The Winter Clock

CHAPTER 15 – HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

Reina’s lips froze and her face went pale. It was Mr. A. The ticking clock she heard was from Mr. A. She looked at the clock on the wall.

“T-Thorn.” She managed to say. She reached for Ryther’s hand and as he felt her cold fingers, he flinched. Flashes of images flashed before his eyes and his eyes widened upon seeing Mr. A’s burst head.

“M-Mr. A…” Ryther said and Reina nodded.

“Where is that bastard?!”

Reina and Ryther flinched when the man shot another bullet. Some of the nurses fell to their knees and trembled in fear. Reina scanned the place. The man was in standing near the entrance with two guards behind him. Mr. A was standing a few meters away from the man. The driver that the man was looking for was behind Reina and Ryther.

Reina slowly walked backward and reached for the metal table where the Propofol and syringe were located. “Mr. A, secure yourself. Ryther, distract the man.” Reina whispered and the two heard her through their hidden earpieces. The two slowly nodded their head and Reina prepared the shot.

Ryther walked slowly walked towards Mr. A but the man saw his move so he pointed his gun at him. “Stay where you are!” He shouted fearfully. “I only want that bastard!” He said again. Ryther threw his hands in the air.

“Sir, the man you are looking for is in that corner,” Ryther said, faking his voice to sound fearful. The man looked at where Ryther pointed and pointed his gun to it.

“Bastard!” He shouted and shot the empty bed. Ryther quickly dashed through the man but the man sensed what he did. Seeing that, Ryther pushed Mr. A aside as the man shot another bullet.

“Get down everyone!” Ryther shouted and Reina moved swiftly.

“Call for the authorities.” Reina whispered to one of the nurses trembling on the floor and she nodded. Ryther saw some objects scattered on the floor and reached for the scalpel. The man was about to shoot again but Ryther successfully reached the scalpel and threw it to the man, and the scalpel dug into his left shoulder, making him groan in pain.

He aimed to shoot again but Ryther saw an opening and kicked the man’s hand, causing the gun to fly somewhere.

Bang!

“Ahhh!” An ear-shuttering shout echoes throughout the whole Emergency Room. “N-Nurse Nacie!” One of them shouted. The bullet went directly to her stomach.

“Doctor Goden!” Ryther shouted and Goden flinched before running to the injured nurse, trembling.

Reina hissed and quickly jumped from bed to bed, avoiding any people, and jumped in the man’s shoulder and inserted the syringe in the man’s neck. He tried to move but Reina locked her legs on the man’s upper body, hindering him to move. After successfully injecting the liquid, Reina leaped from the man to the floor.

“Catch him.” She ordered and the two guards quickly caught the man who almost fell flat on the floor. Finally, everyone heard the police car sirens outside, and the officers marched inside the Emergency Room.

“You’re late, officers.” Mr. A greeted and snapped his finger, and the two guards handed the man to the officers.

“Cuff him. He is just asleep and will wake up any moment.” Reina said and took Mr. A’s hand. “Excuse me, Mr. A” She said and scanned his fingers. She then frowned when she saw that the numbers were missing. She looked at the clock again and it was two minutes past Mr. A’s time of death.

“H-How did that happen?” She said in disbelief and looked at Ryther who stood before her.

“I saw it too. Not the numbers but what will happen.” He said firmly and Mr. A tilted his head quizzically.

“Awake?” He asked and Ryther nodded. “Let’s talk later. For now, let’s tend the patients.” Mr. A said with an assuring smile and fixed his glasses. “Is everyone okay?!” He shouted for everyone to hear.

“Yes, Doctor!” They all shouted in unison and stood from kneeling on the floor.

“Excuse me, Doctor, can we have a few words with you?” The police asked politely while his colleagues took care of the man. Mr. A shook his head.

“As you can see, there was an accident that happened and we have eight traumatic patients to treat. I’m sorry but this will take hours.” Mr. A calmly explained, and the officer nodded.

“Very well, Doctor. Please contact me after.” The police said and handed Mr. A a card.

“I’ll call you after we settle everything here.”

Reina closed her eyes and tried to listen. There is no ticking of the clock. She opened her eyes when she felt something on her shoulder.

“Good job.” Mr. A said, tapping her shoulder and walking through the patients. “Everyone, the entertainment is done! Go back to work!” Mr. A shouted and the lightning will be embarrassed with how fast everyone moved as if nothing happened. Reina inhaled deeply before slapping both of her cheeks.

“Let’s get to work.” She said to herself and run towards the lady with a twisted knee. “Is Doctor Roffer not here yet?” She asked and the green curtain opened.

“I’m here, Doctor Silverstone. I’m sorry, I had a hard time-“

“No more reasons, Doctor. Move quickly, this one’s breathing is rapid.” Roffer nodded and Reina went to another patient.

“I’ll take this one. Go and help Ryther with the critical patient.” Mr. A ordered and Reina quickly went to Ryther in the hybrid room.

“What happened here?”

“Vitals are 70 and 40 and the rate is 30. She’s experiencing dyspnea and lost too much blood.” Ryther explained and started the intubation. "If only that man did not come, we operated her sooner." He grumbled.

“She was pierced with the same tube pierced with that man pierced in the shoulder, Doctor. We managed to cut the tubes but refrained from pulling it out as it might put her in grave danger.” The paramedics explained and Reina nodded her head.

“I’ll go to the O.R first,” Reina said after checking the woman’s forehead and Ryther nodded. After setting the Operating Room, Ryther and the patient were brought in.

“All set, Doctor.” In Reina’s cue, another war began.

~ Life is short. Giving another chance to live is a blessing you need to value