The Winter Clock

CHAPTER 6 - BLAME

“Doctor!” The nurse’s trembling voice rang throughout the whole Operating Room, and only then did Vander come to his senses. “The spleen ruptured, and the blood pressure is now low!” The nurse shouted again. Vander shook his head roughly and quickly regained his composure.

“How’s the BP?” He asked with a stern voice.

“60.” The nurse replied.

It was a critical condition of shock. What’s worst is that Vander was in his state of shock as well. He bit his lower lips as he remembered Natalie. If only Natalie was here, everything would be easy. She was a calm nurse, unlike Vander’s assistant now that was full of nervousness.

“Doctor, what must we-“ The young Doctor stopped when the door of the surgery room opened, and a man entered.

“D-Doctor Ryther!” The young Doctor said in disbelief, and everyone in the room felt relief. But Ryther’s eyes were focused on Vander as soon as he entered.

“Doctor, please let me assist you,” Ryther said. It was not a request at all. Vander nodded, and Ryther started to examine the patient.

“Transfusion.” He said with a stern voice and looked at the raptured spleen.

“We’re transfusing more blood in, but the bleeding is too fast.” The young Doctor said, full of worry, but Ryther only nodded without any sign of emotions.

“Don’t panic. That’s the number one thing you need to remember when you operate.” Their eyes transferred from Ryther to the woman who spoke calmly as the door opened again. It was Reina. “Please observe for now.” She smiled, making the onlookers relieved. The young Anesthesiologist quickly left his spot when Reina walked towards him. The other young doctors walked towards the observation room as the three operated when Reina spoke again.

“Stay here. You need to learn.” She said and checked the patient’s vitals. The young doctors nodded and stayed at the spot where they could see the operation but not burden the three.

“Dr. Tonce, what must we do?” Ryther asked. “Go ahead and speak.”

“A-After we opened the stomach, we have to stop the point of bleeding, Doctor.” The young Doctor answered, and Ryther nodded.

“Good.” His eyes then transferred to Vander, who looked gloomy. “Hey, hey, Doctor. Cheer up.” At his calm words, Vander’s face lit.

“Scalpel.” The nurse handed Ryther the scalpel, then the surgery began. “We’ll open the patient now.” He announced, and the young doctors carefully observed. Ryther split the patient’s abdomen, and the blood that spurted out from the artery dripped down his face. The nurse quickly wiped it away.

***

Vander leaned on the soft sofa and took a very deep breath. He then removed his glasses and massaged his head but flinched when something cold crept his cheeks.

“Cheer up, will you?” Ryther said and handed him the cold drink, which he gladly accepted.

“Why did you come?” Vander managed to ask, and Ryther cracked a small laugh.

“I have a hunch that you are not in the right state of your mind because of what happened, so I came. But I was shocked when Doctor Reina entered as well.” He chuckled, but Vander looked down. Until now, he could not believe that Natalie was dead. He likes Natalie so much.

“Don’t blame yourself, Doctor. It was not your fault, to begin with.” Ryther said and patted Vander’s shoulder.

“If only I did not ask you to celebrate with me, Natalie might be alive until now. I’m really sorry.” He whispered, and Ryther sulked.

“You really are stubborn. I told you not to blame yourself.” Ryther sighed in distress. “We will catch the criminal, and we will get the justice we want, Doctor. I will make sure that happens.” Ryther’s voice was stern. Faint anger was present in his tone.

“Tell me anything you need. I am willing to help.” Vander pleaded.

“I will.” Ryther stood up and fished for his coat. “I’ll get going now, Doctor. I have something else to do.” He said and walked out of the room. Vander sighed as the unfamiliar silence covered his office. Vander closed his eyes and remembered Natalie’s sweet smile and laugh. His office was never silent whenever Natalie was with him. Though he cannot recognize Natalie’s face clearly due to his Prosopagnosia or Face Blindness, Natalie’s features are clear in his mind.

Her red lips, soft skin, slender waist, and body. Her bouncy blonde hair felt so smooth. Her sweet voice and comforting words. Vander clenched his fist, and his eyes fell on the sofa where they once slept together. Nothing happened, though. Natalie was too tired from the endless operations, so she fell asleep in his office while waiting for Reina and Ryther.

Upon reaching their Head Quarters, Ryther walked swiftly through their training ground. His hunch was right. Reina was there, holding a gun and shooting the popping human boards. Her expression was stiff. After finishing all her bullets, she removed her headphone and almost jumped upon seeing behind her.

“Since when were you standing there?” She asked, still calming her shocked heart.

“Not too long ago.” He removed his hand that was crossed on his chest and walked towards Reina. “Your skills improved, huh?” He commented and loaded the gun. “You should have rest for today, do you know that? A lot of things happened.”

He positioned himself, and Reina clicked the button for the human boards to pop up. Ryther aimed the head and clicked the trigger, never missing his hit.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Faint smoke appeared after Ryther finished his bullets. He then turned to Reina, who watched him closely, then pointed his gun at her head. Reina remained calm.

“Won’t you fight back?” Ryther said with a smirk, and Reina shrugged her shoulders.

“Why would I when you finished all your bullets?” She said but flinched when Ryther clicked the trigger, hitting the light bulb behind her. “You-“

“How will you be able to succeed in the mission when you can’t even count the bullets properly?’ Ryther said and hissed.

“I trust you. You’re my partner, right?” Reina blurted out sheepishly. The place was now dim because one bulb exploded. But Reina’s eyes widened when Ryther pushed her to the nearest wall. “Hey. What the hell are you doing?” She asked with a stern voice as Ryther locked her arms on the walls. She tried to take her hands, but Ryther’s strength was too much for her. His eyes were dark.

“Trust me? How sure are you I will not betray you?” He asked seriously. Reina’s brows furrowed. “You want that dangerous mission, but you can’t even escape from my grasp? Seriously, Silver?” His voice was angry. Reina calmed herself and aimed to kick Ryther’s treasure, but he quickly pulled her down, locked her feet, and locked her hands above her head. Reina gasped.

“Ryther, I don’t like this joke.” She retorted, but Ryther grinned amiably, making Reina’s throat tremble.

“Silver, I thought you’re strong? You were fearless when you forced Mr. A to give you the mission.” He said with a low voice.

“What are you implying?” She tried to shake Ryther off him but failed. “Get off me!” She shouted angrily.

“What I am implying is that you shouldn’t involve yourself in something that you’re too weak to bear, for earth’s sake!” He fumes, making Reina shocked. He was never like this. “Natalie is your friend, yes, but you have a life to take care, and Natalie is now dead!”

“Ryther, I thought you’re on my side? Don’t you want to save many people?” Reina’s voice was low. “Why are you being like this?” She felt her eyes moist but tried to swallow her tears. She felt Ryther’s grip tighten, but then he quickly let her go.

“I’m on your side about saving people. But if you are this weak, I am against you sacrificing your life.” He spat and stood up. “If you will remain weak, I will take this mission alone.” He said with a cold voice and showed Reina the flash drive. When did he get that from her?!

“Thorn.” Reina quickly stood up and tried to take the flash drive, but Ryther promptly left, leaving Reina agitated.

~ Don’t do something you are too weak to bear. ~ patient’s vitals. The young doctors nodded and stayed at the spot where they can see the operation but not burden the three.

“Dr. Tonce, what must we do?” Ryther asked. “Go ahead and speak.”

“A-After we opened the stomach, we have to stop the point of bleeding, Doctor.” The young Doctor answered and Ryther nooded.

“Good.” His eyes then transferred to Vander who looks gloomy. “Hey, hey, Doctor. Cheer up.” At his calm words, Vander’s face lit.

“Scalpel.” The nurse handed Ryther the scalpel, then the surgery began. “We’ll open the patient now.” He announced and the young doctors carefully observed. Ryther split the patient’ abdomen and the blood that spurted out from the artery dripped down his face. The nurse quickly wiped it away.

***

Vander leaned on the soft sofa and took a very deep breath. He then removed his glasses and massaged his head but flinched when something cold crept his cheeks.

“Cheer up will you?” Ryther said and handed him the cold drink which he gladly accepted.

“Why did you come?” Vander managed to asked and Ryther cracked a small laugh/

“I have a hunch that you are not in the right state of your mind because of what happened, so I came. But I was shocked when Doctor Reina entered as well.” He chuckled but Vander looked down. Until now, he cannot believe that Natalie was dead. He like Natalie so much.

“Don’t blame yourself, Doctor. It was not your fault to begin with.” Ryther said and patted Vander’s shoulder.

“If only I did not ask you to celebrate with me, Natalie might be alive until now. I’m really sorry.” He whispered and Ryther sulked.

“You really are stubborn. I told you not to blame yourself.” Ryther sighed in distress. “We will catch the criminal and we will get the justice we wany, Doctor. I will make sure that happens.” Ryther’s voice was stern. Faint anger was present in his tone.

“Tell me anything you need. I am willing to help.” Vander pleaded.

“I will.” Ryther stood up and fished for his coat. “I’ll get going now, Doctor. I have something else to do.” He said and walked out of the room. Vander sighed as the unfamiliar silence covered his office. Vander closed his eyes and remembered Natalie’s sweet smile and laugh. His office was never silent whenever Natalie was with him. Though he cannot recognize Natalie’s face clearly due to his Prosopagnosia or Face Blindness, Natalie’s features were clear in his mind.

Her red lips, soft skin, slender waist and body. Her bouncy blonde hair that felt so smooth. Her sweet voice and comforting words. Vander clenched his fist and his eyes fell on the sofa where they once slept together. Nothing happened though. Natalie was too tired from the endless operations, so she fell asleep in his office while waiting for Reina and Ryther, and he joined her sleeping

Upon reaching their Head Quarters, Ryther walked swiftly through their training ground. His hunch was right. Reina was there, holding a gun and shooting the popping human boards. Her expression was stiff. After finishing all her bullets, she removed her headphone and almost jumped upon seeing behind her.

“Since when were you standing there?” She asked, still calming her shocked heart.

“Not too long ago.” He removed his hand that was crossed on his chest and walked towards Reina. “Your skills improved, huh?” He commented and loaded the gun. “You should have rest for today, do you know that? A lot of things happened.”

He positioned himself and Reina click the button for the human boards to pop up. Ryther aimed the head and clicked the trigger, never missing his hit.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Faint smoke appeared after Ryther finished his bullets. He then turned to Reina, who watched him closely, then pointed his gun at her head. Reina remained calm.

“Won’t you fight back?” Ryther said with a smirk and Reina shrugged her shoulders.

“Why would I when you finished all your bullets?” She said but flinched when Ryther clicked the trigger, hitting the light bulb behind her. “You-“

“How will you be able to succeed the mission when you can’t even count the bullets properly?’ Ryther said and hissed.

“I trust you. You’re my partner, right?” Reina blurted out sheepishly. The place was now dim because one bulb exploded. But Reina’s eyes widened when Ryther pushed her to the nearest wall. “Hey. What the hell are you doing?” She asked with a stern voice as Ryther locked her arms on the walls. She tried to take her hands but Ryther’s strength was too much for her. His eyes were dark.

“Trust me? How sure are you I will not betray you?” He asked seriously. Reina’s brows furrowed. “You want that dangerous mission but you can’t even escape from my grasp? Seriously, Silver?” His voice was angry. Reina calmed herself and aimed to kick Ryther’s treasure but he quickly pulled her down, locked her feet and locked her hands above her head. Reina gasped.

“Ryther, I don’t like this joke.” She retorted, but Ryther grinned amiably, making Reina’s throat tremble.

“Silver, I thought you’re strong? You were fearless when you forced Mr. A to give you the mission.” He said with a low voice.

“What are you implying?” She tried to shake Ryther off him but failed. “Get off me!” She shouted angrily.

“What I am implying is that you shouldn’t involve yourself to something that you’re too weak to bear, for earth’s sake!” He fumes, making Reina shocked. He was never like this. “Natalie is your friend, yes, but you have a life to take care and Natalie is now dead!”

“Ryther, I thought you’re on my side? Don’t you want to save many people?” Reina’s voice was low. “Why are you being like this?” She felt her eyes moist but tried to swallow her tears. She felt Ryther’s grip tightened but then he quickly let her go.

“I’m on your side about saving people. But if you are this weak, I am against you sacrificing your life.” He spat and stood up. “If you will remain weak, I will take this mission alone.” He said with a cold voice and showed Reina the flash drive. When did he get that from her?!

“Thorn.” Reina quickly stood up and tried to take the flash drive but Ryther quickly left, leaving Reina agitated.

~ Don’t do something you are too weak to bear. ~