The Gifted Medical Warrior

TESTING THE SKILL

Vinnie stepped forward, he tightened his jaw and his voice was steady, though he looked angry. "Elizabeth, that's enough. He's my brother—my biological brother."

Elizabeth fixed her eyes on Vinnie; her contempt was so sharp and enough to cut. "He's an assassin, Vinnie. A government tool. A destroyer of lives. I won't have him in my home." She said angrily.

"That’s not true," he said. "Ryder’s not like that," Vinnie defended.

But Elizabeth didn't stop. "And I suppose you’re too blind to see the truth? He’s a murderer, Vinnie! A killer!" she screamed at him.

" He's staying tonight, Elizabeth. "It’s late. Where’s he supposed to go if I throw him out?" Vinnie replied to her.

Elizabeth replied to him angrily. "I don’t care. But I won’t live under the same roof with a murderer."

Vinnie’s face reddened; his fists were trembling; he was trying to restrain his anger. He opened his mouth to argue, but before he could speak, Elizabeth cut him off.

"How dare you bring someone like him into this house? Have you forgotten your place, bondslave?"

The word landed like a thunderclap. The room became silent.

Vinnie’s eyes widened, he looked totally embarrassed, Elizabeth’s words had physically struck him. "Elizabeth, how could you?" he whispered.

But Elizabeth wasn't backing down. "How could I? How could you, Vinnie? You sold yourself for ten million dollars. Ten million. And now you stand here pretending you have dignity, pretending you have a say in this house? You’re nothing but a bondslave." She said to him.

I stood there, frozen, just then I realized that my brother, Vinnie, had sold his freedom. And for what? To pay off my debt. I felt guilty.

Elizabeth didn’t wait for a response. She turned on her heel, and swept her daughter, Eleanor, into her arms. The little girl stirred, her sleepy face pressed against her mother’s shoulder, she was oblivious to what was happening around her.

"It’s clear now," I thought to myself, watching Elizabeth walking into the hallway. "Vinnie didn’t just save me—he sacrificed himself. A brother like a father. And this is how he’s repaid." I thought to myself.

The room fell silent after Elizabeth had walked inside. Vinnie stood in the center of the room. He looked like someone drowning in regret.

Suddenly, he broke the silence. "I’ll go speak to her inside." He said to me.

Vinnie started to walk towards the hallway. "Elizabeth, please, let’s talk about this—"

Before he could finish, Elizabeth returned into the room. She is very angry. She threw his luggage at him, the bag landing at his feet with a heavy thud.

"Leave!" she shouted at him.

Vinnie got the bag and was trying to calm her down. "Elizabeth, calm down—"

But Elizabeth shouted at him again. "Get out, Vinnie. Now."

Their argument was becoming unbearable. Just as Elizabeth turned to scream one last time, her daughter, Eleanor, began to convulse in her arms.

It happened so suddenly. Eleanor’s body was trembling violently, her head was lolling back as her eyes rolled upward, it was showing only the whites. Her limbs became stiffened. A thin trickle of blood ran from her nose, staining Elizabeth’s blouse.

"Eleanor!" Elizabeth shrieked; she clutched her daughter tighter to her body, her voice was breaking. "Vinnie! She—she’s—"

Vinnie rushed to the cabinet; he yanked the drawer open hurriedly. His hands were searching for something as he scattered papers and random items onto the floor until his fingers finally closed around a small glass vial. The vial slipped from his hand which was trembling.

The bottle tumbled to the ground, shattering as it hit the floor. The liquid inside spread across the floor.

"No!" Vinnie screamed; he fell on his knees as though he could somehow salvage the irretrievable.

"Vinnie, what have you done?" Elizabeth yelled at Vinnie.

Vinnie scrambled to his feet, he was fumbling for his phone and hurriedly made a call.

"Yes, it’s my daughter, Emily!" he shouted into the receiver. "Please, you have to help her! She’s convulsing, she’s—" His words were incoherent. "Where’s the doctor?"

A voice on the other end responded to him. Whatever they said made Vinnie’s expression crumble. "What do you mean you can’t send anyone?" His voice grew louder over the phone. "She’s a child! She’s dying!"

Elizabeth stood frozen; she wrapped her arms tightly around Eleanor’s convulsing body. Vinnie started begging over the phone. "Please... please don’t turn her away..."

The line suddenly cut. Vinnie stared at the phone in his hand, he became angry. He yells, and splashes the phone to the ground. It shattered into pieces.

I knelt beside Eleanor; I examined her fragile and convulsing body. There was a black vein visible across her gray skin, the violent spasms, and the uneven breaths all pointed to the symptoms, and I couldn't believe my conclusion; it was an Erebus Toxin poisoning. How had this deadly substance found its way to a child?

"No, no, no..." I muttered, forcing my rising panic into submission. There was no time for fear, I had to act now.

"Vinnie! Elizabeth!" I shouted at the two. "Bring me ice—now!"

Elizabeth turned toward me; her eyes were teary. "What do you know about this?" she demanded, she clutched Emily tighter as if she was shielding her from me.

"Trust me," I urged her. "You also need salt water. Wash your hands with it—both of you."

Vinnie looked confused. "What’s happening, Ryder?" he asked, his voice was trembling.

"I’m not certain yet," I admitted, "but I’m praying it’s not what I think."

Elizabeth shouted at me. "Don’t touch her, murderer! I won’t let you harm my daughter!"

Vinnie reached for her arm; he was trying to calm his wife. "Elizabeth, let him help—"

But she shook him off violently. "No, Vinnie! Don’t let him near her!"

I didn’t have time for her hysteria. My focus was entirely on Emily, her body was trembling. "Vinnie, get me the ice," I screamed at him.

Vinnie didn't know what to do. "Vinnie, go!" I said to him, my voice was louder this time.

He ran toward the kitchen; Elizabeth was staring at him.

When Vinnie returned, he thrust the ice into my hands. I grabbed a pair of scissors from the table. Elizabeth’s eyes widened in shock, and she stumbled backward, she wrapped her arms around Eleanor.

"What are you doing?!" she cried.

I didn’t answer. I moved my hands carefully; I cut the fabric around Emily’s neck; the swelling veins became visible. And before I could do anything, she slapped my face.

I turned to her slowly. "Do you want her to die?" I yelled at her. "Shut up if you don’t want your daughter to die."

Elizabeth’s face crumpled as tears flowed down her cheeks. She buried her face in Vinnie’s chest, she was. Vinnie held her tightly; his own face was filled with pain.

I took a deep breath. "I don’t care if you see me as a murderer, Elizabeth," I said firmly, my hands already working. "This is my niece. I won’t hurt her. If anything happens to her, I’ll die by her side too." I said to her.

Elizabeth’s sobs filled the room, but she didn’t interfere.

I put the ice firmly on Emily’s chest, I steadied my trembling hands and made a cut along her neck. A dark and viscous blood began to flow, this confirmed the poison in her veins.

I took the cola can and sterilized its straw with the flame of a nearby candle. I insert the straw into where I cut earlier. Gently, I suctioned out the tainted blood.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, summoning the teachings of my guru, Master Chen. The ancient art of Jie Du Fa—a technique which was so rare, the method combined acupressure and herbal remedies to neutralize even the deadliest toxins.

I located the Nei Kuan point on Emily’s wrist. I pressed it carefully. I stimulated her meridians to accelerate toxin removal. I whispered the incantation Master Chen had taught me; I channeled my Qi into her body.

I took out a small pouch of herbs from my bag. Qīng Huà Wán, was a potent mix of ginseng, licorice root, and other antidotal elements. I pinched a few grains and carefully placed them into Emily’s mouth. I massaged her throat, coaxing her to swallow.

Vinnie and Elizabeth, who stood frozen behind me, were watching what I was doing.

“Ryder, what… what is that?” Vinnie asked.

I didn’t look up. “An old family remedy,” I replied to him.

Elizabeth remained silent as she was looking at what I was doing.

Eleanor's convulsions became slowed. The black veins began to change to a healthy pink hue.

Suddenly Eleanor sighed and stopped breathing. Elizabeth rushed to her daughter's side.

"You've killed her!" Elizabeth shouted at Vinnie; she grasped my clothes. "I warned you he'd harm her!".