The Winter Clock

CHAPTER 21 – BUS

After putting Sophie to sleep again, Reina and Ryther left room 103. Reina sighed deeply before walking away but then she halt.

“I’ll go home after I check the other patients,” Reina said. “I’ll take a few things and head to our Head Quarters afterward.” She added.

“Is your car with you?” Ryther asked and searched for his car keys inside his pocket.

“I’ll take the bus.”

“Just take my ca-“ Ryther stopped when his phone rang. It was Doctor Goden.

“Yes, Doctor?”

“Doctor, I need your help. Both the patient's liver and spleen are damaged, leading to massive hemoperitoneum.” Goden explained with faint panic in his voice. “O.R 2” He added. Ryther nodded though Goden could not see it.

“I’m coming.” He said and quickly hung the phone. “You sure you won’t use my car?”

Reina shook her head and smiled. “Go now. The patient needs you.”

“Take care then.” Ryther blurted out before running swiftly to Operating Room 2. Reina went in the opposite direction, leading to the corridor for the ICU.

“Hello, Doctor” The nurse in charge greeted.

“Hello. How is he?” Reina greeted back and walked towards the man whose head was greatly damaged. “Any sign of consciousness?”

“His vitals were stable, Doctor. But he still showed no sign of consciousness” The nurse answered in a low, disappointed voice. Reina checked his forehead and hands then sighed in relief.

“It’s okay. He will not die today.” Reina whispered and smiled at the nurse. After checking all the patients, she walked through the Doctor’s quarter, took her bag, and walked out of the hospital. As soon as she stepped out of the hospital, the scorching sun hit her face, causing her to sulk.

“The sun sure is hot today.” She said and ran quickly to the bus stop. Fortunately, it was not far from the entrance of the hospital. Reina hum and played with the baby beside her while waiting for the bus. It was not a long wait though. Her eyes caught the bus’s plate number, so she took a quick photo of it.

Reina sat in the second row, beside the huge window and looked up. Her eyes met the beautiful clouds. “Oh, the picture.” She quickly fished for her phone and sent Ryther the picture of the plate number.

“Do your best!” She texted and as soon as the message was sent, her phone died.

“What? Oh my, why did I forget to charge?” She sighed in distress and leaned on her chair comfortably with her two hands crossed above her chest. The traffic was heavy and so, she chose to sleep.

“H-How come he is this fast?” Goden asked himself as he observe Ryther operating.

“Cut,” Ryther said, and the nurse handed Goden a scissor. Aside from being tired from operating for more than an hour, it was the first time Goden assisted Ryther, so his hands were partially trembling. He slowly reached for the thread using the scissor and cut.

“Do you want me to cut your finger?” Ryther asked with a firm tone. Goden’s eyes widened. He looked at what he cut and realized he cut the air. “Cut,” Ryther said again with a firmer tone. Goden quickly cut the thread.

Ryther stitched again with the same speed. “Isn’t he tired? What a monster.” Goden whispered to himself full of amusement. Suddenly, flashes of images passed through Ryther’s eyes. He stopped moving.

It was a bus near the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The images were blurry. Ryther closed his eyes tightly and tilted his head that was about to explode. Another image flashed. Blood, tears, sweat, and gasoline were all mixed on the ground. The sorrowful cry and shouts echo through his ears. It was an accident. Some cars hit the bridge, some fell on the bridge and drowned in the sea, some hit each other. Three buses went upside down, one car exploded, many died. Ryther’s eyes then widened. A woman covered with blood was lying on the cold ground. It was Reina.

“Doctor?” Goden asked for the nth time. Ryther did not respond and his hands were trembling. “Doc-“

“Wrap everything up.” Ryther said and quickly put down his equipment.

“Doctor, wait!” Goden shouted but Ryther did not bat him an eye. He dashed out of the Operating Room, removed his gloves, mask, and scrub, and fished for his phone. As soon as he opened it, Reina’s message greeted him. His eyes landed on the picture. It was the same plate number as the one he saw just now.

“For Pete’s sake!” He exclaimed and dialed Reina. Her phone cannot be reached. “Arrgh!” Ryther cursed under his tongue and dialed Mr. A.

“What-“

“Sir! Silver’s in grave danger. Please call the bus management and trace the bus with the plate number I’ll send to you. Do everything to make that bus stop!” He explained without a pause and hung the call then sent the picture to Mr. A.

Ryther quickly fetched his car keys and run panicky to the parking lot. Everyone looked at him and Vander even say ‘hi’ but he did not bat an eye at even one of them. Reaching his car, he stepped on the gas and drove through the Harbour Bridge.

Reina flinched when her head hit the window. Her eyes then transferred to the bus driver’s phone who rang. Suddenly, she heard the clock again.

“What? Why, Sir?” The driver asked. “But we are in the middle-“ The driver’s eyes widened and the bus swerve to the other side of the lane when a car charged towards the bus.

“Hey!”

"Mommy!"

"Ahh!"

Gasp and shouts filled the entire bus as it swings on the other side again. “Ow!” Reina groaned when her head bumped into the window. She looked at the front to see what’s happening and her eyes widened when two motorcycles were charging towards the bus. She ducked her head and hid under the first row chairs. She then looked at the people and she froze, seeing numbers present in their foreheads.

The bus swerved again but this time, two cars crashed into each other and hit the bus.

~ We do not know the time or day we will leave this world. Therefore, always secure your salvation. ~