knowing her.”
“You insulted her because she came from a poor family.”
“And now she’s fighting for her life.”
The car became silent once again.
No one had anything left to say.
Meanwhile, inside the ambulance, Sarah sat beside Ellie, holding her daughter’s cold hand tightly.
Her tears refused to stop falling.
She gently stroked Ellie’s hair.
“My baby…”
“You’ve been through so much.”
“You finally found a chance to start over.”
“So please…”
“Don’t leave me.”
The paramedics worked quickly around them, checking Ellie’s pulse and oxygen levels.
One of them looked worried but remained focused.
The ambulance sped through traffic with its siren echoing across the city.
After what felt like forever, it finally pulled into the emergency entrance of the hospital.
Doctors and nurses rushed outside with another stretcher.
The doors flew open.
Ellie was wheeled out immediately.
“Emergency trauma patient!”
“Possible internal injuries!”
“Prepare the operating room!”
Sarah tried to follow, but a nurse gently stopped her.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. You can’t go in.”
She watched helplessly as her daughter disappeared behind the large double doors.
Moments later, Mr. Walters and the three brothers arrived.
Sarah ran into her husband’s arms and broke down completely.
“I don’t want to lose her.”
Mr. Walters held her tightly.
“We won’t.”
“We’ll bring our daughter home.”
A few steps away, Darius stood frozen.
His eyes never left the operating room doors.
For the first time in his life…
He realized that some words could wound deeper than fists.
And some regrets…
Came far too late.
The red light above the operating room switched on.
SURGERY IN PROGRESS.
Everyone waited in silence.
Praying that the next time those doors opened…
Ellie would still be alive.
The minutes felt like hours.
No one moved from the waiting area.
Sarah sat with her hands clasped together, praying silently as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Mr. Walters paced back and forth, his face filled with worry.
Jayden leaned against the wall, staring at the operating room doors, while Ethan remained seated with his head lowered.
Darius stood alone in a corner.
For the first time in his life, he felt completely powerless.
Suddenly, the doors to the operating room opened.
The doctor stepped out, removing his surgical mask.
Everyone rushed toward him at once.
“Doctor! How is she?” Sarah cried.
The doctor let out a long breath.
“I’m sorry…”
The entire hallway fell silent.
Sarah’s legs almost gave way as Mr. Walters caught her.
Jayden’s heart sank.
Ethan closed his eyes.
Even Darius felt his world stop.
Then the doctor continued,
“…I’m sorry to frighten you.”
“The surgery was successful, but your daughter lost a dangerous amount of blood.”
Everyone stared at him in relief.
“Her internal injuries were severe, but we’ve managed to stabilize them.”
“However, she urgently needs a blood transfusion.”
Mr. Walters stepped forward immediately.
“Then do whatever is necessary.”
“Get blood from another hospital if you have to. Money is not a problem.”
The doctor shook his head.
“The issue isn’t money.”
“Her blood type is extremely rare.”
“We’ve already checked our blood bank, and there isn’t enough compatible blood available.”
He paused before adding,
“If we cannot find a matching donor quickly, her condition could become critical.”
Silence filled the hallway.
Sarah covered her mouth as fresh tears streamed down her face.
“There has to be another way.”
The doctor looked at the family.
“Do any of you know a biological relative who shares her blood type?”
Sarah slowly lowered her head.
Her voice trembled.
“Her biological father… is currently in prison.”
The three brothers looked at one another in shock.
“What?” Jayden whispered.
Darius remained speechless.
Without thinking any further, he stepped forward.
“Test me.”
Everyone turned to look at him.
“If my blood matches hers, take whatever you need.”
The doctor looked surprised.
“We’ll need to run tests first.”
A short while later, the results came back.
The doctor returned with a serious expression.
“Your blood is compatible.”
Before anyone could celebrate, he continued,
“But your own blood count is lower than we would like.”
“Donating such a large amount could put your own health at risk.”
“You may experience severe weakness, and there is a possibility of complications.”
Mr. Walters immediately shook his head.
“No.”
“We’ll keep searching.”
But Darius didn’t hesitate.
“No.”
His voice was calm but firm.
“Use mine.”
The doctor looked at him carefully.
“Are you certain?”
Darius nodded.
“I don’t care what happens to me.”
“If my blood can save her…”
“Then do it.”
For the first time since they had known him, Jayden and Ethan saw something they had never expected.
Genuine remorse.
The medical team quickly prepared both patients.
Hours passed.
Everyone waited anxiously outside.
Finally, the doctor emerged once again.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“The transfusion was successful.”
“Ellie’s condition is now stable.”
A wave of relief swept through the family.
Sarah broke down in tears of gratitude.
Mr. Walters closed his eyes and whispered a quiet prayer.
Jayden let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
Ethan simply smiled to himself.
As for Darius…
He lay resting in another hospital room, pale and exhausted.
The doctor had instructed him to rest, eat properly, and rebuild his strength over the coming days.
But none of that mattered to him.
For the first time since Ellie entered his life…
He realized he didn’t want to lose the girl he had refused to call his sister.
And that realization frightened him more than anything else.
- Writer
