The Winter Clock

CHAPTER 19 - SLEEPING PILLS

“How’s patient seven?” Reina asked Ryther as soon as they left patient four’s room. “What’s her name, by the way?” She asked again, scratching her cheeks.

“Can I have the record of the patient in room 103?” Ryther asked the nurse in charge and she quickly scanned the computer and showed it to Ryther and Reina.

“Sophie Patten, 34 years old, female,” Reina whispered. “Her name sound familiar.” She added and looked at Ryther whose eyebrows frowned deeply. “Thorn? What’s wro-“

“Dr. Rein, Dr. Ryther.” The two looked at the man walking towards them. “Good evening.” Vander greeted and his eyes fell on the monitor. His eyes then widened. “Sophie Patten?” He asked.

“Yes. Do you know her?” Reina asked and Vander nodded his head.

“She’s my high school classmate.” Vander said and gulped. He tried to analyze Sophie’s picture but failed. “Her twin sister was a victim of that finger-cutting psycho.” He blurted out and Reina and Ryther stopped.

“What?” Reina asked and her eyes dimmed. Ryther threw her a glance and sighed. He completely knew what she was thinking. “How did you know?”

“I attended her funeral eight years ago. A corpse less funeral.”

Reina slowly nodded her head and her eyes narrowed. “That’s why her name’s familiar,” Reina whispered.

“Pardon?”

“N-Nothing. I’ll get going now, Doctor. I need to check our patients.” Reina smiled and patted Vander’s shoulder. She then met Ryther’s gaze but ignored it.

“See you.”

Reina walked calmly through the corridor with her hands inside her pocket. She was about to enter room 103 when a strong hand grabbed her and pushed her through the nearest wall.

“Thorn?!” Reina exclaimed in low-voice.

“Seriously? Tell me you’re not going to investigate her.” Ryther said firmly. On the corner of his eyes, he saw a nurse walked so he slowly released Reina.

“I’ll check her condition.” Reina reasoned out and fixed her white coat.

“I don’t believe you.” Ryther said and hissed. Reina’s lips lifted and she rolled her eyes.

“Tsk. I’ll just ask a few questions, okay? I won’t interrogate her with our normal method, Thorn.” She blurted out and pushed Ryther away from her. Ryther sighed deeply and covered the I.D scanner with his hand. Reina threw her a sharp look and none of them blinked for a moment.

“Tsk.” Ryther sighed deeply again and removed his hand from the scanner. Reina quickly scanned her I.D and the metal door opened, revealing a woman with a frail body. “She’s still asleep because of the anesthesia.” Reina almost jumped when Ryther whispered through her ears. She thought he already left. “Let’s go back tomorrow.”

Reina hesitated to leave. She wanted to stay until Sophie opened her eyes for her to get the information she needed, but Ryther grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the room.

“Call us as soon as she woke up. Her stomach will be very painful when the anesthesia wore off so inject her pain killer.” Ryther said to the nurse who had just come in and the nurse nodded her head. Her eyes widened when Ryther pulled Reina out of the room and dragged her through their break room.

“Stop dragging me, will you?!” Reina exclaimed and tried to pull her hand from Ryther but Ryther pulled her and pushed her through the lockers. Reina groaned but Ryther only looked at her with sharp eyes. “What’s with you? Why are you suddenly acting strange?!” She exclaimed.

“The problem here is you, Silver!” He shouted and tightened his grip on Reina’s shoulders. “That patient just experienced a traumatic accident and her body is still recovering. Do you think making her remember the traumatic past that happened to her sister will cause her any good?!”

Reina stopped and her eyes widened. Her lips parted to speak but no words came out of her mouth.

“You don’t. Think about other’s sake too, will you? Stop that greediness of yours and give time for everything, Silver. Don’t push everything to the direction you want it to go.” Ryther added and his grip on Reina’s shoulder loosen.

“Greediness? Ha.” Reina blurted out and laughed sarcastically. “Is seeking justice for Natalie considered as greediness, Thorn?” She asked with a low voice. “If you don’t want to help me then don’t. I can do this even without your help.” She retorted and removed Ryther’s hand from her shoulder, but she flinched when Ryther pushed her again.

“I’ll help, Silver. But I will stop you if someone will be put in danger.” He whispered and let her shoulders go. “Remember that.” He said with a firm tone and walked away. Only then did Reina breathe deeply and watch Ryther’s back disappear.

***

Reina tossed herself in her bed a couple of times. After rolling for the nth time, she raised her feet and kicked in the air. She then ruffled her hair frustratedly. It was past two in the morning, but her sleep never visited her.

“Arrgh!” Finally, she could not stand it and got out of her bed, wore her white coat, and dashed out of the Doctors quarter. The corridor and hallway were quiet. Few nurses and staff walked silently and some yawn. She walked towards the coffee room but stopped when she saw Ryther standing on the instant coffee maker. Reina frowned and turned her back to leave but stopped when Ryther spoke.

“I’ll leave. Stay here and get your coffee.” He said and walked past Reina who was left speechless.

“Tsk” Reina walked towards the coffee maker and was about to insert a coin but stopped. A mug of freshly brewed coffee was sitting on the counter. “Did he forget to bring his coffee with him?” She asked and took the mug but stopped. It was her mug, and the coffee was exactly her taste. “Psh.”

Reina rolled her eyes and ignored the coffee. She was about to insert the coin again but her eyes caught the coffee again. “Arrgh! This will be a waste if I don’t drink it. Seriously?!” She hissed and took the mug of coffee.

Reina walked slowly, savoring the delicious coffee as she walked towards the door.

“Feeling better now?”

Her soul almost left her body when she saw Ryther beside the coffee-room door, leaning on the wall with his mug of coffee in his right hand.

“Are you a ghost or what? Stop giving me a fright, will you?!” She exclaimed and patted her chest. Ryther chuckled, making Reina’s blood boil even more. She looked at him with a narrow, sharp look.

“Ms. Sophie woke up a moment ago, but she almost went wild saying her stomach hurts so much, so I gave her pain killer and put her back to sleep. She will wake up after eight to ten hours, so talk to her later at probably 10 a.m.” Ryther said and looked at Reina’s coffee. Suddenly, Reina felt her eyelids become heavy. Ryther quickly took the mug from her and put it on the counter. “I put a small dose of strong sleeping pills in your coffee.”

“W-What?” Reina felt her body losses its strength and completely lose its balance. Ryther quickly caught her.

“Sleep now.” He whispered and carried her.

~ Don’t push everything in the direction you want it to go. ~