The Winter Clock

CHAPTER 22 – DEATH

Reina’s eyes widened as the bus crashed with the two motorcycles. In the flash of the second, everything became silent. The cries of the children and wails of the dying were all shut. Even the sound of the ticking of the clock was shut. She bumped her head on the glass window that shuttered to pieces. Suddenly, she felt her body lose its strength as it follows the motion of the accident. Then, without her knowing, her body flew out the window.

Bugsshh!

Reina flinched upon hearing the loud crash of the bus and the car that exploded. Suddenly, the eerie sound of the accident filled her ears again. She felt her head throbs so badly but she managed to open her eyes and force her weak body to rise from the ground. She felt something drip from her head to her eyes. She gently pressed her finger to her head and as she expected, the red, thick fluid was her blood.

“Good heavens.” She blurted out and slowly stood up. She wiped the blood from her eyes and opened it but stopped with what she saw. Her body froze. A huge part of the bridge’s railings was destroyed and approximately ten cars drowned in the sea. Three busses went upside down, including the bus she was riding just a while ago. Her body trembled, unsure if it is because of fear or because she escaped death.

She walked slowly, looking at the people. For a moment, she was lost in her thoughts. Tears started to form from the corner of her eyes as she looked at the people scattered on the ground. Some are crying, some are gravely injured, some are experiencing shortness of breathing, some already faced their destiny. Reina slowly covered her ears as the loud cries, wails of the dying, and ticking of the clock mixed and filled her ears. She felt as if her ears were about to bleed as tears escaped her eyes.

“Mommy!” The little girl shouted and shook her mother’s cold body, covered in thick blood. Reina looked at her forehead. 00:00:00. She shook her head and bit her lower lip. Her eyes then fell on the man who groaned weakly. Reina looked at his head.

4, 3, 2…

Reina shut her eyes, unable to bear watching the man take his last breath. She wiped her tears but gasp when she felt something strong wrapped around her waist. Warm, rapid breathing filled her ears. She can feel the person’s strong heartbeat on her back as the person breathes deeply.

“Thank God you’re safe.” The man whispered faintly, still catching her breath.

“T-Thorn? How did you-“

Ryther quickly released her and firmly turned Reina to face him. His eyes widened upon seeing Reina’s head bleed heavily.

“What the- let’s go back to the hospital now.” Ryther fumes and grabbed Reina’s hand but Reina pulled back.

“No!” She exclaimed. “T-The people… The people need us.” Her eyes transferred from Ryther to the people around them. Ryther sighed in defeat.

“I knew it.” He mumbled and unbuttoned the first three buttons of his shirt. “How’s your head?” He said and aimed to examine it but Reina stepped back.

“I’m okay. It hurts but it’s manageable.” She said and removed her jacket. Ryther hissed.

“Lead the way then.”

Reina nodded but before they can start moving, multiple sirens were heard.

“The paramedics are here,” Ryther announced and they ran towards the ambulances.

“We’re Doctors,” Reina said and one of the paramedics stopped and looked at her head. “No, I’m okay,” Reina said, preceded by the paramedic’s question. The paramedics nodded his head reluctantly.

“We can’t transport all the patients at once,” Ryther said and took different color tapes from the ambulance. “We will help to triage according to colors.” He said and handed Reina some tapes.

“Red is very urgent and critical, yellow is urgent, green is standard, black is for deceased or soon-to-be deceased,” Reina said swiftly and the paramedics nodded in response.

“Let’s move! Move!”

Reina quickly went to the group of people near the bridge. Some were breathing heavily. Her eyes quickly scanned their foreheads.

“Your arm is broken and you're bleeding heavily” She whispered and tied yellow tape to his arm. She quickly shifted to the old man beside him whose head was bleeding heavily.

“M-My grandfather. Please, save him.” The man pleaded and groaned. Reina checked his forehead. 00:05:23. Reina bit her lower lips and looked at the man. “No!” The man shouted upon seeing Reina’s eyes. She then shook her head and tied black tape to his wrist. “Grandpa!”

Reina swallowed the lump on her throat as the man shouted in agony. “I’m sorry.” She whispered and left. She inhaled deeply and wiped her tears before running towards the couple leaning on the car.

“Excuse me, I am a Doctor. Let me check you.” She said and quickly examined them. The woman groaned and held her stomach. “Your injuries are all minor. Are you experiencing any pain aside from your wounds?” She asked but stopped when she saw her forehead. Her lips dried.

“W-What’s wrong, Doctor?” The man asked full of terror. Reina looked at him.

“I-If… If this is her last day- no. Please tell her what you want to say to her.” Reina whispered and her tear escaped. The man felt his body weakened and suddenly, the woman felt her chest ache. Reina quickly wrapped her wrist with black tape and the man with green tape then left. But before she can walk away, she heard the man shout in sorrow. She covered her mouth and sobbed silently.

Ryther saw Reina’s agony but chose to let it slide. He quickly ran to the man who groans loudly, holding his leg.

“Sir, I am a Docto-“

“Help me! Arrgh!” The man groaned again. Ryther quickly looked at his legs and hissed.

“Sir, please bite this,” Ryther said and put his handkerchief on his mouth. “This will hurt a lot but please, endure it.”

The man nodded his head and a tear escaped his eyes. Ryther sighed deeply before counting, “One, two, three.” Without any hesitation, Ryther pulled the man’s leg to realign it.

“Arrghh!”

“Assist him,” Ryther said to the paramedics and he quickly run to the next patient.

~ Death favors no one. ~